Design Technology

1. What makes Design Technology distinct?

A Design Technology EE must:

• investigate the performance, function or optimisation of a material, component or system

• apply concepts such as ergonomics, sustainability, materials behaviour, efficiency or user interaction

• use scientific and technical testing methods suitable for school level investigation

• measure variables that reflect authentic design considerations

• analyse how form, function or material properties influence performance

• evaluate the reliability, usability and limitations of findings

Your essay should feel grounded in design and technology rather than pure science or engineering.

2. What counts as a suitable Design Technology topic?

A strong topic is:

• focused on a specific performance characteristic, material property or system behaviour

• supported by measurable variables related to real design contexts

• based on accessible materials, tools and testing methods

• linked to design principles such as optimisation, ergonomics, sustainability or efficiency

• able to generate enough data to compare performance or behaviour meaningfully

Examples of suitable topic types

• strength, flexibility or durability of different materials

• energy efficiency or power output of prototype systems

• effectiveness of ergonomic features in a product

• optimisation of aerodynamic or structural design

• impact of design modifications on performance

Examples of unsuitable topic types

• broad product design projects without measurable outcomes

• pure engineering or physics topics unrelated to design

• aesthetic evaluations with no empirical data

• projects requiring advanced machinery or manufacturing processes

• questions without clear, measurable performance indicators

Design Technology requires measurable performance evaluation grounded in design principles.

3. Using data in Design Technology

Your essay must draw upon data relevant to design performance, such as:

• measurements of strength, deformation, wear or material failure

• efficiency or output data from prototypes

• ergonomic or usability test results

• processing or manufacturing performance metrics

• reliable datasets from existing product studies or design research

Avoid

• purely subjective evaluations

• data collected without consistent protocols

• online claims without verification or testing

• measurements that do not relate to the research question

Data must be interpreted using design and scientific reasoning.

4. Research methods appropriate for Design Technology

Your methods may include:

• controlled testing of material samples

• prototype building followed by performance testing

• ergonomic or usability studies with clear criteria

• comparative analysis of different design solutions

• modelling using CAD or simulation tools

• analysis of published design performance datasets

The method must directly support the evaluation of the chosen design or system.

5. Expectations for analysis

Design Technology analysis should:

• process and compare performance data clearly

• relate results to material properties, design choices or system behaviour

• explain how specific design features influence outcomes

• identify the strengths and weaknesses of different design approaches

• use graphs, tables and images purposefully to communicate results

• remain focused on the design issue defined in the research question

Analysis must move beyond description to interpret how and why the design behaves as it does.

6. Evaluation in Design Technology

Evaluation may include:

• limitations of testing methods or prototype construction

• reliability of measurement tools and data collection

• impact of uncontrolled or external variables

• constraints related to materials or resources

• extent to which results support or challenge the design principles investigated

• design implications or potential improvements based on evidence

A strong Design Technology EE explains the practical significance of findings for design outcomes.

7. Common pitfalls in Design Technology EEs

Avoid these issues, as they frequently lead to weak outcomes:

• topics that are too broad or resemble full-scale product development

• insufficient or inconsistent performance data

• investigations depending on advanced fabrication not available in schools

• projects with unclear or unmeasurable success criteria

• essays that drift into pure physics or engineering

• design evaluations based solely on personal judgement

• variables that cannot be controlled or measured accurately

8. Model research questions

Here are high quality examples of Design research questions:

1. How does blade shape influence the power output of a small scale wind turbine made from recyclable materials?

2. To what extent does the addition of natural fibres improve the tensile strength of biodegradable composite plastics?

3. How effectively does ergonomic handle design reduce user fatigue when using hand tools?

4. To what extent do different insulation materials reduce heat transfer in lightweight housing panels?

5. How does frame geometry influence the stability of a small scale truss structure under load?

Each question is measurable, design focused and suited to school level investigation.