Design Process Index Page

THE CONTEXTUAL CHALLENGE Click here for the Video - "How to Deliver the Non-Examination Assessment" ITERATIVE DESIGN CYCLES Video - Iterative Design - Click below PDF FILE - CLICK HERE FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ITERATIVE DESIGN PROCESS (PREPARATION FOR CHANGES TO THE TEACHING OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE UK, FROM 2017) Courtesy of the World Association of Technology Teachers PDF FILE - How to Deliver the Non-Examination Assessment (NEA) PDF FILE - Student Version - The Non-Examination Assessment (NEA) 1. How Iterative Design Works 2. CYCLE ONE - From Design Problem to Specification 3. CYCLE TWO - From Design Concept to Initial Testing 4. CYCLE THREE - From Improved Designs to Initial Evaluation / Conclusions 5. CYCLE FOUR - From Selected Idea to Evaluation and Modifications PDF FILE - SUMMARY CARDS - ITERATIVE DESIGN CYCLE PDF FILE - DESIGN SHEETS FOR DISPLAY IN A CLASSROOM 6. IMPORTANT - Avoiding Design Fixation MORAL, ETHICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RELATING TO DESIGN, MANUFACTURING AND THE CONSUMER CLICK HERE FOR AN EXTENSIVE PDF FILE - MORALS, ETHICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION / ANAYLSIS EXERCISE SHEETS Evaluation Exercise - in this exercise, pupils are shown a product or a photograph of a product (follow link to see a three page pdf file, including an example, and two templates ready for use). The pupils write their evaluation / analysis directly on the sheet. This exercise is ideal for preparing pupils for analysis / evaluation in examinations and the NEA (Non-Examination Assessment)
	THE LINEAR DESIGN PROCESS
PROJECT STAGE (CLICK BELOW)	DESCRIPTION OF STAGE	TICK WHEN COMPLETE
RICH PICTURE	At the beginning of the project place the theme at the centre. Put words / themes that are connected to it, around it. Problem cards - Starter / Discussion Exercise
CUSTOMER PROFILE	Developing a Customer Profile - page1 - Who are your potential customers? Carry out a Customer Profile Questionnaire. You need to build a Potential Customer Profile. Then produce a final Client/Customer Profile Sheet, once you have been commissioned to design and make a product.
DESIGN PROBLEM AND DESIGN BRIEF	State the design problem clearly. Explain how you intend to solve it in general terms.
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH DESIGN PROBLEM AND BRIEF	An alternative approach to writing a design problem followed by a design brief, is to study the Client/Customer Profile Sheet. Identify the design problem/problems outlined by the customer / client and compose your Design Problem. Consider using this Problem Page, to help write this difficult aspect. PDF FILE - POSTER - FINDING A PROBLEM TO SOLVE THROUGH DESIGN Then write a design brief. Consider using this Brief Page, to help your write your Design Brief.
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO FINDING A PROBLEM AND WRITING A BRIEF	How to Identify an Everyday Design Problem. Advice - The Problem / Situation / Identification of Need Advice - Writing about the Client, Potential Customer Range and Brief
MOODBOARD	Produce a moodboard based on interviews and discussions with your client and the theme he / she wants you, as a designer, to research. The Designer and Moodboards - 1 Designer Inspiration and Moodboards - 2 Inspiration / Moodboards and Motifs Using a Mood Board for Analyitical Research
ANALYSIS	List as many questions as you can about the project you are attempting. E.g. What materials can I use ? What safety considerations must I keep in mind ?
SYNTHESIS	Answer the questions in the analysis.
PLANNING	Use a time chart and flow chart to plan your use of time.
RESEARCH	If you are to get a high grade you must put effort into this section. Remember, all research must be relevant to your project and constantly refer to the problem you are trying to solve. Produce at least one sheet on each of the following: Suitable materials for your project. Investigate the ways in which materials can be joined together - joints and fixings. The ergonomic factors that apply to your project. REVISION CARDS - The Difference between Anthropometrics and Ergonomics Safety factors related to your design problem. Write letters to manufacturers / shops. Research using the library. Research using the Internet / CD-ROMs/DVDs. Interview people with the aim of helping you to solve the design problem (record the interview). Carry out a survey / questionnaire and present the results as a pictogram/table of results Product Review - select an existing product and determine how it could be improved. This will help you develop your own ideas later. Collect pictures of existing products - photographs/catalogue pictures. How are existing products manufactured? Research other relevant areas such as electronic circuits.
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO RESEARCH - FOCUSSED ANALYITICAL RESEARCH	Focussed Analytical Research of Existing Products - This is research fully focussed on features and functions of existing products, that will help you design your product. Focussed Ergonomics Research based on the Direct Needs of the Client. Focussed Questionnaire
SPECIFICATION	Once you have completed your design you should specify in a paragraph or two what exactly you are going to do to solve this problem. Always refer to your research.
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH WRITING A JUSTIFIED SPECIFICATION	How to write a Justified Specification, with evidence / support through research and analysis.
IDEAS	Draw at least six ideas, with notes. The ideas should be different and not just the same idea slightly changed. Include environmental considerations (See additional sheet). Use Computer Aided Design (CAD) when drawing some of your designs/ideas.
