Microbit gaming device Design Ideas

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Designing around a standard component

During this project, you will design around a standard component. This standard component is featured above and on the left. It is a case that will hold your Micro:bit in place and protect it. You must design your device shape around it.

QR Code

Scan this QR code to see the holder in AR on your device.

Initial design ideas

Initial design ideas are you first ideas about how to solve the design brief. Your initial design ideas should be quick sketches that communicate the overall concept but may lack some of the finer detail (you develop detail later).

Your ideas should be well presented so that the concept is communicated well but should not take you a long time to produce.

How to present your design ideas on a template

Use the template to mark out and sketch your initial ideas.

Ghost lines should be used when sketching with a pencil.

A 0.5mm fine line pen should be used to outline your model.

Digital Procreate designs can be added after sketch designs have been rendered and are complete.

Rendering has been finished and 2 colours have been blended or faded together. The colour effect will be the main feature - therefore there is a simple yet smooth to hold design and a multilayered colour texture.

Softer lighter shadows are more effective than the dark heavy shadows in the left 2 examples. Shadows can help to push your design forward and create a 3D effect.

Click here to download your template https://drive.google.com/file/d/1po9k8mo3lSu9ehjPKPomJ9W--PP533_u/view?usp=sharing

Once you have downloaded your template you can open it in Procreate and begin your digital Procreate renderings.

1. Centre lines and guide lines

Use centre lines and guide lines to sketch the rough shape and proportion of the standard component.

Center lines and guide lines will also help with the symmetry.

Lines of symmetry can help balance both sides of the shape or help mirror each side so that they are the same - imagine wings of a butterfly.

Hold the pencil at the end to get very light and soft lines.

2. Sketching

Sketch lightly in pencil to get your ideas on the paper quickly. You should be using ghost lines for all pencil lines.

Hold the pencil right at the end to get a soft line.

3. Thin fine line pen

Use a thin fine line pen to make your work stand out. 0.5mm or 0.3mm will be perfect for outlining.

4. Thicker fine line pen

Use a thicker fine line pen around the outline only to make ideas stand out. This should be around the outside edge of your design.

5. Rendering

Render your ideas with coloured pencil crayons to show colour and shadows to help communicate the shape.

6. Add annotation notes

Annotations are notes that describe and explain your design thinking.

You should comment on the design idea, how it works and why you have designed it a certain way.

Highlight any special feature and comment on your opinion of your own work.

As a general rule, your annotations should support the communication of your ideas.

Step 1 - Soft ghost lines to sketch out the new designs.

Example of ghost lines

Step 2 - Fine lining over your ghost lines. Also fine line neatly.

Step 3 - Render to add colour and tone to your work.

Task

Present 1 A4 page of Initial design ideas.

You should use the sketching techniques shown to you by your teacher and include a title

You must produce a minimum of 4 ideas and fine line, render and annotate them.

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Original and unique designs are the best.

A clear presentation and layout looks great.

Fine line all the shapes.

Render with care to show dark, medium and light tones. Always blend.

Neat designs with neat annotations score top.

Carefully rendering gives the best results.

Fine lined edges and rendered edges should be very neat.

Think carefully about the smaller details.

Annotating designs is really important to help explain your ideas. Annotated labels can describe the theme or style and even mention what materials you are panning to use.