WebQuest Direct - Researching a report for the Cabinet

THE PROCESS:

Keep in mind the question, can you imagine how a modern day cabinet manufacturing business would deal with a sudden upsurge in interest in the original 18^th century designs of the likes of Thomas Chippendale and his peers and what role would a research report play in the process?

The Australian design manager believes pooling of resources to be the best option and has formed 4 groups of 3 persons to share the researching necessary, discuss findings and negotiate report writing responsibilities.

STAGE 1: Individual groups hold their first meeting to clarify their understanding of the project requirements. It’s necessary for each group to understand their responsibilities and get an appreciation of the development of what you consider cabinet making. This includes identifying old (antique) cabinets and the progression to today’s cabinet making. This will provide some background to the preparation of the reports.

STAGE 2: Time to remind yourselves of the contents of a successful technical report, look at some of the design managers' examples and go here for a timely and inter-active reminder.

STAGE 3: Each group will research one of the cabinet making design areas of materials ( woods, MDF, plywoods, particle board, plastic laminates and melamine), finishes (shellacs/ French polishes, vinyl, PVC or epoxy ), and fittings/systems (traditional fittings as against the modern day manufacturing ‘systems’ used in the cabinets being produced in the 21^st century ).

This provides further background data for use in compiling your report and should consider the important features or defining characteristics of the design area under consideration including an explanation of why the modern features became preferable to the traditional. This research can be be via libraries, electronic encyclopedias and other online sources. Remember to ‘bookmark’ these references so that any that are utilised can be suitably cited in your report.

STAGE 4: Now it’s time for some critical analysis in the shape of looking more closely at the similarities and differences that may have developed over time, of the researched area of cabinet making. Evaluate the advantages where these occur for the modern aspects compared to those of earlier times and list these for group discussion.

STAGE 5: Each group member should present his/her findings at a group meeting and, via a brainstorming session, develop ideas for either further research and/or arrange the information for presentation into a “discussion” aspect of the report.

It’s become apparent from the group meeting that it’s not just the differences in materials, manufacturing techniques, finishes and fittings that count but also modern day design constraints and considerations such as the following:

The ergonomics and anthropometrics of the products,

Environmental impact – eg, can re-cycled or environmentally friendly goods be used?

Conservation of Resources.

Each group member is required to assume responsibility for one of these areas and to research and develop a critical view of the subject to produce further input for the discussion aspect of the report.

STAGE 6: Re-convene a group meeting where each group member presents his/her considerations of the design constraints for negotiation for inclusion into the “discussion” aspect of the report.

STAGE 7: Organise the collected information into appropriate categories of your report those being an abstract, introduction, body of report including your discussion and the conclusion whilst keeping a close eye on the word count requirements. Edit, proof read and submit in a research report format to your design manager who will evaluate the submission in accordance with the following section.