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 h ​ ere​. 
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  
- Is a yes/no type of statement.   - Can be given an opinion about 
 

“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)    
- Is a yes/no type of statement.   - Opens up to design ideas 
- Can be given an opinion about 
 
   

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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. 

 
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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  Some initial design ideas I have to achieve  Does it 
success if..  important for my  this are..  allow for 
project..  an opinion? 

1  It doesn’t break  Because if it does,  Making it as hollow so it won’t snap the  Yes 
the charger  instead of  charger. I will also try and make it reasonably 
protecting the  light. Not too light so it breaks instantly, but not 
phone and helping  too heavy either. 
the person, it makes 
it harder for them. 

2  It is an appealing  Because if it was  Making it a colour that appeals to them, it  Yes 
colour  plain, it won’t be as  should also be a pattern or a bunch of colours 
(unless they say they don’t want it like that). 
interesting and they 
won’t really care 
about it. 

3  It fits the phone  Because if it didn’t  Making it bigger than the size of the biggest  Yes 
the client has  fit, then it would be  phone, just not too big. This way, even if they 
have a really big phone, they can fit it in and a 
pointless and time 
small phone could just slide in and out 
would be wasted.  effectively. 

4  It is stable and  Because if it broke  Testing a bunch of materials and seeing which  Yes 
nothing will  while they were  ones are the best for making it. I won’t make it 
too thin either. 
break or fall  sleeping, the phone 
would fall. 

5  It is easy to use  Because, even  Making the hole to the “pouch” nice and big, so  Yes 
though most people  they can effectively take out the phone. The 
area where you hang the pouch should also be 
who will need this 
easy to use. 
are teenagers, some 
kids also need this. 
They might not 
know how to use it. 

6  It should be  Because if it gets  We could test different materials (different  Yes 
washable  dirty or starts  garments) and see which ones are the easiest 

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

smelling really bad,  to wash. We should also make the the garment 
they should be able  that we choose could be re-sewed just in case. 
to wash it without 
breaking it. 

 
   

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

B1: Assessment 

Level  Descriptor  Typical features of student work 

0  The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below. 

1-2  The student ​states​ o

​ ne  ❏ The success criterion is generic. I.e. applicable to many projects. 
basic success criterion  ❏ The success criterion only covers a very small part of the 
for a solution.  product features that would lead to success. 
❏ The success criterion restricts design options unnecessarily. 
❏ The success criterion is a ‘checklist type’ statement. 

3-4  The student ​states​ a

​   ❏ The success criteria are generic. I.e. applicable to many projects. 
few​ success criteria for  ❏ The success criteria only cover part of the product features that 
the solution.  would lead to success. 
❏ A few success criteria restrict design options unnecessarily. 
❏ Some success criteria are ‘checklist type’ statements. 

5-6  The student ​develops a  ❏ Most success criteria are project-specific. 

few s​ uccess criteria for  ❏ The success criteria cover most features that would lead to 
the solution.  success. 
❏ Most success criteria are qualitative statements that allow an 
opinion and testing possibilities are considered 
❏ Most success criteria are concise and clearly phrased. 

7-8  The student ​develops​ ​a  ❏ The success criteria cover most or all features that would lead to 
list of​ s​ uccess criteria  success. 
for the solution.  ❏ 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.. 

 
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