writing a specification
DESCRIPTION
How to write a SpecificationTRANSCRIPT
TaskImagine that you have been given a million pounds and
intend to buy a car and a house. Do you go out and by the first car that you see? Or do you have some features that you would like to ‘include’ in your dream car and house that make
you shop around a little?
On the cards that you have been given, sketch a car and
house, write down the key features that you would like your dream car and dream house to have. You could
include things like location, number of rooms, decor.Remember, you have a
million pounds!
Coursework checklistPage Done? Page Done?
Design Brief/ Identifying a NeedTask Analysis
Mood board
Existing product research
Questionnaire and results
Other relevant research
Specification
Initial ideas
Development of ideas
Design Specification• If your ideal house would stand on the bank of a river, face the sun as it rises and be
surrounded by woods, then it would be a very different house to the one needed for an office worker in central London who wants somewhere close to the office and near to restaurants and pubs.
Features that you want to include in a design for a product you intend to make are much the same. These features when listed are what we call the ‘Design
Specification’.
Much of what you have found out as a result of your research will be included in your specification.
Learning Outcomes
• To investigate how to write a design specification.
• To write a design specification which fully reflects your design intentions.
(Reflective Learners, Creative Thinkers)
Presentation of your specification
Design Specification
•Mind map•Chart or table•List/ Bullet points•Headings – such as essential, desirable, optional
• Break it down into sections – function, performance, size, weight, target market, aesthetics, ergonomics, materials, safety, cost, manufacturing, social and moral considerations, consumer law, environmental factors, sustainable technologies and so on...
• Colour code each specification point!
• Page 111 in your textbook!
Example Specification
Design Specification • What is the intention behind the design of the product? What
should its purpose be?• Who is the product aimed at?• How can the product be designed so that it performs as well as it
possibly can do?• If it is designed to be handheld, how large are the hands of the
operator?• How is the intended design of the product going to look? What will
make it aesthetically pleasing?• Are materials important to the creation of the product? Are there
any specific manufacturing processes that will be needed to create the desired design effects?
TaskRead the following specification point:
Size: Utilizing my survey questionnaire and my individual designs, I know that the size of my product will be no larger than the actual MP3. The MP3 player should at least have a
length of 140mm and a width of 70mm. This would provide a range of MP3’s enough space to fit inside the case.
In pairs, re-write it:• with a good clear justification (to get higher marks)• with the user in mind (because the user is important when designing)• using fewer words (to make it more concise and to the point)• removing any ‘useless’ information (to make it clearer to follow)• adding further points you can think of (to make the specification more comprehensive)
TaskRead the following specification point:
Ergonomics: The product will be comfortable to use and hold. I will make it hand held so that the user is able to hold with
ease. In addition, I must consider the weight of my product as the users would find it difficult to carry heavy weight
materials. These ergonomics are necessary if I was to make my product successful.
In pairs, re-write it:• with a good clear justification (to get higher marks)• with the user in mind (because the user is important when designing)• using fewer words (to make it more concise and to the point)• removing any ‘useless’ information (to make it clearer to follow)• adding further points you can think of (to make the specification more comprehensive)