Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Taylor.

And I'm really pleased you can join me for our lesson today.

Our lesson today is design brief, and this is part of the Designing and Making Principles unit.

I can explain how and why design briefs are used in industry.

We have three keywords.

Design brief, a statement that outlines the requirements of a product.

Design fixation, focusing so heavily on one idea that creativity and problem-solving becomes limited.

Constraints, restrictions that shape a design solution.

We have three learning cycles, design briefs, design fixation, and design constraints.

Let's begin.

A design brief is a structured document that outlines the key requirements of a design project.

It helps designers understand what needs to be created and ensures the final product meets its purpose.

For example, who the design is for, what key features the design must have, where the design will be used, and why the design is needed.

Let's have a check.

What is the main purpose of a design brief? Is it a, to describe the final product in detail, or b, to guide the design process by outlining requirements, c, to give designers complete creative freedom, or d, to provide financial estimates for the project.

Pause the video and have a go.

Fantastic.

Let's check.

That's right, it's b, to guide the design process by outlining requirements.

Design briefs are important because they keep projects focused and aligned with its aims, they ensure designers meet user needs, and they provide a clear reference for decision-making.

Design briefs are used in various industries, including fashion design, architecture, product design, and engineering.

Let's have another check.

Match the design brief component to its description, who, what, where, and why.

And the statements are the environment the product will be used in, the product that will be designed, the intended user or user group, and the reason the product is needed.

Pause the video and have a go.

Fantastic.

Let's check.

So who is the intended user or user group.

What, the product that will be designed.

Where, the environment, the product will be used in.

And why, the reason the product is needed.

Task A.

Read the following design brief.

A school lunchbox is needed for students aged 7 to 16 that is lightweight, durable, and easy to use.

It must fit into a school bag, keep food fresh for at least four hours, and be simple to clean so it can be reused.

As it's for school use, the design should be appealing to encourage healthy eating.

It must use safe, food-grade materials whilst remaining practical and convenient.

Parents have limited budgets, so it should be affordable, under 15 pounds, and sturdy enough for daily school use.

Part 1, identify the who, what, where, and why for this design brief.

And Part 2, explain why these elements are important in shaping the design process.

Pause the video and have a go.

Fantastic.

Let's look at some of the answers you may have come up with.

Part 1, identify the who, what, where, and why.

The who are students aged 7 to 16.

The what is a lunchbox which must be lightweight, durable, and easy to use.

It must keep food fresh for at least four hours and use food-grade materials.

The where is school and a school bag.

And the why, so it can be reused, encourage healthy eating, be sturdy, and suitable for daily use.

Part 2.

Who, the design brief ensures the lunchbox is suitable for both young children and teenagers.

What, these requirements guide what the product will be, material selection, and key features.

Where, the brief highlights the need for a compact design that fits easily in a school bag.

And why, the brief ensures the lunchbox is budget-friendly for parents and promotes healthy eating.

Well done.

We now move on to the second learning cycle, design fixation.

Design fixation is when a designer focuses too much on a single idea or solution, which can limit creativity.

For example, if a designer is asked to design a chair, they might become fixated on creating a traditional, four-legged, wooden chair.

Design briefs need to be open enough for the designer to explore alternatives.

Must all chairs look like this? Let's have a check.

What is the best way to avoid design fixation? Is it a, stick with your first idea and refine it as much as possible, b, look at only one existing product for inspiration, c, brainstorm multiple ideas before selecting one, or d, ignore feedback to stay focused on your original plan.

Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's check.

That's right, c, brainstorm multiple ideas before selecting one.

Well done.

Design fixation can be a problem because it can prevent innovation and new ideas, lead to designs that don't fully meet user needs, and waste time and resources by following a flawed idea too far.

In industry, design fixation can be avoided by a well-crafted design brief that encompasses the who, what, where, and why.

Other methods for avoiding design fixation include brainstorm multiple ideas before committing to one, use research and inspiration from various sources, get feedback early to challenge assumptions, take breaks and revisit the design with fresh eyes, and sketch different variations instead of refining a single idea too soon.

Having the design brief to hand whilst doing these things keeps the designer focused.

Let's have a check.

Match the strategy with how it helps avoid design fixation.

Brainstorming, taking breaks, seeking feedback, researching widely.

And the statements are allows fresh perspective on ideas, helps find new and varied sources of inspiration, encourages multiple ideas before choosing one, and challenges assumptions and improves designs.

Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's check.

Brainstorming encourages multiple ideas before choosing one.

Taking breaks allows a fresh perspective on ideas.

Seeking feedback challenges assumptions and improves designs.

