Investigation and Design Strategies
Investigation and Design Strategies
AQA GCSE D&T expects you to demonstrate a structured approach to investigating design problems and developing solutions. This topic covers research methods, design strategies, and how to analyse existing products.
The Design Process
The iterative design process used in GCSE D&T follows these broad stages:
1. Investigate — identify and explore the design problem
2. Design — generate and develop creative solutions
3. Make — produce a prototype or final product
4. Evaluate — test and assess the outcome against the specification
This is iterative — designers frequently loop back to earlier stages as they learn more. It is not a rigid linear sequence.
Identifying and Investigating a Design Problem
A good investigation starts with understanding the context and identifying a genuine need or want.
Primary research — original data collected first-hand:
| Method | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaires / surveys | Structured questions to gather opinions and preferences | Understanding user needs, preferences, price sensitivity |
| Interviews | In-depth conversations with potential users or experts | Gaining detailed insights, exploring complex needs |
| Observation | Watching how people use existing products | Identifying pain points, ergonomic issues, misuse |
| Product analysis | Disassembling and examining existing products | Understanding construction, materials, mechanisms |
| Testing / experimentation | Physically testing materials, mechanisms, or prototypes | Comparing properties, validating concepts |
| Anthropometric data collection | Measuring body dimensions of target users | Ensuring products fit the user (ergonomics) |
Secondary research — using existing information:
| Source | Examples |
|---|---|
| Books and textbooks | Material properties, manufacturing processes |
| Internet | Competitor products, trends, supplier catalogues |
| Databases | Anthropometric data tables (e.g. BS EN standards), material datasheets |
| Expert publications | Industry journals, design magazines |
| Standards | BSI (British Standards Institution), ISO standards |
Writing a Design Specification
A design specification is a list of measurable criteria that the final product must meet. It is derived from the investigation and guides all design decisions.
Use the ACCESS FM framework to structure your specification:
| Criterion | Meaning | Example Specification Point |
|---|---|---|
| A — Aesthetics | How the product looks, feels, smells | "Must be available in three colour options appealing to 14–16-year-olds" |
| C — Cost | Target price, budget constraints | "Retail price must not exceed £15; manufacturing cost below £5" |
| C — Customer | Target market, user needs | "Designed for Year 11 students carrying A4 textbooks and a laptop" |
| E — Environment | Sustainability, eco-impact | "Made from at least 60% recycled materials; fully recyclable at end of life" |
| S — Size | Dimensions, weight, portability | "Must fit inside a school locker (300 × 450 × 400mm)" |
| S — Safety | Hazards, regulations, standards | "No sharp edges; materials must meet BS EN 71 toy safety standard" |
| F — Function | What the product must do | "Must hold a minimum 500ml liquid and keep it insulated for 4 hours" |
| M — Materials / Manufacture | Material requirements, production method | "Must be suitable for batch production of 200 units using available school workshop equipment" |
Design Strategies
Collaboration — working with others (engineers, users, manufacturers) to develop better solutions. Brings diverse expertise but requires good communication.
User-centred design — placing the user at the heart of every decision (covered in detail in the next note).
Iterative design — continuously refining through cycles of prototype → test → improve → prototype again.
Systems thinking — considering the product as part of a larger system (inputs, processes, outputs, feedback).
Biomimicry — taking inspiration from nature to solve design problems:
- Velcro — inspired by burrs sticking to dog fur
- Bullet train nose — modelled on kingfisher beak (reduces air resistance and noise)
- Self-cleaning surfaces — mimicking lotus leaf hydrophobic texture
Inclusive design — designing products that are accessible to as wide a range of users as possible, regardless of age, ability, or circumstance. Wider than "disability" — includes left-handed users, colour-blind users, elderly, and children.
Product Analysis (ACCESSFM)
When analysing an existing product, evaluate it against the same ACCESS FM criteria, asking:
- What materials is it made from and why?
- How was it manufactured?
- Who is the target user?
- How well does it perform its function?
- What are its strengths and weaknesses?
- How could it be improved?
Exam Tips
- In the NEA (Non-Exam Assessment), your investigation is worth significant marks — show breadth (multiple research methods) and depth (analysis, not just description)
- Specification points must be measurable and testable — avoid vague statements like "it should look nice"
- Always distinguish between primary (you collected it) and secondary (someone else created it) research
- ACCESS FM is your go-to framework for both writing specifications and analysing products — learn it thoroughly
- Biomimicry is a popular exam topic — know at least three examples with the natural inspiration and the design outcome
- When evaluating your research, explain how it influenced your design decisions — do not just present data without analysis
Key Definitions
- Design specification: A detailed list of measurable criteria that the final product must satisfy, derived from research and investigation
- Primary research: Original data gathered first-hand by the designer (surveys, interviews, testing)
- Secondary research: Existing information sourced from books, websites, databases, or experts
- Iterative design: A cyclical process of designing, prototyping, testing, and refining
- Biomimicry: The practice of learning from and mimicking strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges
- ACCESS FM: A framework for writing specifications and analysing products — Aesthetics, Cost, Customer, Environment, Size, Safety, Function, Materials/Manufacture