Project 1: Move It! Design Challenge

 Main learning objectives:

• Mechanical linkages

• Sketch using shape borrowing

• Making prototype using resistant materials

A mechanical linkage is an assembly of bodies connected to manage forces and movement.  It allows controlling the speed or distance or direction of moments with conversion or transmission.

Examples of Linkage Toys

• Observe the video and pictures, identify the fixed and movable pivots.

• Click here to learn more about linkages.

Design Situation

World Vision Singapore is a humanitarian organisation that partners with vulnerable communities around the world to improve the lives of children. Many of these children grow up in environments affected by poverty, limited school resources, or unstable living conditions. As a result, they may have fewer opportunities to learn through play — a key part of healthy childhood development.

Research highlighted by World Vision shows that early childhood experiences strongly shape a child’s emotional, cognitive and social growth. Simple, meaningful toys can help children develop imagination, fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and provide emotional comfort in difficult environments.

Inspired by World Vision’s work, the Craft & Technology Department at Tampines Secondary School aims to encourage students to design with empathy. This year, the department is organising a toy-making challenge to contribute meaningfully to children served by World Vision’s programmes. Students will design and create a mechanical linkage toy that can bring joy, support early learning, and add a moment of hope to a child’s day.

Through this project, you will learn how thoughtful design can make a positive impact on real users, even through simple mechanisms, storytelling and purposeful play.

Act 1 : User Needs Analysis

Discovering the Problem Using 5Ws & 1H

Purpose:
Before you design, you must understand who the user is and what they need. This will help you write your Design Need ( given), Design Brief, and Design Specifications, as required in the D&T Design Process model.
 

• Who Guiding Question: Who will use this toy? What do children supported by World Vision enjoy playing with?

• What: What toy can you make with linkages and lights that is fun and helps children learn?

• Where: Where will the children use this toy, and how should the choice of materials (e.g. acrylic) make it durable and safe for their environment?

• When: When will the toy be used — for example, during playtime, learning activities, or as a keepsake — and how should this affect its size, portability, and design features?

• Why: Why should the toy include motion and light (LED), and how can a story or theme make it more meaningful and engaging for the children?

• How: How can linkages be used to create smooth and interesting movements (e.g., circular to oscillating or reciprocating motion)? How can you make the toy tell a story

Design Brief 

In D&T, a Design Brief is a short and clear statement that explains what you are going to design and why. 

A Design Brief is a short, focused statement that tells:

1. What you are designing

2. Who you are designing it for

3. Why you are designing it
   
   

In the Lower Secondary D&T Syllabus, this is part of Needs Analysis, where you must “write a design need, design brief and design specifications” after identifying the user and the problem.

Design Brief 

In D&T, a Design Brief is a short and clear statement that explains what you are going to design and why. 

A Design Brief is a short, focused statement that tells:

4. What you are designing

5. Who you are designing it for

6. Why you are designing it
   
   

In the Lower Secondary D&T Syllabus, this is part of Needs Analysis, where you must “write a design need, design brief and design specifications” after identifying the user and the problem.

Design Specifications

Design Specifications are detailed requirements the final product MUST meet.

These requirements come from analysing the User, Environment, and Function, size, materials, Safety and Aesthetics. 

They must be:

• Specific

• Measurable

• Linked to the user’s needs

• Testable
  
  

✔ Your example’s Design Specifications:

1. User:
   “The design must be easy and comfortable for elderly users to operate with one hand.”

2. Environment:
   “The design must be suitable for use in small home gardens or balconies.”

3. Function:
   “The design must use a linkage mechanism to help lift or tilt a watering container.”

4. Size:
   “The design must be compact and lightweight for easy handling with one hand.”

5. Materials:
   “The design must be made from strong, light, and water-resistant materials like acrylic or metal.

6. Safety:
   “The design must be stable and safe, with no sharp edges or finger traps.”

7. Aesthetics:
   “The design must look neat and appealing for a home-garden setting.”
   
   

✔ Why these are good Design Specifications:

• They cover User, Environment, Function, Size, Materials, Safety, Aesthetics

• They match the criteria stated in the syllabus (“consider relevant factors such as user, functionality and environment”)

• They describe exactly what the prototype must achieve

• They are testable (you can check: is it light? safe? easy to use?)
  
  

👉 Design Specifications act like “rules” or “checkpoints” to ensure your design meets the needs of the user.

Complete Act 1: Design Specifications in your google slides

1. User: ………………………………………………………………................………………………………

2. Environment……………………………………………………...............…………………………………

3. Function …………….………………………………………................……………………………………

4. Size………………………………………………………….....................…………………………………

5. Materials…………………………………………………................………………………………………

6. Safety……………………………………………………....................……………………………………

7. Aesthetics ………………………………………….................……………………………………………

Act 2: Ideation ( shape borrowing) 2D

Every design starts with an idea. Ideate using 2D sketches to show how your mechanism should function as intended with the design theme shown. Your task should show the following.:

• Considering relevant factors when generating and developing ideas.

• Sketching to design (2D)

• Complete 8 designs using the underlay (Annex B) provided.

• You design should consider which part of your mechanical linkage toy should moves and also the position of the LED.

Act 5: Development ( Mockup)

From your designs, choose one to make a quick mock-up using cardboard/vanguard sheets, brass paper fasteners and ice cream sticks to test your design.  The mock-up should be of scale 1:1. Get all relevant dimensions and paste your mock-up in your resource booklet.

The purpose of a mock-up is to :

• allow you to test your design if it works and check if it looks right from different angle.

• check if the design works up to your design specifications.

• check if the parts can fit together correctly.

• from your chosen design, identify the body and the moving part 

Video of Soldering, Testing of LED and assembling the circuit

Act 7: Prototyping

Act 8:  Rendered Isometric sketch of the developed design

As a designer, it is important to communicate succinctly the proposed design solution in relation to the design brief and design specifications. It should show the functional and aesthetic details using appropriate graphical skills to highlight the practicality and appropriateness of the proposed design solution. In act 4, you are to draw a rendered isometric sketch of your final developed design.