Outcomes:

• H4.2 Selects and uses resources responsibility and safely to realise a quality major design project.

• H4.3 Evaluates the processes undertaken and the impacts of the major design project.

• H5.1 Manages the development of a quality major design project.

Description of Activity: 

Students are required to develop a presentation of the Project Proposal for their Major Design Project (MDP). Students are to prepare and present a 5-8 min presentation based on the development and realisation of your MDP.

Instructions:

1. Introduction

• Choose a design problem or challenge that aligns with your interests and passions. Research and identify the scope, context, and significance of the design problem, and explain why it is worth addressing as part of your Major Design Project (MDP).

• Describe your MDP and how it relates to a genuine need.

2. Evidence of Creativity

•  Create visual representations of your proposed solution, such as sketches, diagrams, or 3D models, to illustrate your design concept. Annotate your visuals with explanations of how your design solution meets the design goals and criteria, and addresses sustainability considerations.

• Students should explain the process of developing your ideas and reasons for selecting your final design and demonstrate their consideration of design factors to their Product System or Environment.

3. Research & Experimentation

• Students should present the findings of your research, experimentation and testing and justify your chosen materials, tools, and techniques.

•  Conduct a thorough analysis of the design problem, including a review of existing products or solutions, user needs and preferences, technical requirements, environmental and social impacts, and potential constraints.

•  Use this analysis to clearly define the design problem and establish project goals and criteria.

4. Evaluation

• Explain any problems you encountered and the problem-solving techniques you used throughout designing and production.

5. Peer Feedback

•  Be prepared to answer questions and seek feedback from peers or the teacher.

Your presentation needs to be engaging and informative using appropriate communication tools. 

These could include but are not limited to:

•  Adobe Spark

•  Video

• PowerPoint

Outcomes:

• H1.1 critically analyses the factors affecting design and the development and success of design projects.

Description of Activity: To understand and analyse the various factors that influence the design of products, systems, or solutions, and their impact on their appropriateness, function, aesthetics, cost, ergonomics, sustainability, energy, safety, quality, durability, obsolescence, and life cycle analysis.

Instructions:

1. Introduction (10 minutes):

• Teacher presents a PowerPoint presentation to provide definitions and explanations of key terms and concepts related to factors affecting design.

• Encourage students to take notes and ask questions during the presentation to ensure their understanding of the concepts.

• Engage the students in a discussion about the various factors that can impact the design of a product, system, or solution. Encourage them to share their thoughts on what factors they think are important in the design process.

2. Chindogu (10 minutes):

• Introduce the concept of Chindogu, which refers to the Japanese art of creating humorous and absurd inventions that are seemingly practical but ultimately useless.

• Discuss examples of Chindogu and have students share their thoughts on how these inventions relate to the factors influencing design that were discussed earlier.

• Prompt students to think critically about how these factors may have been overlooked or ignored in the design of Chindogu inventions, and what lessons can be learned from them.

3. Poster Design (30 minutes)

• Divide students into small groups and assign each group one or more case studies of design successes or failures.

• Provide case study examples that highlight different factors influencing design, such as a successful product design that considers user needs and sustainability, or a failed design due to poor aesthetics and lack of usability.

• Instruct students to create posters using Adobe InDesign or any other design software, showcasing the case studies and illustrating how the factors influenced the success or failure of the design.

• Encourage creativity in the poster designs, such as using visuals, infographics, and text to effectively communicate the message.

• Allocate time for groups to present their posters to the class, and facilitate a discussion on the findings and insights from the case studies.

4. Conclusion (5 minutes)

• Wrap up the activity by summarizing the key points discussed and reinforcing the importance of considering various factors in the design process.

• Encourage students to reflect on how these factors can influence their own design projects and the importance of addressing them to create successful and meaningful designs.

These case studies can be used as examples for students to analyse and discuss how different factors influenced the design of these products and systems, and how they impacted their success or failure. Students can also create posters illustrating the factors influencing design in these case studies as part of the activity.

Examples

Outcomes:

• H2.2 Evaluates the impact of design and innovation on individual, society and the environment. 

• H3.1 Analyse the factors that influence the success of information.

• H6.2 Critically assesses the emergence & impact of new technologies & the factors affecting their development.

Description of Activity: In groups of 4 select a recent successful innovation (developed in the last 20 years) as a case study and address the following points in a Podcast.

Instructions:

1. The Design Name the innovation selected and outline why it is innovative. 

2. The Role of the Designer Identify and describe the role of a range of key persons involved in the development of this innovation. Include: 

• Design Practice & creativity

• Entrepreneurial activity 

• Agencies such as government, commercial and industrial

• Protection of intellectual property 

3. Factors influencing success

• Explain the factors in the culture at the time which led to the

development of your selected innovation. 

Consider:

• Timing, available and emerging technologies

• Cultural, political, economic and legal factors

• Marketing strategy

• including size, demand and product promotion. 

• Include a discussion on the future projections based on trends.

4.  Technology    

• Describe and illustrate the development and key technological aspects of the innovation

• Describe how it works, including the underlying technological and/or scientific principles underpinning the innovation.

• Describe the technological and design problems that has to be overcome and how these were solved.

5.  Impact of Design

• Analyse the ethical, social and environmental issues arising from the design

Scaffolds to support students as they complete this task