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  The eco bag  It is because if the  I think my client likes compact size to carry  yes 
should be in  bag is not easy to  around more than having capacity, enough 
compact sizes for  carry around, it is  spaces to put everything that my client wants 
people to carry  troublesome. Also if  to put it in.  
around.   it is compact size, 
even if the client is 
not using it but 
brings it, it is easy to 
put it in the bag.   

2  The eco bag  It is because if the  I think my client will feel good carry around  yes 
should be  fabric is nylon or  my bag if it is comfortable to hold 
comfortable to  something that is  because if it is not comfortable, it is 
hold.  slippery, it is hard if  difficult to put the stuff in.   
you carry a bag on 
the shoulder, it will 
fall off from your 
shoulder.  

3  The eco bag  It is because if the  I think it is better that my product could  yes 
should be  fabric is not  wash in any types of washing ways 
washable in any  washable, it will get  and it will be very easier for my client 
types of washing  dirty and also for  because if the fabric can’t wash in 
ways.    many washing  strong types of washing way, client 
machines, some of  can’t wash the bag.   
the type can not 
wash some fabric so 
my product’s fabric 
should be washable 
in any types of 
washing machine.  

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

4  The sizes and  It is because I know  I think it is better to have simple design or  yes 
shapes are  that my client likes  simple shape because it will be more 
simple design  simple shapes of the  fashionable than the bag that has 
bags so if I didn’t  many colours and also the design is 
make my products  jumbled, so my client will use it.   
in the way my client 
wants, my client 
won’t use my 
product.  

5  The strings are  It is because if the  I think it is good to make strong sewn bag  yes 
sewing strong  strings are sew  because if my client put heavy stuff in 
enough  strong enough, my  it, it can still withstand.  
bag won’t break.  

6  Able to close the  It is because if the  I think it is good to make the top could  yes 
top   top could close, the  close because when my client put 
stuff won’t come  many products in it, it could be useful 
out.   if the top can close.  

 
   

 
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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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