Society

• societies all over the world percieve language, actions and products differently
• companies try to be more eco-friendly or more responsible than their competitors
• consumers take the greener option if the additional cost is reasonable
• companies do this by making products that meets some of this criteria:

• Products that are produced by carbon neutral means
• Products that are made from renewable materials
• Products that reduce carbon emissions and/ or other greenhouse gases in use
• Products that reuse existing materials or use recycled materials
• Products designed to be 100% recyclable
• Products that are designed to help or ease suffering or that promote fair trade
• Products that are made and sold locally to avoid transportation costs and associated pollution
• Organisations that are not-for-profit and where all money is reinvested to support good causes

Positives

• low running costs
• produce almost zero emissions in use

Negatives

• very expensive to purchase
• fairly short range

• designs may be developed to be easily used by the elderly and disabled
• pedestrian crossings designed using audible beeps and bright colours for partially sighted
• 4 main ways for designers to produce products so the majority of the population is catered for:

• one size fits all - door frames, baths
• a range of sizes to cover all - shoes, clothes
• adjustability to allow use by all - car seats, shower head height
• adaptablilty to suit location or user - booster seats, car roof bars

• modification of products is an area that offers inclusivity, as specialist equipment and adaptations can be made to help those who find themselves outside the normal range
• this allows disabled people to take part in many activities which would have been impossible before their discovery and invention

• a further issue for designers to consider is designing products that will not offend or have a negative impact on different religious groups
• communicating honestly and openly with members of religious groups during the design and development stage of a product will help to reduce any potentially tricky issues
• there are some obvious areas that can be awkward for businesses to get involved in 
• products relating to alcohol, relationships out of marriage and gambling
• this is because laws vary dramatically from country to country and among different religions