Starting your IA
After you have decided on a broad topic for your IA, it is time to do research.
This is an opportunity to showcase your knowledge and application of the different research strategies we have looked at in our course (UCD, Anthropometric, Market research, etc.)
The research you do here should be focused on:
Understanding the user needs
Understanding the market
Understanding the problem
The research you do in these first steps will help you develop your Criterion A (Statement of the problem; Design Brief; and Design Specifications), and your Criterion F (Commercial production).
Setting up your Research Plan
1. Set up your your inquiry portfolio
The portfolio has been assigned to you through Google Classroom. Follow these steps:
Type your Candidate Number in the header
SL Students only: Delete the sections related to Criterion E and F
On page 1, paste a link to your NoodleTools project (see part 2 below)
Do ALL your work in this portfolio.
Follow the IB guidelines for formatting
2. Set up your NoodleTools Project
You will use NoodleTools to record your research and build your bibliography and citations.
Steps:
Set up a NoodleTools project
Title it "Name, Design IA, 2021" e.g Jiwon Kim, Design IA, 2021
Share this project with your teacher.
Paste a link to this project in your Portfolio, Page 1
Your NoodleTools project will be the record of your research. It will be used by your teacher to confirm the quality and authenticity of your research.
This is not included in the IA word count, and is not sent to the IB for assessment.
Where necessary, you should include a summary of your information in your inquiry portfolio.
Project Content
Create at least one Notecard for the following:
Bibliography/works cited
Primary Research
User Observation
Interviews
Surveys
Anthropometric and Human Factors
Market Research (HL)
Secondary Research
Market Research (HL)
Survey data, charts and tables from testing (Criterion D)
Evidence of research (photos, observations)
Transcripts of interviews
Using note cards
Use your notecards to collect and organize your research.
Add additional notecards to your project as your research develops.
3. Create your research plan
Your research plan is the first step in your IA. It should be focused on trying to identify the design opportunity, users and their needs, as well as understanding the context.
Create your research plan on the first page of your portfolio.
4. Develop and distribute a user survey
Surveys are one tool for gathering data about your user and their needs.
After initial research, into your user group, decide on what additional information you need to gather.
Task: Create a survey that collects primary quantitative and qualitative data to help your design direction.
Resources
5. Begin your research
After you have a plan, start to gather information about your design problem.
Remember to record your research in your NoodleTools project.