The 5 graded criteria are based on the Design Thinking Process model:

Empathize, Define, Ideate & Model, Design, Present

This is a starting point that can be modified. Note that grade and requirement descriptors are in the Speaker Notes. 

Use this list of design specification categories to:

1: Help guide the investigation of a problem to justify why it is a problem 

2: For the creation of the exact product design specifications

3: To evaluate ideas and justify their feasibility

4: Develop testing methods of important Design Specifications 

Note: Make sure that if a specification is marked as High Priority, you then design and test for it. i.e.: if you have 15 high priority specs, you should test those 15 specs in those criteria sections. 

If you do not have clear evidence of research and repeated field testing of iterative models on actual clients, you will not get higher than a “4” on your IA.