Teaching article
A useful design brief says who needs what
Define a user, purpose and constraint before making.
Give the paper model a particular user and purpose before discussing materials. A display stand for one lightweight card is a more workable challenge than make something strong, because its success can be inspected.
Keep the user scenario visible during making. A design that looks appealing can still miss the practical purpose stated in the brief.
Write the purpose before the solution
Name the user. State the purpose. Record the constraint.
A paper stand must display one lightweight card on a small desk.
A brief is more than a theme. What must the design achieve?
Use three prompt boxes.
Resources
- Doughnut Shop Paper Stand STEM — Use the lightweight display-stand brief to test fit and stability.
Further reading
Read next
- Choose success criteria another group could apply
- An accessible playground model needs a specific access question
- Top and side views reveal different parts of the same model
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