During the first stage, designers must explain and justify the need for their project. Generally, this is also when designers research, explore existing products, produce an initial sketch and create a design brief, which identifies what materials are needed and what will actually be designed.

Some questions students should answer in this step of the design cycle are:

• What is the problem?

• What are possible solutions?

• What is needed to create the solution?

• What challenges might occur while creating the solution?

Next, concepts become more sophisticated. This is the stage when students make design specifications, determine how many materials are required, estimate the time needed and go over details such as colour and scale. Additionally, this is when the rudimentary sketch from the previous stage becomes a blueprint with precise measurements.

Some questions students should answer in this step of the design cycle are:

• What does my solution look like (students accomplish this with a design sketch)?

• What materials will my solution require?

• What is my timeline?

Here, technical skills are used to physically follow the plan to make the solution. At this point, designers should feel prepared to take their ideas off paper and create them with physical materials. However, during this stage, designers shouldn't feel handcuffed by their design and should be open to thinking on the spot. Initial testing occurs during this stage and if obstacles are encountered, changes can be made to optimize and improve the original plan.

Some questions students should answer in this step of the design cycle are:

• What changes have I made to my design?

• Am I on schedule (and on budget, if applicable)?

• Is my solution working as intended?

This is when different testing methods are developed, the success of the solution is judged and any improvements to make the solution are identified. From here, the different stages can be repeated to further develop or advance the solution.

Some questions students should answer in this step of the design cycle are:

• What is my solution?

• Does my solution work as intended? How do I know?

• How does my solution compare to other similar ideas?

• How can my solution be improved?