DESIGN PROBLEM

DESIGN BRIEF

HOW CARRY OUT RESEARCH

V. Ryan © 2001

The Library - Go the the library and look up information related to your project. Collect anything that could be useful - written work, information diagrams, pictures and present all this in your folder. You may need to photocopy.

Materials - Collect information about a range of materials and include this in the research section. Remember, you must always say how the materials could be used in your designs or why they are not suitable. Never copy straight from a book.

What information on materials do you need to collect ?

Photographs - Take photographs of anything that will help you in your research. For example, if you are designing a toy for a very young child you could visit a nursery and take photographs of children using toys and include this in your research section.

What could you photograph for your project ?

Personal interview - Interview someone who may be able to help you with your research. For example, if you are designing a clock, interview someone who deals with clocks or even helps to make them. Tape the interview and hand it in as part of the research.

Who could be interviewed and what information could they give you ?

Test existing examples - If possible, collect some existing examples of the type of product you are designing and test them. Do they work properly ? Can they be improved in any way ? Write an account of each test and take photographs or video.

Ergonomics and Anthropometrics - (see separate sheet) These two areas apply to all projects. At least one sheet should be devoted to this area.

What ergonomics information will you need to research ?

Environmental and Cultural aspects - What are the environmental benefits of the products you have researched? How do they benefit us ?

How could you apply the environment to your project ?

The Survey/Questionnaire - You must carry out a questionnaire and present the results as a pictogram or graph. Usually pupils present the results as a table of statistics as well.

Examples from Catalogues / newspapers / books etc.... Photocopy / draw examples from books and catalogues and arrange them carefully on sheets of A3 paper. Write notes about the pictures and always say what you think of the examples.

Name some existing products and how much they cost.

CD-ROM / Internet - Use a CD-ROM to find information that you could include in your project. This may involve using an encyclopaedia on CD to look up information. Always state clearly that the information was printed from an encyclopaedia on CD-ROM. This type of research will gain you extra marks.

Name a website that may be useful for researching your product/design problem.

Safety - You must look at the safety of any item you are designing. Look at existing examples and make notes stating clearly what is good in terms of safety or how they could be improved.

Colours / Themes / Image etc... Choosing the right colours or colour scheme is very important for most projects. Investigate different colours and shades of colour and try them out on paper. Add your comments.

Mass Production - Explain how the product you have researched was made on a production line.

THE DEVELOPMENT SECTION

V. Ryan © 2001-2006

The Development follows the IDEAS section. A good way to start a development is to draw your best idea in the middle of the page and write around it areas of your design that need improving. For instance, you may need to improve the colour scheme OR the circuit may need improving further. Alongside each area write a few notes of explanation. Then, produce one A4 sheet for each area e.g. See circuit ‘development'.

CAN YOUR DESIGN BE IMPROVED ?

MATERIALS - You must choose materials and state how they can be combined to produce your final design.

COLOUR - Produce a colour scheme for the final design.

SAFETY - You may be able to show how you have improved the safety aspect of your design.

COST - Work out the cost of your product. You may wish to use a spreadsheet for this purpose.

CIRCUIT - Select a circuit from the ideas section and improve it further - stage by stage.

MECHANISM - You may need to develop mechanisms or gear systems for your project.

SHAPE - Can you improve the shape of your design ? If so show how.

INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURE - You must draw each stage of your ‘products’ manufacture (in industry).

Above is an example of an educational toy. Notes are arranged around the drawing, referring to various aspects of the design that can be improved or need developing

THE EVALUATION

V. Ryan © 2001-2006

Designers evaluate their finished products or prototypes in order to test whether they work well and if the design can be corrected or improved. Whatever you have designed it is important to evaluate your work constantly during the project.
Evaluation can take a variety of forms:

General discussion with other pupils, staff and others.
Questionnaires / surveys carried out at any time during the project.
Your personal views, what you think of existing designs.
Most important of all - what do you think of your designs, prototypes and finished products ?
Can you think of any other ways of evaluating your work ?

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS WHEN WRITING YOUR FINAL EVALUATION

The final evaluation is often neglected because it is the last part to any design and make project. Do not make the mistake of completing it quickly or not doing it at all. The final evaluation is usually quite easy to write and counts for a high proportion of the marks.