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  - Does not restrict the colour of the 
only)   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 
- Restricts the design possibilities   comfortable1 eat dinner.​”  
(80cm - not 81cm or height   
adjustable)   - Opens up to design ideas 
- Is a yes/no type of statement.   - 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 this  Does it 
success if..  important for my  are..  allow for 
project..  an opinion? 

1  The soft toy  The product might  Make sure my client likes the color I use.  It is 
should have  not be attractive  allowed 
colors that are  to my customer if  for an 
attractive to  there’s no color  opinion. 
teenagers.  that is attractive 
to her. 

2  The soft toy is  The product might  Make sure it’s thick enough.  It is 
soft and not too  not be comfortable  The toy should be comfortable on the face.  allowed 
thin.  enough if it’s too  for an 
thin.  opinion. 

3  The sewing part is  The product will  Make sure it’s tight.  It is 
quite tight that  not be very  The sewing part should be neat.  allowed 
it will not break  attractive if it only  for an 
so easily.  lasts for a few  opinion. 
days. 

4  The size should be  My client will not  Make the size around the size of my  It is 
alright for my  be able to carry it  computer.  allowed 
client to carry  around if it’s way    for an 
around.  too big.  opinion. 

5  There could be  My client will like  Could have some patterns like stars.  It is 
some patterns  the product better  allowed 
that my client  if there pattern  for an 
likes.  that she likes.  opinion. 

6  The soft toy  My client will like  Make the filler inside easy to take out so it  It is 
could be made  it more if it could  could be washed.  allowed 
washable.  be washable.  for an 
opinion. 

 
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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​ ​one  ❏ The success criterion is generic. I.e. applicable to many 
basic success criterion  projects. 
for a solution.  ❏ 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. 

3-4  The student ​states​ ​a  ❏ The success criteria are generic. I.e. applicable to many 
few​ success criteria for  projects. 
the solution.  ❏ 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. 

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

few ​success 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 
list of​ ​success criteria  lead to 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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