Create a section in your book for Criterion A. Each of the following tasks will be the ‘chapters’ of this section of the book. Use the features of Book Creator: you can embed video, Padlets, insert video and audio that you make of your own reflections, add photographs.

Make it very clear that you are responding to each section using the headings listed below.

A1: The Problem

What?

Explain and justify the need for a solution to a problem.

Why?

You need to fully understand the ‘problem’ and identify where you can make a meaningful contribution towards solving this.

How?

Design situation

Explain what you are challenged to create in this unit.

Project justification

Present photographic evidence of different aspects of the problem.
Describe the harms or potential harms of this problem.
Explain why a solution to the problem is important.

A2: Research Plan

What?

State and prioritize the main points of research needed to develop a solution to the problem.

Why?

You want to identify valuable sources of information to provide input for your project (now and later) and you want to make sure you balance your research efforts over the different areas of research that are needed.

How?

Outline the questions you feel you need answers to in order to have a successful project in this unit. These questions could be very practical (how much time do I have to create my product? What tools and materials are available to me?) related to the end-users’ needs or more conceptual (about the bigger picture topics of the unit).
Prioritize the importance of each question for a successful project (you may not have time to find answers to all!).
Outline relevant primary and secondary sources of information that you could consult to find answers to each question you have identified.

Consider also:

Primary sources provide data or information that you have gathered yourself by doing things like:

Interviewing your client, a typical client, other stakeholders or an expert.
Surveying members of your target audience.
Observing people interact with similar products.
Making observations on the site or location where the solution is needed.
Investigating the work of other designers.
Experimenting with materials or tools or software to learn how to use them.
Analysing related products or projects on (e.g.) Instructables, Pinterest, crowdfunding websites, etsy.com etc.Secondary sources provide data or information that has already been gathered by someone else and can be found:

online from blogs or websites by expert organizations.
from books in the library, in the classroom or from home
Watching youtube videos
listening to podcasts
looking in newspapers or magazines

A3: Existing Products

What?

Describe the main features of an existing product that inspires a solution to the problem.

Why?

You are trying to figure out what makes related products a success (or not) and you are trying to come up with ideas for your own project.

How?

Inspiration board

Add to your Padlet shelf, a range of examples of recycled or upcycled textiles that are an inspiration to your project (at least 25).
Embed the Padlet in your Design Book

PMI analysis

Construct a PMI chart in which you:

List all strengths (plus) of the products you have considered in your inspiration board. Ask yourself: What do the products in my inspiration board have in common that makes them successful?
List all weaknesses (minus) of the products you have considered in your inspiration board. Ask yourself: What features can I find in my inspiration board that may lead to less successful products?
List short descriptions of any other design ideas and take-aways (interesting) you have gained for your project by making the inspiration board. Ideas that are worth remembering for later in the project.

Consider also:

When creating your inspiration board, choose products that are different from each other. If the products are very similar, you will gain only limited knowledge and inspiration for your own project, because most products will lead to the same conclusions.

A4: Design Brief

What?

Present the main findings of relevant research.

Why?

You have to make a decision at this point in the project: What will you design and create, for whom and why. You want your decision to be based on sufficient background research.

How?

Research summary

List the main take-aways of your research in a concise list of bullet points. Your research summary should not exceed 1000 words and will normally fit on two A4 pages. Start with what you feel are the most important conclusions of your research. Often these are very practical.
Explain the main take-aways of your research in a concise list of bullet points.
Illustrate your take-aways with imagery wherever you feel this reduces the amount of writing needed. However, don’t add images for the sake of adding images.

Project commitment

Outline what product you are going to develop in your project in this unit and what its practical purpose is
Describe the user profile of the target audience for whom you will develop the product.
Identify one or more existing people you know and have access to that will represent your target audience in this project. Present a photo of the person that represents your target audience. Preferably one that relates to the product you are going to make.
Outline the main bigger picture problem your product tries to solve (Goal). This should probably refer to the global context of the unit. Present a photo that illustrates the problem.
Describe the dream scenario of what success for you in this project would look like.