Design+Folder+Explained

=The Design Folder Explained=

The Design Folder (DF) is where you record every aspect of the design cycle as you work in Design Technology. This page summarizes all the parts of the folder that are required in the design folder.

The evidence that you submit in the DF will be evaluated against the rubric. Check the rubric and make sure you understand he assessment criteria.

The Design Folder is always a work in progress until your project is complete. You can improve your folder, submit additional evidence throughout the entire design cycle. This means that you can improve your marks as you improve your DF.

The Design Folder should be well formatted and easy to read. Use the Formatting and organization below as an example.

=Design Folder - Your Name=

Unit Question (UQ)
Include the unit question as it is given.

Restate the UQ in your own words. Explain how and why the unit question is relevant to you and/ or to the community. This is your chance to reinterpret the problem in a way that makes the big questions more interesting to you. It is also your chance to focus the question in a way that is appealing to you.
 * Unit Question Interpreted**

UQ Mindmap
Create a mind map with the UQ at the center. This can help you "unpack" the unit question and guide your investigation.

Guiding questions are the questions that you ask yourself to focus your investigation. These are broad questions. Often the same questions can be applied from unit to unit. (Ex. What materials are available to me? How much time is available? How have others solved similar problems? How does the unit question apply to real life? Etc.)

Research and Development:
Here is where you show evidence of your research. Your guiding questions may help you decide what research to do.

To develop the Design Brief you will need do research into the problem and how you can solve it. Here are some of the things that go into successful R&D:

> **Situation Analysis** > What is the situation right now? What are specific examples of the current situation. How is the current situation a problem?

> **Market Analysis (Users or Client)** > For whom are your designing. The user is the person who will benefit from your product. Important factors to consider are age, gender, culture, values, interests and life style. > > **Existing Conditions** > Show and/or describe the problem and its setting. Explain how the current situation and environment impact the problem and possible solutions. Use photographic evidence when necessary.

> **Product Analysis** > Looking at similar products and solutions for inspiration. How did others solve this problem? Analysis should include; materials used, ergonomics, aesthetics, form and function and what design idea could you perhaps use. Images of products may be uploaded into your DF. Remember to site sources!

> **Research into materials and techniques** > What materials are best to use? Why? What are the properties? What materials are available? > Show research into construction techniques. > How can you make it? What skills do you need to know? What tools do you need. > > **Research into time Management** > How much time do I have to complete my project? When is my work due? What is the best use of my time.

> **Brainstorms** > (Xmind, Bubbl.us or hand drawn) > A thinking tools to help decide things like; themes, needs, likes/dislikes.

> **Surveys & Questionnaires** > Who is this for? (Demographic) What do other people think/like/want? Who are the experts and what do they say?


 * Remember to site your sources.**

Design Brief:
This is a brief open-ended statement about what you will do to solve the unit problem. Your brief should explain why you are making your product and who it is for. Your brief should be guided by your research.

> **Clock Project Example**

> **A Good Design Brief :** > "Teenagers have very busy lives. School, family and social activities mean that being punctual is very important. I will design and make a wall clock that will be appealing for teenage girls. It will be a modern design and will be suitable for a teenage girl's bedroom. Because the design will appeal to teenage girls, then they will be more likely to look at it, read the time and therefore not be late.

> **A Poor Design Brief:** > "I will make a football clock from plastic and print out pictures of players to use as the numbers."

Design Specification:
The Design Specification is the most crucial element of the Investigate phase of the Design Cycle. A good Design Specification should include information that you learned about the task/problem from your research. It is a list of requirements that your product must have. Your specification also constrain (limits) possible designs options and helps focus your designs. The specification will be one of the first things that a designer looks at before they begin designing a product.

> **A good Design Specification for a Clock Project:**

> * Must use the Quartz analogue clock movement provided. > * The movement is 55mm x 55mm x 15mm, so it must be larger that 55mm x 55mm. > * Should be smaller that 300mm x 300mm due to the size of the hands. > * Cannot be thicker that 5mm due to the length of the movement shaft. > * Should have a theme that reflects the results from my survey. > * Must be original in its design. > * Should be made from MDF, timber or acrylic as are the most suitable. > * Must be able to be made in the AISD DT lab. > * Can not be too difficult to make. > * Must be cost effective to make. > * Should be easy to read. > * Should be safe. (No sharps edges, non-toxic) > * Must be able to hang on the wall securely > * Must be able to be made in the time provided. > * Must tell the time!

