The Design Process — Interactive Workbook

Student: _______________   |   Class: _______________

The Design Process

Step 1: Design Brief

What is a Design Brief?
A design brief is a short written description of what you are going to design and make. Answer these questions: What are you making? Who is it for? Why is it needed? What rules or limits are there?
Example: "My design brief is to create a device that stops chairs from scraping on the floor. I am making this for my classroom because the noise is very distracting during quiet work time. My limitations are that I can only use cardboard, tape, and rubber bands, and it must be finished in 30 minutes."
My Design Brief is to create I am going to design and build The purpose of my project is to
I am making this for This is designed for The target user is
It is needed because This would help solve the problem of Without this solution,
My limitations are I can only use I must finish within
Word Bank — click a word to add it
designcreate buildsolve improveprotect reduceprevent comfortablesafe efficientpractical durablelightweight portableaffordable studentsteachers classroomschool materialstime limit budgetsize

Aim to write at least 2 sentences for each section above.

Step 2: Planning — Generation of Ideas

Brainstorm at least 3 ideas to solve your problem. For each idea, give it a name, sketch a quick drawing, and describe how it would work. Then choose your best idea with the star button.
Sketching tips: Draw quickly — sketches don't need to be perfect! Label the important parts. Show the size or scale. Use arrows to show how things move or connect. Add notes about materials you would use.

Idea 1

This idea works by It would be made from

Idea 2

This idea works by It would be made from

Idea 3

This idea works by It would be made from
Word Bank — click a word to add it
sketchidea brainstormconcept prototypecardboard tapestring paperglue scissorscraft sticks rubber bandsfabric measurecut joinattach assemblefold

Step 3: Production — Making Time!

Time to build! Use the equipment provided to MAKE a solution to your problem. As you build, record the steps you follow below and sketch your final product.

Making Log — What did you do?

Record each step of your making process in order.

1
2
3

Sketch your final product

Draw what your finished product looks like. Label the important parts!

My finished product is The materials I used were I changed my original design because

Step 4: Testing & Evaluation

Test your design and evaluate its success by answering at least 5 of the questions below. Use full sentences in your answers.
Question: "Did your project work the way you planned?"
Good answer: "My project mostly worked the way I planned. The rubber feet I made stopped the chairs from scraping, but they kept falling off because I only used tape. Next time I would use stronger glue to attach them."
You have answered 0 out of 9 questions. (Minimum: 5)
1. Did your project work the way you planned?
My project worked well because My project did not work as planned because
2. Does it solve the problem in the design brief?
Yes, it solves the problem because It partly solves the problem because
3. Is it strong and safe to use?
It is strong because It could be made stronger by
4. What was the hardest part?
The hardest part was I found it challenging to
5. What skills did you learn?
I learned how to A new skill I developed was
6. What would you improve next time?
Next time I would improve If I did this again, I would change
7. Does it look neat and well finished?
My product looks To improve the appearance, I could
8. Did you follow the size, time and material limits?
I followed the limits by I went over the limit because
9. What was the best part of your project?
The best part of my project was I am most proud of

Overall Reflection

Overall, I think my project was The most important thing I learned was

Self-Assessment: How well did you go?

Click a star to rate your effort (1 = needs improvement, 5 = excellent)

Word Bank — click a word to add it
successfuleffective improvedstrong sturdyweak modificationadjustment enhancementlearned discoveredrealised challengesolution creativefunctional