The Design Process

What this page covers

This page collects resources on the design process, the steps from spotting a need to testing an idea. Most are mind maps made by GoConqr users. You will also find a few quizzes, flashcard decks, flowcharts, slide sets and notes.

Many of the maps follow real projects. GCSE Project - Questions - Shoe Rack asks about looks, wood type, cost and storage. Designing a Rug looks at target usage, market trends, originality and manufacturing method. Remote Control Vehicle works through materials, drive train, control panel and constraints.

Where to start

1. Begin with DT L1 Identifying User Needs and User Centred Design. They explain who the user is and how to tie a design back to the target audience.
2. Move on to the task analysis and design brief maps, such as Design Brief Research and DT - Problem Analysis.
3. Look at idea generation with D&T Initial Ideas and Concept Design_1.
4. Finish with project maps like Furniture Design and Access FM Layout, which cover function, safety, cost and aesthetics.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then take a quiz to see what stuck. Design Process - Situation Stage and Design Process Revision suit the early stages. Product Design Revision 4 touches on testing, feedback, evaluating and checking tolerances. Go back to the matching map for any question you miss, then try the quiz again.

The flashcard deck What is a "Good" Design? is handy for short sessions. The flowchart Prototyping: Learning by doing shows how making and testing feed back into the design.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the strand The Design Process, within Design and technology. Most resources suit school students, and some resources mention GCSE, A-level, IB or VCE courses. A smaller share is aimed at university level.

Your next step

Choose one project map that matches your own task, work through it, and then sketch a map of your own project to compare.