The data on which the tool has its origins in PhD research (awarded in 2015) that included the analysis of 64 products; a survey of 34; interviews with 19 product designers working for leading charities; a case study with a social enterprise in Myanmar; and evaluation during a live project in a leading design school. The data generated
was thematically analysed during post-doctoral research to create the tool which supports designers and NGOs during the product development process by providing information on Contextualisation (with which some may be unfamiliar); analysis (via a series of Indicators); successful Case Studies; and guidance on how to generate a spiderweb diagram for Concept Selection, Product Re-design and Product Assessment.D-Tool has been created to help support decision making during the design of products. The tool employs a product assessment spider web with eight indicators that draw attention to key considerations for the evaluation of concepts and re-design of existing products. D-Tool is a card based toolkit which highlights factors required for appropriate product design. This will be used in parallel with Human Centred Design and Design Thinking methods