DEVELOPMENT	To get the higher grades you must take your best idea and develop it further. One way of starting this section is to draw your best idea again and point out areas that can be improved. Areas may include, safety, colour scheme, cost, using a spreadsheet, shape, materials, mechanisms, circuits, systems diagram and the environment. You must show that you have considered Safety and the Consumer. You also need to develop a circuit for your project. You may need to show how mechanisms can be used as part of your design. How will all the parts/components be joined together? What joints and fixings will be needed? Stages of programming a microcontroller circuit (flow chart). Make a series of models and evaluate each one. Carry out a Product Comparison to help develop a design. Click here for Product Comparison layout sheet and templates. Include a Technical Data Sheet in your design project - Technical Data Sheet Template. Ask a Focus Group (group of individuals) their advice regarding your designs and models. Consider the Life Cycle of your product, presenting it as a graphical design sheet. Developing A Design From A Theme (1) - Developing A Design From A Theme (2) Practice Examination Question - Sample 'Theme' Development Design Sheet PDF FILE - POSTER - DESIGNING FROM A THEME PDF FILE - DEVELOPING AN IDEA FROM MATERIAL PROPERTIES PDF FILE - POSTER - SIMPLE IDEA TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH (GCSE LEVEL) BASIC IDEAS AND INITIAL DEVELOPMENT	Instead of producing an Ideas section followed by the Development section, combining both is an alternative design approach. Each design sheet should start with an initial idea and include some development. Sample Ideas Sheet 1 Sample Ideas Sheet 2 - Starting with an Existing Idea Sample Ideas Sheet 3 - Starting with Properties of Materials Sample Ideas Sheet - Starting with an Iconic Design Materials Research / Development - a Practical Approach Materials Research / Development Summary Sheet Advanced Material Tests
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH - DEVELOPING AN IDEA THROUGH MODELLING	Modelling an Idea with Corrugated Card The Card Model Development Section Model Making - Record of Manufacture Sample Scaled Model Summary Sheet Sample Layout to Model Making Sequence Drawing Sheets Model Making Sequence Drawing - 1 Model Making Sequence Drawing - 2
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH (AS/A2 LEVEL) IDEAS AND DEVELOPMENT - AN INTEGRATED APPROACH	This section shows alternative way of presenting your design ideas and developing them, in an integrated way. This is an alternative to having a separate section for drawing ideas and another section for the development. Aim to produce up to ten good quality sheets, that show the development of your product, from a basic idea to a developed final design. Click here for sheet 1 Click here for sheet 2 Click here for sheet 3 Click here for sheet 4 Click here for sheet 5 Click here for sheet 6 Click here for sheets 7, 8 and 9 (Final Developed Idea) Click here for sheet 10 (Working Drawing and Isometric View)
SOLUTION	Produce a working drawing of your solution with a parts list. This must have measurements and constructional details. You may prefer to produce a Parts Sheet first. A three dimensional drawing can also be attempted.
MANUFACTURE	Produce planning sheets to show each stage of production - a flowchart, time chart, and sketch sequence drawings. Further information on sequence drawings. Make a further model. Make the solution. Keep a Basic Logbook up to date Real World Manufacture (explanation and sample sheets). Revision Cards - Real World Manufacturing. Summary / Guidance Sheet.
ALTERNATIVE DETAILED LOGBOOK / PRODUCTION LOG	A Detailed Log Book of Manufacturing Key Terminology to be included in a Manufacturing Log Book Example Production Log Example Statements / Sentences for a Production Log My Economic use of Materials
MANUFACTURING SPECIFICATION	The Manufacturing Specification is an alternative to producing separate sheets for the manufacturing flow chart, sequence drawing and final 3D drawing. It is a concise sheet, which summaries each of these design sheets. When creating this sheet, check everything you write and draw against the specification you wrote earlier in the project, after the research section. Click here for further information on the Manufacturing Specification.
EVALUATION	Do not forget this important section. Evaluate your product. State the good and bad points. Does the solution answer the design brief ? Spend some time on this section. You should include social issues, health and safety, ethical and environmental issues. EVALUATION / ANAYLSIS EXERCISE SHEETS Evaluation Exercise - in this exercise, pupils are shown a product or a photograph of a product (follow link to see a three page pdf file, including an example, and two templates ready for use). The pupils write their evaluation / analysis directly on the sheet. This exercise is ideal for preparing pupils for analysis / evaluation in examinations and the NEA (Non-Examination Assessment)
TESTING AND EVALUATION - AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH	An alternative approach to evaluating a product, is to test evaluate in an integrated way. Using this approach, a developed product (usually a prototype) is put through a number of tests and the results recorded. Testing and Evaluation - Why? Testing and Evaluation Sheet 1 Testing and Evaluation Sheet 2
MARKETING A PRODUCT	Marketing your Product - 1 My Product - Why I have chosen TV Advertising SAMPLE: MY FILM STRIP - PRODUCT NAME: inSIGHT SAMPLE: Poster Campaign - inSight MP3 SAMPLES: Advertising on Buses and Bus Shelters - inSIGHT MP3 SAMPLES: Further Posters - inSIGHT MP3 SAMPLE: Marketing a Product through Magazine Reviews USEFUL LINKS 1. Advertising - an Introduction 2. Advertising - Questions and Answers PDF FILE - PRINTABLE ADVERTISING QUESTION REVISION CARDS - Methods of Advertising

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Below is the contents list of the 'Design Process' section of this website. This section gives detailed information on each stage of designing and examples regarding many stages involved in the building of a successful folder / project. Another section called 'Project Template' gives blank design templates for each stage of a project / folder. The entire template is available as a download / printable PDF document (see below).

PDF FILE - CLICK HERE FOR THE DESIGN TEMPLATE - PRINTABLE VERSION

PDF FILE - CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE DESIGN PROCESS CHECK LIST

When working through a project you must use a range of drawing techniques and also Information Technology must play an important part.

1. DRAWING TECHNIQUES
2. USING I.C.T.


In order to achieve higher grades it is essential that your project follows the full design process. For each section listed below there are detailed information sheets and guidance sheets later in this information pack. Below is a project check list: