B1: develop design specifications, which clearly states the success criteria for the design of a solution
B1: develop design specifications, which clearly states the success criteria for the design of a solution
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Your design specifications should come from the Design Brief (A4). Essentially, you are describing what a successful design that matches the brief would look like.
Your design specifications should come from the Design Brief (A4). Essentially, you are describing what a successful design that matches the brief would look like.
Specifications can be divided into two categories:
Specifications can be divided into two categories:
Constraints
Constraints
These are elements of the design that cannot be changed. They are limitations or essential requirements for the design. Dimensions (Size), Cost, Material or Process are examples of constraints.
Considerations
Considerations
These are elements of the design that must be thought about. These often have multiple solutions and it is up to the designer to find the optimum solution
Constraints and Evaluation (Criterion D)
Constraints and Evaluation (Criterion D)
In Criterion D of MYP Design, you test your design to measure how well it matches your specifications. This is how you measure how successful the design is. It is important, therefore, that your specifications are measurable in some way. Being as clear as possible in each specification will be vey important.
Clear, well-defined, and relevant specifications are important because you will refer to your specifications (B1) throughout the design cycle. You will use the specifications to guide the development of your ideas (B2), justify the selection of the final design (B3), and in the designing of tests (D1) and evaluation of your final design (D2).
B1: Tips and Tools
B1: Tips and Tools
Use your Design Brief (A4) to develop your specifications
Be as specific as possible
Consider how the specification will be tested - if it can't be tested or evaluated, then don't include it
Write your A4, B1, and D1 together. This way you can ensure that your specifications are related to the brief and can be tested.
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Build the box: Tool and worksheet for generating specifications
Writing tips
Writing tips
Be concise and specific in your writing. Organize your statements using the following formula:
Statement + Connector+ Justification or example.
Connectors
Connectors
These words connect your ideas. Use them to connect your statement to the justification/example
therefore
so...
however
thus
in order to
Modals
Modals
These modify the strength of your statement. You can use them if you don't want your statement to be too strong.
could
must
may
should
Examples
Examples
The portable laptop stand must be assembled in 30 seconds without special tools in order to meet the users need fo quick-assembly.
The device should use renewable solar energy in order to reduce the environmental impact of its use. Therefore, it should have a place for solar panels to be attached.
Design Specifications
Design Specifications
In MYP Design, Design Specifications can include the sections below. Depending on the nature of the design, and the type of inquiry, you may only include a few of these:
In MYP Design, Design Specifications can include the sections below. Depending on the nature of the design, and the type of inquiry, you may only include a few of these:
Performance Considerations
Performance Considerations
These are related to what the product must do and how it functions.
Write your Performance considerations in a broad way so that you can still explore different possibilities and innovate.
Good Examples
Good Examples
These examples are specific and detailed
The portable laptop stand must be assembled in 30 seconds without special tools in order to meet the user's need for quick-assembly.
All the equipment necessary for controlling the greenhouse and growing plants needs to fit in or on the design in some way. This would include systems for holding plants and water, as well as space for the arduino controller, LED lights, power supply, and cabling.
The design must allow microgreens to grow. Thus, it should provide a way to manage temperature, water, and light.
Poor Examples
Poor Examples
These examples don't provide specific details nor are they easily measurable
It must be easy to use.
It must work correctly
Environmental Considerations
Environmental Considerations
These are related to the impact of the product on the environment. This could be how it is produced in a sustainable manner, or the amount and type of energy it uses.
There are many aspects to environmental considerations. But you can consider three general areas:
Materials: The type and amount of materials used to manufacture a product
Processes: The way a product is made
Use: The environmental impact of using a product. These could include the type of power needed (renewable vs non-renewable energy)
Good Examples
Good Examples
These examples are specific and describe and justify the choices based on environmental considerations.
The chair must be produced from reclaimed wood so that its impact on the environment is reduced. By using reclaimed wood no new wood will be used in the construction of the chair.
The glue should be non-toxic so that is does not harm people or the environment. My research shows that PVA wood glue is a good choice because of it is non-toxic and bonds well to wood.
The device should use renewable solar energy in order to reduce the environmental impact of its use. Therefore, it should have a place for solar panels to be attached.
Poor Examples
Poor Examples
The examples below do not provide any specific details
My design should be made from recycled materials.
The design should not hurt the environment.
Aesthetic Considerations
Aesthetic Considerations
These are related to how the product looks, feels, tastes, smells, etc.
Your aesthetic considerations should be justified by some research you have done in Criterion A2 or A3.
Good Examples
Good Examples
Each of these examples justifies the aesthetic choices based on research or user needs.
The phone cover should be white or light grey in order to meet users' preferences based on my research
My user has stated that the stool must harmonize with the color scheme of the room. Thus, it will use light natural colors to match the existing tables and doors.
The cushion on the chair should feel soft to the touch; thus it should be made from a soft, natural fiber.
Poor Examples
Poor Examples
These examples do not provide any detail and are too general.
The design should be stylish
The design should be attractive to the user.
Dimension Constraints
Dimension Constraints
These are related to the size of product itself, or the ability of the product to accommodate a certain size.
