Designing for GCSE Design and Technology

GCSE Design and Technology, Designing. Usually met in years 9 to 11.

Learn how designers work: briefs and specifications, iterative and user-centred design, ergonomics and drawing methods.

What you practise

Starts with the brief and the client and builds to working drawings. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.

Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.

Sample question, level 2 of 5

Which term means: research the designer does first-hand, such as interviewing users?

Show the answer and method

Answer: A, Primary research

The method: Primary research means research the designer does first-hand, such as interviewing users.

Why the other options are wrong:

B, Focus group: Focus group means a small group of possible users asked for their views on a design.
C, Ergonomics: Ergonomics means designing a product so it is comfortable, safe and easy for people to use.
D, Anthropometrics: Anthropometrics means measurements of the human body, used to size products.
E, Systems approach: Systems approach means designing by breaking a product down into inputs, processes and outputs.

Sample question, level 4 of 5

Which term means: the point in a range of body sizes below which a given percentage of people fall?

Show the answer and method

Answer: E, Percentile

The method: Percentile means the point in a range of body sizes below which a given percentage of people fall.

Why the other options are wrong:

A, Anthropometrics: Anthropometrics means measurements of the human body, used to size products.
B, Client: Client means the person or business a product is designed for.
C, Ergonomics: Ergonomics means designing a product so it is comfortable, safe and easy for people to use.
D, Aesthetics: Aesthetics means how a product looks, feels and appeals to the senses.