New
New
Year 9

Design optimisation

I can apply optimisation to a design.

New
New
Year 9

Design optimisation

I can apply optimisation to a design.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Design optimisation is the process of improving a product without losing quality or purpose.
  2. Designers can optimise by adjusting materials, safety or function to better meet user needs and be more sustainable.
  3. Optimisation is part of design development and helps ensure a product is the best version before manufacture.

Keywords

  • Design optimisation - the process of improving a design to make it as efficient as possible, while still meeting all requirements

  • Refine - the process of making small improvements to something

  • Design for manufacture (DFM) - the process of designing products in such a way that they are easy, cost effective, and efficient to manufacture

Common misconception

Design optimisation is the same as design development.

Design development is the bigger process of taking an idea and turning it into a final product. Optimisation is the specific part of development where you focus on preparing the design for making, creating the best version of your existing design.


To help you plan your year 9 design and technology lesson on: Design optimisation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

When completing the process of design optimisation with puplis, allow more time than you think is needed. Pupils may need longer thinking time, time to revisit or create models and prototypes and seek further feedback.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Sketching equipment and access to previously completed project work, like design requirement and ideas.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Put the stages of design in order.
1 - empathise
2 - define
3 - ideate
4 - prototype
5 - test
Q2.
Designers need to ensure that any design developments are justified based on the user’s __________.
Correct answer: feedback
designs
concerns
age
Q3.
The iterative process is how designers __________ ideas to develop a successful design solution.
Correct answer: refine and improve
design and improve
refine and sketch
design and sketch
Q4.
Which stage is missing from the iterative process. > Prototype > Test > Refine
Correct Answer: iterate
Q5.
What is the process of making small improvements to something?
design
Correct answer: refine
optimise
feedback
Q6.
What is DFM an abbreviation of?
Design for Materials
Correct answer: Design for Manufacture
Design for Metals
Design for Making

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Design refines designs to improve factors like efficiency and effectiveness, whilst still satisfying the design requirements.
Correct Answer: optimisation
Q2.
A reusable nappy is an example of improving what factor when optimising designs?
An image in a quiz
safety
Correct answer: sustainability
function
ergonomics
Q3.
Design for (DFM) is the process of designing products in such a way that they are easy, cost effective, and efficient to manufacture.
Correct Answer: Manufacture
Q4.
Match the term to the key factor when considering DFM.
Correct Answer:simplify,production processes

production processes

Correct Answer:minimise,material waste

material waste

Correct Answer:reduce,manufacturing costs

manufacturing costs

Correct Answer:quality and consistent,end products

end products

Correct Answer:suitable,manufacturing techniques and materials

manufacturing techniques and materials

Q5.
Which criteria are part of simplify/minimise/reduce for design optimisation.
Correct answer: materials
safety
Correct answer: waste
quality
Correct answer: cost