Redesign: The Washing Machine Project
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how products can be redesigned within the circular economy.
Key learning points
- Products can be redesigned or adapted to make future successful products.
- Existing products can inspire future design.
- The success of products designed for developing countries can inspire future designs.
Keywords
Circular economy - products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste
Life cycle assessment (LCA) - assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product’s lifecycle
Design decisions - a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem
Iteration - refining and improving
Redesign - making design decisions to improve a product in some way
Common misconception
Redesigning a product for the circular economy only means making it recyclable.
Redesign in the circular economy involves designing products to last longer, be repaired, reused, or upgraded to reduce waste throughout the product’s entire life cycle.
Teacher tip
If you can get hold of a salad spinner and a wet sock, this would be fantastic to demonstrate how Navjot Sawhney was inspired to design the flat pack Divya washing machine!
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Maintenance is the regular and small fixes to keep a product working properly and lasting longer.
Q2.Repair and maintenance of a product is the responsibility of the user and the ...
Q3.The ability to take apart products helps them to be ...
Q4.A design opportunity happens when there is a __________ or a need for a new or improved product.
Q5.Which of the following products follow a linear economy model?
Q6.What does iteration mean in the context of design?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the terms to their definitions.
making design decisions to improve a product in some way
assesses a product's environmental impact throughout its life cycle
a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem
refining or improving
Q2.Which of the following is not a common reason for redesigning a product?
Q3.Which redesign strategy helps to extend a product's life?
Q4.Which of the following best describes how the circular economy approach applies to product redesign?
To help you plan your 10 design and technology lesson on: Redesign: The Washing Machine Project, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 design and technology lesson on: Redesign: The Washing Machine Project, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 design and technology lessons from the The circular economy: developing countries unit, dive into the full secondary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.