Dimension constraints must include some measurements.
Your constraints may be based on:
Performance: The right size for meeting the users' needs
Safety: too big or too small may be unsafe
Materials and Manufacturing: There may be limitations to the size of material you can use, or how big a device like a 3D printer can print.
Good Examples
Good Examples
These examples are specific and contain measurement to help guide the designer
Must fit a 15" Macbook Pro laptop because this is the largest-size laptop that is used by my user group.
The cart must fit through a regular doorway (81cm) and in an elevator (80cm wide) in our school. The cart will be no wider than 75cm in order to provide a comfortable space to maneuver it through openings.
The design can be no larger than 100mm(L) x 100mm(H) x 100mm(D) because this is the maximum build size of the 3D printer.
Poor Examples
Poor Examples
These examples do not provide specific measurements or justification.
The bag should be big enough to hold my books and shoes.
The chair should be the right size for a teenager.
Material Constraints
Material Constraints
These are related to the type or amount of material used. These constraints can also refer to certain qualities of the material.
Here it is best to write about type of material you will use and why it is a best choice. You may include information such as:
How the material is related to performance considerations
Cost and availability
Aesthetics
Environmental considerations
Learn more about the Properties of Materials that designers may consider
Good Examples
Good Examples
These examples are specific and refer to the types of material to be used.
The design must use sustainably-source plywood to reduce its environmental impact. Thus, only wood that is FSC certified (Forest Stewardship Council) will be used to manufacture the product
Must use flexible and light plastic in order to meet the performance considerations of light weight and flexibility as identified by my user research
Must use three or fewer sheets of 800mm x 400mm x 4.8mm plywood in order to be manufactured using the school's laser cutter and the design constraints.
Poor Examples
Poor Examples
These examples do not provide specific details or justification
The materials should not cost a lot
The design should be made from wood
Ergonomic Considerations
Ergonomic Considerations
These are related to how the product interacts with the human body, and are associate with the function of the product.
Your considerations may refer to how a user uses the product, how big in needs to be, or other relevant considerations.
Good Examples
Good Examples
These examples are specific and provide reference to
The phone case should comfortably fit into the hand of an adult user. Their thumb must be able to reach the "home" button, and their forefinger and middle finger should be able to touch the volume buttons.
Must allow the user to sit comfortably for long periods of time. The seat should be soft, and there should be support for the back.
The bag should fit comfortably on one shoulder and comfortably support 4kg of weight.
Poor Examples
Poor Examples
It must be comfortable to sit on.
Cost Constraints
Cost Constraints
These are related the costs required to produce the product. For mass production, there might be a minimum cost associated at which a product is financially viable.
Good Example
Good Example
The prototype will be made from cardboard which is a low-cost material. However, it will allow for user-testing. A final prototype will be made on the 3D printer at an estimated cost of $0.25/gram.
The design should minimize the use of materials and manufacturing processes in order to reduce the costs.
Poor Example
Poor Example
It should be cheap so people will buy it.
Manufacture (Production)
Manufacture (Production)
These are related to the product processes that are used. Describe the processes that will be used in the manufacture of the product.
Good example
Good example
Manufactured using the laser cutter in the BHA design studio. Files should be prepared using Fusion 360, and a DFX file created for use with the laser cutter.
Manufactured using an ABS filament on a 3D printer. The file should be prepared using Tinkercad or Fusion 360, and an STL file created for printing.
Poor Example
Poor Example
It will be made using the laser cutter.
Software and Hardware Constraints
Software and Hardware Constraints
These are related to any specific hardware or software required to produce a product. If designing a program or digital product, these constraints might refer to they type of device or software needed.
Good Example
Good Example
The code should be written using the Scratch program. The Scratch code should be written efficiently, and use some of the elements of code that we studied in class: Functions, If-Then statements, and variables.
The code for the Arduino should be written using the Arduino environment. The code should allow the Arduino to efficiently control the motors, temperature, and humidity sensor of the design.
Poor Example
Poor Example
The code should work.
The code should control the motors.
The robot should follow my code.
Reviewing your specifications
Reviewing your specifications
With a partner, review your B1 specifications and D1 testing plan.
With a partner, review your B1 specifications and D1 testing plan.
As you review your partners's specification and plan, give feedback on the following:
Are the specifications specific? Can they be measured in some way? Is the type of data to be gathered going to be accurate, useful, and meaningful?
Does the testing plan match the type of data to be gathered?
If the test involves a survey, are the survey questions listed? Are the questions only closed questions (yes/no) or are there also open questions to allow for user opinion?
Are there specifications about the product that are not being tested? Should they be?
After reading your partner's specifications (B1) and Testing Plan (D1), give them some feedback using the MYP Design Rubric.
Tips
Tips
Avoid these words because they are vague and not specific:
nice, convenient, easy, simple. Instead, use specific descriptions. What do you mean by nice? How is the product convenient?
7-8 Strand for MYP Design, Year 5
7-8 Strand for MYP Design, Year 5
B1: develop design specifications, which clearly states the success criteria for the design of a solution
D1: design detailed and relevant testing methods, which generate data, to measure the success of the solution
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