Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Tea Cronqvist (7DET6)

 
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 

1
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. 

 
1/5 
Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Tea Cronqvist (7DET6)

 
   

 
2/5 
Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Tea Cronqvist (7DET6)

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! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
3/5 
Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Tea Cronqvist (7DET6)

 
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  It fits the  Because I want it to  - I’m going to put two sets of handles  yes 
description that  be appealing to my  on it because she wants that.  
my client gave  client and I want her  -  
me.   to be able to use it 
the way she wants 
to.  

2  It’s big enough to  Because the bag  - I have to find out how big she wants it  yes 
be used for the  has to be usable  to be. 
things my client  and I need to know 
wants to use it  how big I have to 
for.    make it.  

3  It can be used for  My client wants to  - I have to make sure that the material is  yes 
the purposes that  use it for shopping  strong enough to carry heavier things. 
my client wants.   and bringing things  - The straps also have to be strong so 
with her when she  that it doesn’t break when she carries 
goes somewhere.   heavier things.  

4  The color(s) of  Because I want my  - I’m not sure if we’re allowed to dye the  yes 
the bag are  product to be  fabric, but if we are then I will 
appealing to my  appealing to my  probably do that, but it depends on 
client.   client.   what color my client wants, but if she 
  likes the original color of my fabric 
  then I’ll keep it like that.  
 

5  The decorations/  Because I want my  - I’m going to ask her what kind of   
embroidery is  client to like the bag  decorations and embroidery she 
appealing to my  and I want it to be  would like on the bag and I could also 
client.   appealing to her.   get inspiration from the internet and 
find things that I feel fit her style.  

6  It is appealing to  Because I want it to  - I’m going to make sure that my bag   
my intended  be appealing to  would be appealing to most people of 
target audience  most people in the  my intended target audience. I will do 
group.   target audience that  this by researching on the internet and 
my client  maybe find pictures of what most 
represents.   people’s tote bags look like so I know 
what they like.  

 
   

 
4/5 
Design Folder Sustainable Design - Sewciety - Tea Cronqvist (7DET6)

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.. 

 
5/5