Year 10 Design & Technologies · Creating Designed Solutions · 12m read

Design Briefs, Specifications and Evaluation Criteria

Year 10 design moves from "make something cool" to "solve a real problem for a real user". Everything starts with a sharp brief and criteria you can actually measure.

Learning objective: Write a design brief with specifications and measurable evaluation criteria.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can write a brief that identifies a need, user and constraints.
• I can write measurable specifications.
• I can use criteria to evaluate ideas and products.

A design brief is a target. Without a target, any shot "works". The brief and specifications draw the target so you — and your client — can judge whether the design hits it.

Design Briefs, Specifications and Evaluation Criteria

THE DESIGN BRIEF:
• Identifies the NEED or opportunity, the CLIENT/USER, the CONTEXT and the CONSTRAINTS (budget, time, materials, safety).

SPECIFICATIONS:
• Precise requirements the solution must meet: function, aesthetics, size, materials, cost, sustainability, safety.
• Measurable where possible: "must hold 2 kg", "under $20 to make".

EVALUATION CRITERIA:
• Questions derived from specifications: "Does it hold 2 kg without bending?"
• Used to compare design ideas and to judge the final product.

THE DESIGN PROCESS (VCE style):
• Investigate → generate ideas → plan and manage → produce → evaluate.

| Document | Contains | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Design brief | Problem, user, context, constraints | "Design a phone stand for a Year 7 student's desk" |
| Specifications | Measurable requirements | Max 15 cm tall; holds 250 g |
| Evaluation criteria | Questions to judge success | "Does it hold the phone at 60°?" |

Key ideas at a glance

• Measurable specs: Numbers, not vague words.
• Criteria come from specs: Linked.
• Constraints: Budget, time, materials.
• Evaluate at every stage: Not just the end.

Worked example (Medium)

Turn "the phone stand should be strong" into a measurable specification.

1. Vague. "Strong" cannot be tested.
2. Measurable. "Supports a 250 g phone at a 60° angle without tipping."

Answer: Measurable specs state a quantity or test.

Worked example (Medium)

Turn "it should be strong" into a specification.

1. Vague. "Strong".
2. Measurable. "Supports 2 kg without bending more than 2 mm."

Answer: Supports 2 kg with ≤ 2 mm deflection.

Common mistakes

• Vague specs They cannot be tested. Fix: Add numbers and test conditions.
• Criteria unrelated to the brief Evaluation must match needs. Fix: Derive each criterion from a specification.

Practice questions

1. Which is a measurable specification?

   1. Looks nice
   2. Is durable
   3. Fits in a 20 cm × 10 cm space
   4. Is eco-friendly

   (1 marks)

2. Why write evaluation criteria before making?

   (2 marks)

3. Which is a measurable specification?

   1. Looks nice
   2. Weighs under 500 g
   3. Is cool
   4. Is good quality

   (1 marks)

4. Write an evaluation criterion for a lunchbox.

   (2 marks)

Summary

• Brief: need, user, context, constraints.
• Specifications should be measurable.
• Criteria guide evaluation.
• Brief → specs → criteria.