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 is portable  Client might want to  ● Small and lightweight  yes 

bring the object 
around  

2  It is aesthetically  Client would want a  ● Simple and cute design and face  yes 
pleasing  nice looking stuffed 
toy for display 

3  It is stable   Because when you  ● Flat bottom for it to balance   yes 

display the object, it 
may fall. 

4  It is soft and  Because client  ● Make it soft and squishy for it to be  yes 
comfortable to  might want to hug it  easy to hug 
hug  to sleep and it has  ● an appropriate size  
to be comfortable to 
cuddle 

5  It is compact   Because it may fall  ● Sew the lines close and do it twice to  yes 
apart and all the  secure it  
fluff comes out   ● Don't over stuff it 

6  Washable   Because people  ● Use washable garments and stuffing   yes 

may dirty it and 
then it can get 
washed 

 
   

 
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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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