Design Development Analysis

Design development is always a sticking point in the design process for us. We always have difficulties with the whole idea of experimenting with different things and changing small parts of the a design to see the effect it has on the whole thing. "But I want to do that design".. is a typical response that I get from students.
Even harder than that though, is the whole analysis part of developing a design. The students have to produce written analysis of their design developments that show the thinking that was happening while they were drawing the developments. This is the part that gets them into the merit and excellence areas of achievement, so it is important that I continue to try and structure this process and support them in any way that I can.

I have been working on a Google Drawing template that is structured around the SOLO Taxonomy levels, so that the student thinking about their design work can be supported in increasing in depth over a series of questions. I have also split the questions in to 4 areas, properties, materials, how it will be used and client requirements. I have been careful to include these elements as it was one of the things that was brought up in external moderation - including all the necessary product design requirements.

Also, I don't really care if they do the analysis on the Google Drawing template. They can make a table on a doc or write notes directly into their sketchbooks next to the design development drawings. As long as they use the structure and support here, how they do it is not the important thing.

This will be put into effect at the start of next term.


Link here to the Google Drawing template