Candidates should be able to:
generate conceptual ideas and evaluate them using an iterative design process, leading to the creation of a design proposal
Candidates generate at least three ideas to meet the Design Brief and Design Specification. The ideas must be supported with annotated sketches and Research to feed into the design ideas.
Candidates evaluate the three ideas against the design specification, using an iterative design process, and produce a design proposal.
Research takes place in both Stages 1 and 2. In Stage 1 you use the research to identify a situation or need. In Stage 2 the research is focused on the information needed to create a design proposal.
(a) Generate at least three ideas
use of freehand sketches with annotations to communicate a range of innovative ideas
summary of the research used to inspire the design ideas (for example, design movements or fashion and trends)
Candidates should produce a range of ideas. A range of ideas is considered to be at least three ideas that are significantly different. Candidates can submit more than three ideas but they should focus on the quality of the ideas rather than the quantity.
The ideas should satisfy the design brief and design specification produced in Stage 1.
Freehand sketches are a good way of showing creativity in design thinking. Candidates can use electronic devices such as sketching directly on to a tablet with a stylus pen. However, formal CAD drawings such as orthographic views must not be submitted in Stage 2.
(b) Evaluate at least three ideas
ongoing evaluation of the ideas
summative evaluation of the ideas against the design specification produced in Stage 1
(c) Iterative design process used to produce a design proposal
positive features from the ideas combined and refined to create a design proposal
further market research of potential end-users completed to create a design proposal
design proposal checked against the design specification produced in Stage 1
My suggestion is to initially create one full A3 sheet with a range of 'thumbnail' quick concept sketches in blue pencil / fine line pen only, with anywhere between 10 -15 sketches as a starting point. These should be generated from your Design Specification and Design Brief and you will then look to select at least 3 of these initial concept ideas to explore and develop, in detail, further. You will use additional research to help the development of the ideas towards a Design Proposal.
Then, once you have generated a wide range of quick thoughts you need to select one of those ideas (or combine a couple together).
You will then explore this one idea in detail, considering different views (2D and 3D), alongside making development changes / proposals, alongside some test / quick scale models to look at form and possible material selection (use of Procreate to add materials). This idea should satisfy / match what you have stated in your Design Brief and Design Specification. You need to use the reference codes from your Specification alongside annotations that evaluate your ongoing design idea - good / bad, positive / negative etc.
You then need to repeat this process for two more of your quick concept design ideas.
Lastly, you need to evaluate all 3 of your design ideas against the design brief and specification, identifying which is the strongest of your 3 ideas (you can of course do more but CAIE only state they want 3!)
You should then conduct some further market research of potential end-users to complete your design ideas phase and create a design proposal from one of your ideas, or a combination of your design ideas.
This design proposal should be checked against the design specification produced in Stage 1 to show how well it meets the criteria.
Measuring actual users to inform size / fit. You can use the book 'the meausre of man' or Google sources