Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Jane Doe (7DET8)

Criterion B: Developing Ideas

B1: Design specifications
The success criteria for your project

The design specification is a measuring stick for success. You will use this when evaluating
your design ideas, evaluating your chosen design and when reflecting on the quality of your
finished product. The design specification also communicates your understanding of what is
most crucially needed in your product.

Tips for developing your design specification

1. Use this example as a layout for your design specification. Be to the point. Keep your
writing to a minimum. The slides can also be found here.
2. The success criteria should be phrased in a way that does not unnecessarily restrict
your design possibilities. On the contrary: It should make you think about
possibilities.
3. The success criteria should allow meaningful evaluation.

Bad and better examples

Bad Better

“The chair is a success if it is red.” “The chair should have colours attractive to
toddlers.”

- Restricts the design possibilities (red only) - Does not restrict the colour of the design
- Can be given an opinion about
- Is a yes/no type of statement.

“The table should be 80cm high.” “The table should have a height that allows
all family members to comfortable1 eat
- Restricts the design possibilities dinner.”
(80cm - not 81cm or height adjustable)

1 Possible qualifying adjectives for success criteria: Accurately, Adequately, Amply, Appropriately,
Authentically, Believably, Clearly, Comfortably, Compellingly, Consistently, Convincingly, Credibly,
Effectively, Ethically, Fairly, Reasonably, Sensibly, Significantly, Soundly, Sustainably.

1/5
Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Jane Doe (7DET8)

- Is a yes/no type of statement. - Opens up to design ideas

- Can be given an opinion about

2/5
Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Jane Doe (7DET8)

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you come up with design
specifications:

● What would make the product a success for my client? Your answers are success
criteria!
● What would make the product a success for a wider group of end-users? Your
answers are success criteria!
● What would make the product as a whole a success? Your answers are success
criteria!
● What would make the different parts of the product a success? Your answers are
success criteria!

Use this template for developing your design specifications:

# My product is a This is particularly important Some initial design ideas I have to Does it
success if.. for my project.. achieve this are.. allow for
an
opinion?

1 It is easy to carry. Because people easily lost the
bag if it is not easy to hold or
carry.
● Make a strong handle on the Yes.
bag.
● Have a nice, stable strap to
carry the bag.
● Or make a smaller size bag so
it can fit in the pockets or
another bag.

2 It is light. Because people will put their
things in the bag, it will be
more heavy if the bag is heavy
itself.
● The zipper inside the bag can Yes
use some light material like
rope instead.
● Don’t make the bag too big.
● The material of the bag can be
the light material like textile
fabric.

3 It is washable. Because the bag can get dirty.
People won’t want the bag if
it’s not clean anymore.
● Use the material that is easy to Yes
wash the dirt down and won’t
crash
● Use the material that is not
easy to let the dirt stay on the
bag.

4 It is not easy to Because bags are designed to ● When making the bag, make a Yes
break. carry things. If it is easy to few more slits at the joint.
break, nobody would use it. ● Use strong material for making

3/5
Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Jane Doe (7DET8)

the bag.

5 It’s size is fit to Because perfect size for ● Test the size, use a rule first Yes
people. people can be more easier and and then start the product.
comfortable to carry things.

6 It can be reused. Because after the bag can’t be ● Use the material that can be Yes
used anymore, the fabric that recycled or have other purpose
makes the bag still can be of using it.
used in other different ways.

4/5
Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Jane Doe (7DET8)
B1: Assessment
Level Descriptor
0 The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
1-2 The student states one
basic success criterion
for a solution.
3-4 The student states a
few success criteria for
the solution.
5-6 The student develops a
few success criteria for
the solution.
7-8 The student develops a
list of success criteria
for the solution.
Typical features of student work
❏ The success criterion is generic. I.e. applicable to many projects.
❏ The success criterion only covers a very small part of the product
features that would lead to success.
❏ The success criterion restricts design options unnecessarily.
❏ The success criterion is a ‘checklist type’ statement.
❏ The success criteria are generic. I.e. applicable to many projects.
❏ The success criteria only cover part of the product features that
would lead to success.
❏ A few success criteria restrict design options unnecessarily.
❏ Some success criteria are ‘checklist type’ statements.
❏ Most success criteria are project-specific.
❏ The success criteria cover most features that would lead to
success.
❏ Most success criteria are qualitative statements that allow an
opinion and testing possibilities are considered
❏ Most success criteria are concise and clearly phrased.
❏ The success criteria cover most or all features that would lead to
success.
❏ All success criteria are concise and clearly phrased.
❏ All success criteria are qualitative statements that allow an
opinion.
❏ The presented initial design ideas demonstrate in-depth
research and empathy for the end-users..
5/5