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Lesson 3 of 8
  • Year 8

Empathy

I can use empathy to design inclusive products.

Lesson 3 of 8
New
New
  • Year 8

Empathy

I can use empathy to design inclusive products.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Empathy means understanding and feeling what users experience, allowing designers to create more accessible products.
  2. Simulating impairments helps designers create inclusive solutions by experiencing these difficulties firsthand.
  3. Task analysis involves breaking down actions into steps to identify obstacles, which helps designers simplify processes.
  4. Adaptive products can be adjusted or customised to meet the individual needs of users.
  5. Assistive products are tools designed to help perform tasks they may find difficult.

Keywords

  • Empathy - the ability to understand and share the feelings, thoughts, or experiences of another person

  • Inclusive design - designing products that as many people as possible can use

  • Task analysis - breaking down a task into individual steps

Common misconception

Designers can create successful products based on their preferences and abilities.

To have empathy for someone helps designers create better products because they understand users' needs, challenges, and feelings, leading to more useful and user-friendly designs.


To help you plan your year 8 design and technology lesson on: Empathy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

For task B, give pupils examples of game controllers and allow them to simulate mobility impairment while creating their design.
Teacher tip

Equipment

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.
What are anthropometrics?

Correct answer: the measurements of people
the measurements of products
the measurements of materials
the measurements of buildings

Q2.
There are three important percentiles in anthropometric data: 5th, 50th and ...

80th
85th
90th
Correct answer: 95th

Q3.
Complete the definition of ergonomics: the interaction between people and the they use.

Correct Answer: products, product

Q4.
What are existing products?

products designed only for future use or testing
products that are still being developed and not yet available
products that are ideas or concepts, but not yet made
Correct answer: products which have already been created, sold, and used by people

Q5.
Why is it important to consider different user needs when designing a product?

to make the product look more stylish
to reduce the cost of production
to prevent people from copying the design
Correct answer: to ensure as many people as possible can use the product

Q6.
Why are pavement ramps designed for public spaces?

to reduce traffic congestion
to help people avoid walking long distances
to make pavements look more modern
Correct answer: to make it easier for those who find stairs difficult

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the __________, thoughts, or experiences of another person.

histories
Correct answer: feelings
ideas
imaginations

Q2.
Which of the following best explains why empathy is essential in the design process?

designers know what users want without research
Correct answer: it helps designers understand users’ needs and challenges
it makes products look good to designers
it helps reduce costs and time

Q3.
How can designers empathise with users with disabilities?

Correct answer: undertaking simulations of disabilities
watching product reviews online
guessing what users might need

Q4.
Which of the following is an accurate definition of task analysis?

involves evaluating user satisfaction with a product after completing a task
involves designing new user interfaces based on current aesthetic trends
Correct answer: involves breaking down user actions into steps to identify obstacles

Q5.
Designing products that as many people as possible can use is known as what?

Correct answer: inclusive design
independent design
interactive design
intuitive design

Q6.
In what ways can designers achieve inclusive design?

Correct answer: assistive products
accommodative products
Correct answer: adaptive products
authoritative products