This module looks at the value of evaluating designs, referred to as the design breaking part of a design innovation process. We explain some methods for evaluating design solutions, introduce fundamental design principles and see how designers are applying these methods in industry design innovation projects.

Learning Objectives

• Evaluate design solutions using methods that involve users, customers, and other stakeholders

• Apply design concepts for evaluating designed artefacts

• Identify the appropriate use of design concepts

A.Introduction to design breaking

B. How to evaluate concepts

C.Identifying and using design principles

D. Experimentation and testing in the industry

Question 1

Why is it important to break design solutions as early and often as possible? (Select all that apply)

• To speed up the process of finding a new, successful solution

• To ensure the best possible solution    

• As each iteration enables more refined features and functionality   

• To rapidly critique and iterate design concepts

Question 2

True or false?

User-based evaluation methods are best to use early on in the design process?

• True

• False

Question 3

The main purpose of assessing solutions against design principles is to:   

• avoid fundamental design flaws.   

• ensure people understand how to use a product or service.   

• create a perfect solution.

• evaluate the solution's functionality.   

Question 4

What is the design principle of affordance?

• By looking at an object you know how to use it   

• Providing users with information about the result of an action   

• Applying the same procedure to multiple products or services

• Reducing the number of possible actions   

Question 5

True or false?

User-focused evaluation methods are limited to evaluating the usability of a design solution.

• True

• False

Question 6

The steering wheel of a car and the volume button on a remote control have which design principle in common? 

• Affordances

• Constraints

• Mapping    

• Consistency

• Feedback

Question 7

Shortcut operations on software applications and the use of symbols for rewind, play, start and stop on remote controls are examples of which design principle?

• Affordances

• Constraints

• Mapping     

• Consistency   

• Feedback

Question 8

A button that lights up when pressed and status bars on software programs are examples of which design principle?

• Affordances

• Constraints

• Mapping    

• Consistency

• Feedback   

Module 4 reading list

Nielsen, J. (1995, January 1). Summary of usability inspection methods. Retrieved from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/summary-of-usability-inspection-methods/

Norman, D. A. (1999). Affordance, conventions, and design. Interactions, 6(3), 38-43. Retrieved from https://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/affordance_conventions_and_design_part_2.html

Question 1

Breaking a design solution:

(Select all that apply)

• involves testing with your users.

• requires you to embrace failure.

• helps you to learn about context.

• allows you to explore multiple solutions.

Question 2

According to Donald Norman, what is the difference between “affordance" and "perceived affordances”?

Norman, D. A. (1999). Affordance, conventions, and design. Interactions, 6(3), 38-43. Retrieved from https://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/affordance_conventions_and_design_part_2.html

• Perceived affordance describes what actions the user perceives to be possible; affordances are properties of the world.

• Perceived affordance is the same as real affordance.   

• Perceived affordance is only used in screen-based interfaces; affordance is only used in physical products.

Question 3

What are the three approaches to the breaking part of the design process?

• Idea and concept generation, assessing solutions against design principles and critiquing the final product or service.    

• Designing with breaking in mind, evaluating designs with users and assessing solutions against design principles.  

• Designing with breaking in mind, assessing solutions against design principles and critiquing the final product or service.    

• Idea and concept generation, evaluating designs with users and assessing solutions against design principles.   

Question 4

When can user-based evaluation methods be used?   

• Early in the design process

• At the end of the design process   

• In the middle of the design process   

• Throughout the design process    

Question 5

Which of the following are common evaluation methods? (Select all that apply)

• • Evaluation testing   

  • Controlled user testing   

  • Stakeholder analysis    

  • Evaluation walk-through   

Question 6

Why are expert-based evaluation methods used?

• To iterate to move onto new concepts    

• To quickly and cheaply assess a solution against certain design criteria

• To identify how the users are

• To evaluate solutions with users

Question 7

Which response below is not a design principle?   

• Mapping   

• Consistency   

• Affordances   

• Effectiveness    

Question 8

Which example below is not an example of a physical constraint?   

• A nut and a bolt   

• A USB and a USB port   

• A nail and a hammer   

• A key and a key hole   

Question 9

What design constraint is illustrated in this image?

• Physical constraint   

• Configuration constraint   

• Logical constraint    

• Material constraint   

Question 10

A button that lights up when pressed and status bars on software programs are examples of which design principle?

• Mapping    

• Constraints

• Feedback   

• Consistency

• Affordances

In this assessment task, we invite you to evaluate an everyday design solution against the principles that we covered in the third video in this module, "Identifying and using design principles".

The principles we cover in that video are:

• Affordances

• Constraints

• Mapping

• Consistency

• Feedback

Review criteria

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Your assignment should:

• provide an image of an everyday design solution,

• provide a brief description of the design solution and its function,

• nominate the design principles the design solution demonstrates,

• explain how  the design solution demonstrates the design principles,

• support your explanation with references to the content from the videos and/or other resources.

You will then be required to review the work of 2 of your peers using the marking criteria provided.

Review fellow learners

Award points and give constructive feedback using the grading criteria provided (if any). Follow these tips to make the most of your learning experience:

• Offer specific ideas or suggestions that the learner can apply right away. Be encouraging and supportive.

• Use a translation tool if you have a preferred language that’s different from the learner you’re reviewing. Language usage is never a grading criteria.

• Review 3 or more assignment submissions to receive a grade. Help more learners complete this course by giving more reviews.