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Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can use SCAMPER to redesign and evolve existing ideas.

Key learning points

  1. To support the ideation stage of the design process, designers will produce a list of design requirements.
  2. A design requirement is something which is needed or wanted to make a product successful.
  3. Designers use different strategies to support ideation. One strategy is to redesign existing products.
  4. To support the redesign of existing products, a thinking tool called SCAMPER can be used.
  5. SCAMPER is an acronym that helps designers generate new ideas, develop ideas and redesign existing ideas.

Keywords

  • Design requirements - something which is needed or wanted to make a product successful

  • Redesign - the process of changing or improving an existing product

  • SCAMPER - an acronym that stands for: substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate and reverse. It is a creative thinking tool that helps generate new ideas

Common misconception

Redesigning and evolving existing products is not really designing and does not show any creativity or innovation.

Redesigning existing products is a part of design work and often requires significant creativity, insight, and innovation. Some of the most impactful design breakthroughs came not from inventing something new, but from improving what already exists.

Teacher tip

Using a random way of generating the letters within SCAMPER can make this design strategy more engaging and less pressured for pupils.

Equipment

Sketching equipment, exploration resources and materials relating to the unit's context.

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

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the term to the definition.

Correct Answer:product analysis,examining a product’s design, function, and performance

examining a product’s design, function, and performance

Correct Answer:quality standards,guidelines that ensure products meet consistent levels of excellence

guidelines that ensure products meet consistent levels of excellence

Correct Answer:safety,the condition of being protected from harm, danger, or injury

the condition of being protected from harm, danger, or injury

Q2.
When analysing products, designers can use and questions to frame their thoughts.

Correct Answer: subheadings, headings

Q3.
Which of the following relate to quality standards?

Correct answer: British Standards Institution (BSI)
Correct answer: Lion Mark
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Q4.
What type of products does the Lion Mark quality standards cover?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: toys

Q5.
A design requirement is something which is needed or wanted to make a product .

Correct Answer: successful

Q6.
Smart materials change their material properties in response to an external .

Correct Answer: stimulus
Q4 The Lion Mark was developed by the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) in 1988 to act as a recognisable consumer symbol denoting safety and quality. It indicates that the toy has been made by a member of the BTHA and therefore denotes the member’s commitment to adhere to the BTHA Code of Practice which includes rules covering ethical and safe manufacture of toys.

4 Questions

Q1.
What is SCAMPER?

Correct answer: A thinking tool
An evaluation tool
A computer-aided design tool
A writing tool

Q2.
What does the S in the acronym SCAMPER stand for?

Correct Answer: substitute

Q3.
What does the M in the acronym SCAMPER stand for?

Correct Answer: modify

Q4.
What is a useful technique for redesign?

Correct answer: Sketching over images of existing products or designs.
Sketching on a blank page so the designs are new and innovative.
Sketching without looking at existing products.

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