And researching widely helps find new and varied sources of inspiration.

Well done.

Task B, sketch a quick design for a lunchbox without overthinking.

Pause video.

Great, let's have a look at some of the answers you may have come up with.

Izzy shares her design.

"I created a polymer bento-style box which has two stackable layers.

The top layer has a divider.

The last layer has no compartments for bigger items." And Izzy has labelled her design, the lid, the dividers, and the bottom part with no compartments.

Task B, Part 2.

Most people will draw a rectangular plastic box with a lid, but is that the only option? Now redesign, but you cannot use a rectangular or square shape, a hinged lid, a hard polymer as the main material.

And Part 3, compare your two designs with a partner and discuss the following, which design is more innovative and how did removing common features help you think differently? Pause the video and have a go.

Brilliant.

Let's have a look at some of the answers you may have come up with.

Izzy says, "I designed a stainless steel, round container for salads, with a detachable lid.

Removable and adjustable dividers keeps parts of the salads separate until ready to eat.

There is a section in the middle for dressing." And Izzy has labelled her diagram, the lid, the part in the centre for dressing, and removable or adjustable dividers.

Part 3.

Sofia says, "I prefer the salad box because the user has a choice to adapt the design based on their needs." Jun says, "Stainless steel ensures durability and the function encourages healthy eating.

This idea meets the design brief." And Izzy says, "Thinking of alternative ideas helped me avoid design fixation." Well done.

We now move on to the third learning cycle, design constraints.

Design constraints are the limitations or restrictions that designers must work within when developing a product.

These can affect materials, cost, time, and functionality.

Common types of constraints include sustainability.

Does it need to be recyclable or environmentally friendly? Size and weight.

Does the product need to fit a certain space or be easy to carry? Time.

How long is available to design and manufacture the product? Materials.

What materials are suitable or available? And budget.

How much money is available for production? It might seem that constraints are disruptive to the design process.

The reality is that constraints help designers create practical, achievable solutions by preventing unrealistic or unworkable ideas, encouraging problem-solving and creativity by getting designers to think outside the box, and ensuring products are affordable, functional, and user-friendly.

Let's have a check.

Why are constraints important in a design brief? Is it a, they make designing harder and limit creativity, b, they ensure designs are realistic and meet users' needs, c, they allow designers to ignore budget and time restrictions, or d, they make sure all designs are identical.

Pause the video and have a go.

Well done.

Let's check.

That's right, it's b, they ensure designs are realistic and meet user needs.

Some real life examples of constraints include, a smartphone must be lightweight, durable, cost-effective whilst using the latest technology.

An eco-friendly packaging must be biodegradable, protective, and cost-effective for large-scale use.

Flat-pack furniture, material availability, weight limits, and production costs.

And a school lunchbox, affordable, food-safe, easy to carry, and durable.

Here we have a check.

Match the design constraint to its impact.

Budget, time, sustainability, and materials.

And the statements are affects how quickly a product can be developed, determines strength, durability, and appearance, limits material and production costs, and requires eco-friendly or recyclable materials.

Pause the video and have a go.

Great.

Let's check.

The budget limits material and production costs.

Time affects how quickly a product can be developed.

Sustainability requires eco-friendly or recyclable materials.

And materials determines strength, durability, and appearance.

Task C.

A company is designing a new school lunchbox and needs a clear design brief to guide development.

Explain the purpose of a design brief and how it helps ensure a successful lunchbox design.

Give examples of key information that should be included.

Refer to the following keywords in your answer, design brief, design fixation, and constraints.

Pause the video.

Fantastic.

Let's check.

Your answer may include the following.

A design brief is a statement that outlines the requirements for a product.

It provides clear guidance to designers, ensuring the final product meets user needs.

It also has enough scope for the designer to avoid design fixation.

Your answer may include, continued, for a school lunchbox, the design brief should include key details, such as who, the user that the lunchbox is for, for example, school children, what, the function, for example, easy to clean, and materials it should be made from, for example, durable and food safe, where, the environment it's likely to be used in, for example, a school bag or dishwasher for cleaning, and why, reasoning why the product is needed, for example, to keep food fresh, and the constraints, any limitations, such as a budget or size.

Well done.

Here is a summary of our learning today.

A design brief outlines key requirements, uses, and constraints to guide design.

Design fixation limits creativity, so exploring multiple ideas is essential.

Constraints, for example, budget, materials, and time, shape realistic and innovative designs.

Research ensures designs meet user needs, overcome limits, and avoid design fixation.

Thank you very much for joining me today.

And well done.