> **Test: I could test my clock by:**

> # Conducting a survey of my intended market > # Check that it can be read form various distances, angles and by various people. > # Ensure that it keeps accurate time by checking it against the clock on a computer. > # Check to see if the batteries can be replaced easily. > # Check that it hangs on the wall well and will not fall if bumped.

Plan
The plan phase is divided into two parts – design and planning.

Design
The Design Phase of the Design Cycle is where you sketch (SketchUp or freehand drawings) several (3 or more) different possibilities to solve the design problem. Then explain why your chosen design, the one you will create, is the best.

Show a range of alternative designs for the product/solution.

All design ideas need to be evaluated against the Specification. This means you must look at your specification and see if your design idea meets the requirements you set up. Show evidence of your process! Explain your choices.

Show annotated drawings with
 * Materials
 * Parts
 * How it works (Function)
 * Design features
 * Ergonomics (Design for Use)
 * Aesthetics (Form)

Explain why you chose your final choice of design.

Plan
Planning is a crucial part of the whole design process.

Project management is a crucial skill and is very transferable to other subjects.

You should have a:

This is step by step plan for creating your product. Your production plan should include sufficient detail for someone else to be able to create your product as you intended it. Your plan should also specify the construction techniques required to build the product.
 * Production Plan**

Use drawings to illustrate production plan. Indicate tools/equipment/skills needed.
 * Drawings/ Annotations**

List then materials and parts needed to make your product. Be sure to indicate the dimensions of each part and the number required. You should be able to hand your parts list to someone else and have them be able to fabricate your parts from your parts list.
 * A Materials List/ Parts List**

Include a Timeline or a Gantt Chart
 * Time Management Plan**

Does it make good use of time and resources? Could someone else follow it and make your design? Is it logical?
 * Evaluation of your plan.**

Create
The create phase is when you make your product or solution. In this phase you will follow your plan to build your product. You must also record your process after each class in a **process journal**. In this phase you may make new discoveries, think of new ideas or run into problems that you did not anticipate. This can be very frustrating but it can also be one of the most exciting and creative parts of the design cycle.

It is **OK** to make changes to your plan in the creation phase!

During the creation phase you must record your process after each class**.** Each entry must include:
 * Process Journal:**


 * Date
 * What you intended to accomplish that day (from your plan)
 * What you actually accomplished
 * What challenges you faced
 * What changes you made to your plan and why
 * Reflections on the over all process
 * Take photographs or screen shots to explain the process.

Example process journal entry:

I set out to paint my sign today but did not finish it because the paint took too long to dry. By the end of class I had all the letters and the back primed with white paint. The paint was diluted with water and really soaked into the wood. For the final coats of paint I won't dilute the paint as much. Since it doesn't take that long to apply the paint and I need to coats I will try and apply the first coat before school. Mr. Muller said I can come to the DT lab at 7:30. This way I can get the paint finished by next class. Painting was fun. It went by quickly but I couldn't apply a second coat because the paint took too long to dry! Arghh!
 * January 10, 2010 - Painting**

Evaluate
In the evaluation phase you must evaluate your (1) **final product** and your (2) **process** in each stage of the design cycle.


 * Product Evaluation:**

Products may be evaluated according to different criteria (a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based). Criteria may be objective or subjective. It is important to

The following are some of the things that may be evaluated:
 * Quality
 * Strength
 * Appearance
 * Function
 * Ease of use
 * Ease of construction
 * Ergonomics
 * Appropriate use of materials
 * Cost
 * User benefit
 * Environmental Impact

Consider collecting data for your evaluation from the following sources:
 * Your design specification
 * Your design specification test
 * Surveys or Questionnaires
 * Expert opinions
 * Photos of your product in use
 * Other forms of user feedback


 * Process Evaluation**:

In your evaluation you must also talk about your experience and reflect on your process. How did you feel, what were your strengths and weaknesses. What would you have done differently. What surprised you? How was your time management. What did you learn. Talk about each stage of the design cycle and about your final product.

Support your comments with data and photos!