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Year 10

Write a design brief based on research

I can create a design brief after investigating and researching a context.

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New
New
Year 10

Write a design brief based on research

I can create a design brief after investigating and researching a context.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Designers use a design brief to define the design task.

Keywords

  • Design opportunity - a gap, or a need where a new or improved product would be beneficial

  • Design brief - outlines the design opportunity, objectives and requirements of a design task

  • Informed - having knowledge or understanding about a subject, gained through research

Common misconception

A design brief should be very specific and identify a product that will be designed and manufactured.

To avoid design fixation, a design brief should be non-specific and open. A design brief should focus on the context and the problem, and not name a product that will be designed and made.


To help you plan your year 10 design and technology lesson on: Write a design brief based on research, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use the design brief success criteria in additional materials as support for students writing their own design briefs.
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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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6 Questions

Q1.
All design and technological practice takes place within that inform outcomes.
Correct Answer: contexts, context
Q2.
Innovative design can be restricted and limited if designers practice 'design __________ '
fixation
facilitating
fixing
focussing
features
Q3.
In reference to an interview or a questionnaire, match the type of question to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:closed question,allows the respondent to give a short, specific response
tick

allows the respondent to give a short, specific response

Correct Answer:open-ended question,allows the respondent to share their opinion
tick

allows the respondent to share their opinion

Correct Answer:checkbox,allows respondents to select multiple answer options
tick

allows respondents to select multiple answer options

Correct Answer:rank order,asks respondents to sort items in order of importance
tick

asks respondents to sort items in order of importance

Q4.
Why do you need to examine your findings in detail when analysing data?
Correct answer: to make it useful for the design process
to quickly finalise the design without needing further input
to ensure the findings match the initial assumptions exactly
Q5.
In terms of presenting data, what type of data could you include on a mind map?
numbers and figures from an interview
Correct answer: quotes from an interview
Correct answer: key information from an interview
Q6.
In terms of design security, what do patents protect?
music, art and writing
brand names and logos
Correct answer: inventions or new technologies

5 Questions

Q1.
After exploring investigations and research tasks, the next step is to create a …
marketing plan
design sketch
Correct answer: design brief
manufacturing plan
specification
Q2.
A successful design brief will be ...
non-informed
Correct answer: relevant to the context
Correct answer: challenging
easy to achieve
Correct answer: non-specific
Q3.
Who is it important to identify when writing a design brief?
Correct answer: a user
Correct answer: stakeholders
a designer
a competitor
Q4.
A successful design brief will be by investigations and research.
Correct Answer: informed
Q5.
To avoid design fixation, a design brief should focus on the context and the problem and not name a that will be designed and made.
idea
place
Correct answer: product