Writing a brief and specification

Writing a brief and specification

Year 9 theory

Design Brief

• The brief is a statement that sets out what is to be designed

• It may contain some details regarding what the product must do, its appearance and other design constraints

• You could start it with “Design and make…”

• This is different to the design opportunity

Multiple Select

What do we mean by a 'brief'?

Tick all correct options.

• A statement that sets out what is to be designed

• It contains details what the product must do

• It contains details on the appearance and other design restraints

• It is the same as a design opportunity

• It might start with "design and make"

The differences - design opportunity

• The design opportunity, or design problem, is something you have observed as a potential problem to a user

  For example:

  Many elderly people are arthritic and stiff, frail and have some degree of memory, hearing and sight loss.

   They can also have trouble balancing due to the consequences of ageing.

  As a result they need help with everyday tasks

The differences - design brief

• Remember, the design brief is a statement outlining what is to be designed.

  For example:

  Design and make a device to assist elderly arthritic people who have trouble turning keys in doors.

  
  

  Consider the range of keys in use, the ways to increase the leverage and ease of grip for the elderly user, as well as how the device will engage with existing keys.

  Consider colour and texture.

Multiple Choice

Tick the option that is an example of a DESIGN BRIEF

• Design and make a device to assist elderly arthritic people who have trouble turning keys in doors.

  
  

  Consider the range of keys in use, the ways to increase the leverage and ease of grip for the elderly user, as well as how the device will engage with existing keys.

  Consider colour and texture.

• Many elderly people are arthritic and stiff, frail and have some degree of memory, hearing and sight loss.

  They can also have trouble balancing due to the consequences of ageing.

  As a result they need help with everyday tasks.

Fill in the Blanks

Write a design brief for the following problem:

Sarah uses her bicycle to get to work every day, but in her small flat has nowhere to store it that isn’t in the way.

Start with Design and make...

Are these solutions close to what you were thinking when you wrote the brief?

Design Specification

• A product design specification is a detailed document providing information about a product to design

• It will contain essential criteria – things the product must have/do in order to fulfil the brief and needs of the client

• It may also contain desirable criteria – things the product could include, usually determined from market research

• It must contain some specific and measurable data e.g. numbers (sizes, anthropometrics, quantity, weight, etc)

Fill in the Blanks

What do we mean by essential criteria in a specification?

Fill in the Blanks

What do we mean by desirable criteria in a specification?

TASK: on Teams

• Write a design specification to accompany the brief of: Design and make a device that enables the user to safely store the bike for regular access without impeding space in her flat.

• Here are some areas you may wish to consider when writing. This is not an exhaustive list.

• For example, you could answer:

  What is the primary function?

  Are there any secondary functions to the product?

  What does the product need to function?

  Does the product need to function in certain seasons?

  Does the product need to be multi-functional?

  Use the table on the boards for further questions