Specifications
Design & Manufacture · National 5 · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about specifications, specifically to:
understand
- the role of a specification in the design process
be able to
- write specific specification points from a brief and research
Success criteria WILF
- I can explain the role of a specification in the design process
- I can write specific specification points from a brief and research
What a specification is
A list of everything the product must do, be and have. It sets clear boundaries for the designer and covers every design factor: function, aesthetics, market, performance, ergonomics and safety.
It is used to evaluate ideas throughout the design process, so designs keep meeting the client's and user's needs.
Writing good specification points N5
Points must come from the brief and the results of your research, and be specific enough to check your design against. At N5 the product will be made in the school workshop, so points should be about what you can actually design and make: sizes, what it holds, materials and joints you can use, and the user.
Example brief: design a desk tidy for a teenager's bedroom, made in the workshop from timber, acrylic and/or metal.
| Weak | Strong (from research) |
|---|---|
| Must hold pens. | Must hold at least 8 pens upright in a compartment at least 25 mm deep with a 70 mm internal height. |
| Must hold a phone. | Must hold a phone up to 80 mm wide and 10 mm thick at a viewing angle of about 60°. |
| Must be the right size. | Must fit on a desk shelf with a maximum footprint of 250 × 150 mm. |
| Must be strong. | Must use at least one woodwork joint and be stable enough not to tip when a phone is pushed in. |
| Must look good. | Must use a contrasting coloured acrylic to suit a teenage target market. |
| Must be safe. | Must have no sharp edges or corners: all edges filed, sanded and finished. |
Generic points such as "must be durable" score nothing because they could apply to any product.
In your assignment N5
- The SQA brief usually contains 3–4 specification points. Pick these out and include them in your specification.
- Then add at least 4 more points of your own that come from your research, such as critical sizes you measured, findings from a user trip or questionnaire, and materials and joints you can use in the workshop.
- Only the points that come from your research show your analysis of the brief, so make them specific and measurable.
Key terms
| Where does specification information come from? | The design brief and the results of research. |
|---|---|
| Why is a specification important to a designer? | It sets clear boundaries, gives direction, and is used to evaluate ideas against the client and user needs. |
Quick check
1. Which is the strongest specification point?
- It must be safe for everyone to use
- It should look attractive to the target market
- It must be durable enough to last a long time
- It must fit a 40 mm diameter water bottle
Show answer
2. Which two sources provide information for a specification?
- Brief and research
- Sketches and models
- Working drawing and cutting list
- Marketing and retail
Show answer
Exam-style questions
1. Explain why a specification is an important tool for a designer. (2 marks)
Show marking guidance
- It clarifies what the solution must do/be/have (1)
- Designer can evaluate ideas and decisions against it to make sure they meet the client/user needs (1)
Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.