DESIGN PROJECT

Project Title:

Name:

Class:

Investigate
Design Problem - What do I know?
Describe the identified problem (or problem you have identified). Give as much background information as you can. The description should include: The cause of the problem - What are the factors that lead to the problem (or design opportunity). Who is affected by the problem? Where is the problem is situated - Is it local, regional or global? Explain why you think that the problem persists. What can be done to help the problem? What can you do to communicate to others what the problem is and how they can help themselves?

Design Brief - How can I help?

The design brief should be a clear statement of what you can do to answer the problem. It should include the target group, general dimensions or the scale of the product (i.e. will it be a full scale working product or a scale model) and deadline. (Use the following as a guideline) I will design and create a product that will. The product will be targeted towards. To create this product I will use the following equipment, hardware and software... The final product will be a fully working model of a product. The deadline is

Research - What do I need to find out?

Identify areas for research. Use the following table to help you plan your research. What What do I need to find out? Where Where can I find the information? Why Why do I need this info?

Where can I find the information?

Collect, edit and analyse your research. Make sure that all secondary sources are referenced. Use http://www.bibme.org/ to help organise your references. Information should be collected from a range of sources (at least 3) and include both primary and secondary research: Books, Magazines & Newspapers (secondary) Internet - Find out information about the topic. (secondary) Survey - Find out from others what they know. (primary) Observation - Watch others. (primary) Interviews - Interview potential users. (secondary) Existing products - Find existing products that you think are well designed and describe the features that make them successful.

Research Summary - What did I find out and what will it mean to my work?
Summarise the most important aspects of your investigation. Explain clearly what you have found out and how it will shape your designing. Present any data you have collected (e.g. surveys, figures, measurements etc) in charts and tables for clarity and ease of communication.

Specifications - What does my solution need?

Specifications are features, properties and details that your product must have to answer the Design Brief. These need to be detailed and specific to the product you will design and the stated outcome from your design brief. Do not include general statements such as, it must not be too big/small, it must fit the target, it must be safe. List your specifications and explain each one (one by one). You must have specifications that you can test in an objective manner. Use a table or bullet points to organise the specification.

Product Tests - How will I test my product?

Describe a test, or tests, that you can use to evaluate your design against the specifications in an objective manner. (i.e. the tests should specifically target your specifications and not be based on opinion). Provide a clear description of how each test will be carried out. If you intend to use a questionnaire it should be designed at this point.

You can test various features of your product.

Test by using your product. Test by watching others use your product. Test by asking others what they think of your product. Test by physically testing your product.

Design
Generating Ideas - What will my ideas look like?
Generate several feasible designs (ideas that can be carried out with the facilities and time available) that meet the design specification and evaluate all of your ideas against the design specification. Use the following table to help organize your evaluations. Opinion Write about what you like/dislike about your idea and why. Specifications Compare your idea to your specifications and give it a score, e.g. 7/9. List those specifications not met Improvements What changes could you make to your design and explain how will these changes improve it?

Which of my ideas meets the specification best?

Use a chooser chart to help analyse which of your designs best fits your specifications. Select one design and fully justify its choice. Critically evaluate this chosen idea against your design specification.

Developing Ideas Using models, mock-ups, sketches and/or 3D software, develop (improve) your idea into a more complete design proposal. During this stage you should explore all the design possibilities of your chosen design. Sketch all aspects of your product and make a final comparison to your specifications.

Plan
Plan your work - How will I carry out my tasks?
You can use a number of strategies to plan your work: Storyboard - use the storyboard template to plan each page of your site. Full scale mock-up

Production plan.

Production Plan - How can I organise my planning?

The most important part of the planning process is to plan the making of your product. Your plan should be detailed enough to help someone else create your product. This plan must include detailed, logical steps of the task, including the equipment required, the materials / software, time estimates and time taken. You should also include any specific safety precautions to be aware of. The production plan is as simple as making a list of things you have to do. Simply describe the task you will carry out. List the materials you will need. (MDF, Cotton Fabric, Software etc) List the tools and equipment you will need. (Pillar Drill, Laser Cutter, Sewing machine, Computer) Estimate the time it will take. Instead of listing the tasks, you could put them into a table.

The plan must be updated and evaluated. Plans are not set in stone so dont worry if you make mistakes. That is why you plan so that you can adapt or make alternative arrangements.

Evaluate your Plan - Can others create my product if they follow my plan?
Consider your plan as a document that you would give to someone else to carry out the making process.

Evaluate your plan and consider if it is detailed enough for someone else to carry out the work.

Evaluate your plan and consider if the details are clear enough for someone else to carry out the work.

Are there any risks that may occur?

Evaluate any risks that may occur that could prevent you from completing the create process of your product. (Time, Skills, Materials etc.)

Include contingency plans in case things do not go as planned e.g. the material you want is not available, tools or equipment are broken etc.

Final Product Specification - Can I be more accurate about the final product?
After you have designed and developed your product, you will have a better idea of the features it will have. If you feel it is appropriate, you can revise your specification to be more exact or to take account of what you have learnt. Make an accurate list of requirement details such as: Function Dimensions Aesthetics Materials

Create
Record the Making Process - Document of Creation (DoC)
This is a step by step account of how you created your product. Take screen shots or photographs to show the process of making your product/solution, including when and how you use software, equipment and techniques. If you need to change either your

design or plan, make sure you write and explain in this section why these changes were necessary. Use the following table headings to help organise your DoC. Lesson & Date What i did (include evidence ) Time Taken Changes to my plan Changes to my design

You are expected to follow your plan and to evaluate and justify any changes you make to the plan while you are creating the product/solution. This record must have dates. Keep a journal of your work.

Evaluate
Specification Evaluation - Does my product meet the specification?
Test the product against the specification. Carry out the test(s), as described in the investigation, to objectively evaluate your product and explain whether or not it meets the specifications. Include some form of evidence from the testing, e.g. photographs, survey results etc to support your judgments. You could use the following table to help you organize this.

Original specification

Does my product meet the specification?

Supporting evidence

Intended User Evaluation - Does my product meet the needs of the intended user?
Test the product against user feedback. Evaluate the success of the product/solution in an objective manner based the views of the intended users. Collect feedback and analyse it.

Own Performance Evaluation - How well have I worked throughout the design process?
Evaluate your own performance at each stage of the design process. Describe how you carried out each part of the process and suggest (where necessary) how your work could be improved. Use the learner profile descriptors as much as possible.

Product Impact Evaluation - What impact will my product have?

Evaluate the impact your product will have upon life, society and or the environment. How will the product impact users? Will there be any benefits from using your product? How will the product impact society? E.g. the use of personal music systems may have benefits for the user but it may have a negative effect on society more people tend to live in their own worlds and not communicate with others. How will the product impact on the environment? o What materials? o How were the materials obtained? o What processes were used to create the product? o How much energy was consumed? o Can the product be recycled? o How will the product be disposed?

Suggest Modifications - Is there anything about my design that could be improved?

Describe any changes you would make. Add sketches to communicate your ideas more clearly.