DP Design Technology - Introduction to the project

Internal Assessment /
Design Project

The design project is an open-ended task in which a student must identify, analyse, evaluate and redesign an existing product to meet the needs of an intended user(s). As part of the project, students need to develop a protoype for testing and evaluation purposes.

The Design Project

To complete the design project, you will use the design thinking process, an iterative, non-linear problem-solving approach that places a strong emphasis on empathy, collaboration, and iterative prototyping to address user problems.

This method encourages you to move back and forth, revisit and repeat stages as needed, fostering flexibility and responsiveness to new insights or changes in project requirements. The iterative nature of the process enables continual refinement and improvement of the intended solution.

The design thinking process in DP design technology (ibo.org)

Projects to consider

You have a range of opportunities to consider for your inquiry:

Redesign an existing product with the goal of improving its performance, environmental sustainability, efficiency, etc.
Develop a new variation of a product that addresses a unique problem based on user research
Addresses a need in your community (local, school, cultural, etc) where a product needs redesign
Be inspired by the UN sustainability goals

Projects to avoid

In general, it is best to avoid the following types of projects as they cannot fully address all the criteria needed in the Design Inquiry and do not meet the scope and sequence of DP Design:

Websites, Multimedia presentations
Smartphone apps, Digital interfaces, Software
Projects that are clearly solving your own personal problem or need as these don't allow authentic user research, testing, and feedback.

Assessment Criteria

The internally assessed component of the course is divided into four sections at SL and six at HL.

A: Empathise
B: Defining the project
C: Ideation and Modelling
D: Designing a Solution
E: Presenting a Solution

pages detailing the requirements of each section coming soon

The five IA criteria aim to assess different aspects of the DP design process.

Section A (Empathise) is more heavily weighted to support the importance of user-centered design and research.

Sections B-E are equally weighted to show the importance of each aspect to the overall quality of the design project. The design project is framed by the design process, meaning the design methodology will be similar for each student.

However, students are able to meet the requirements of the assessment criteria using multiple communication modes and media. The assessment criteria are not designed to be a tick-chart mark scheme and the requirements of each section allow the students to be flexible with their approach. As such, a certain degree of interpretation is inevitable.

Clarifications of the assessment criteria, found in the Design technology guide, are designed to help focus on the intention of each section, rather than be seen as a definitive approach.

Command Terms

Candidates must understand the requirements of the command terms used in the assessment criteria. The command terms are used to differentiate performance between the mark bands in most cases.

Analyse: Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure.
Demonstrate: Make clear by reasoning or evidence, illustrating with examples or practical application.
Describe: Give a detailed account.
Evaluate: Make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations.
Identify: Provide an answer from a number of possibilities.
Justify: Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion.
List: Give a sequence of brief answers with no explanation.
Outline: Give a brief account or summary.
Present: Offer for display, observation, examination or consideration.
State: Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.

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