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Triple A Learning IB Blogs

October 3, 2010

Design Technology: Understanding the Internal Assessment Criteria (Planning) – Defining the Problem (Aspect 1)



Many students fail to gain a “complete” mark for Aspect One of the planning IA criteria due to lack of objective evidence to justify “the need or opportunity”. Often students merely state their own opinion based on assumptions or they choose a design context because they want to make a particular product.


It is important that students explain their reasons for focusing on a particular context. This may be prompted by constructive discontent . For example, concern for the environment and dissatisfaction with the amount of waste produced at school/college which is not recycled. A personal view may be a starting point for identifying the problem but it needs to be backed up by objective research. In this context the student should ask themselves a number of questions:

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March 14, 2010

Practical vs. Psychological Function

The merits of a product may be thought of as relative to the perceived “function” of the product in relation to the context in which it operates. Hence, the psychological function of an object is often as important as the practical function. In general, practical function is concerned with aspects of performance: size; ease-of-use for a particular user population; efficiency and safety; strength and durability and so on. These aspects are usually quantifiable and evaluation can be quite objective using strategies such as performance tests, user trials etc. However, many products also have a psychological function which is less quantifiable and is reliant upon more subjective judgement. In this area, success of a product may be a matter of subtle distinctions or a response to individual preferences. This does not mean that the psychological function of a product cannot be assessed but that the assessment does not rely upon gathering quantitative data.

Sometimes the appeal of the psychological function can be predictable linked to market segments such as those based on gender or age. Mobile phone designers capitalize on this by ensuring that colour and style of their products appeals to a particular market segment such as young people. There are other circumstances where preferences are more unpredictable and only by testing with a typical sample of the intended market will the designer know whether the product has the right kind of psychological appeal to consumers.

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