Design Project (Internal Assessment)
SL · Criteria A–D
Your design project is the coursework-style internal assessment (IA). It is worth 40% of your SL grade. You choose your own problem, follow the design cycle, and submit a written report — not a slide deck.
What it is
- A portfolio report (usually in Word) documenting a real design problem you investigate and solve.
- Heavy emphasis on research, sketching, modelling, testing, and iteration — not just a polished final product.
- You produce concept models, detailed drawings, a manufacturing plan, and a working prototype.
- Examiners do not mark the final prototype as a GCSE-style “made product” outcome. They mark how well you researched, designed, tested, and evaluated.
Format and limits
| Item | SL |
|---|
| Sections | A, B, C, D |
| Typical limits | Up to ~38 pages · ~3,000 words |
| Teaching time | ~40 hours (part of the 150-hour course) |
| Weighting | 40% of final grade |
Confirm exact page and word limits with your teacher — IB rules can be updated.
The design cycle (Criteria A–D)
Each section maps to one criterion. Work through them in order, but iterate — testing in D often sends you back to improve ideas in B or C.
A Analysis of a design opportunity
- Describe a real problem that creates a genuine design opportunity.
- Write a design brief that states the problem, user, context, and constraints.
- Develop a design specification — measurable requirements justified by your research (surveys, interviews, product analysis, etc.).
B Conceptual design
- Generate a range of feasible ideas — sketches, mood boards, quick models.
- Use concept modelling to test ideas and analyse what works.
- Compare ideas against your specification and justify one chosen solution for detailed development.
C Development of a detailed design
- Justify materials, components, and manufacturing methods for your prototype.
- Produce detailed technical drawings (dimensions, tolerances, annotations) clear enough for a third party to build it.
- Write a step-by-step manufacturing plan (tools, order of operations, safety).
D Testing and evaluation
- Justify a testing strategy linked to each requirement in your specification.
- Evaluate the prototype against the specification using evidence (measurements, user feedback, photos).
- Suggest realistic improvements and explain how each change would affect the whole design.
Writing strong design requirements
Your specification is the backbone of the project. Use it to guide decisions in B and C, and to judge success in D.
A useful framework is ACCESS FM:
| Letter | Ask yourself |
|---|
| Aesthetics | Look, shape, colour, finish |
| Cost | Budget, material cost, affordability |
| Customer | Target user, ergonomics, needs |
| Environment | Sustainability, waste, lifecycle |
| Safety | Risks, guards, safe use |
| Size | Dimensions, weight, clearance |
| Function | What it must do, performance limits |
| Material | Properties, availability, suitability |
Every requirement should be:
- Specific — not “comfortable” but “usable for 30 minutes without reported discomfort in testing”.
- Measurable — you can collect evidence in D.
- Justified — linked to research or user needs.
Prefer a small set of strong requirements over a long vague checklist.
Prototype and making
- Build a prototype so you can test in Criterion D — photos and process documentation matter.
- Work may happen outside class time; some students outsource professional manufacture (extra cost) because time is limited.
- Document problems during making — mistakes and fixes show authentic design thinking.
Iteration — what examiners want to see
Iteration is not rebuilding everything three times. It is informed change based on testing or feedback:
- Adjust dimensions after user trials
- Change material for durability or sustainability
- Move components for better ergonomics
- Simplify a mechanism after a failed test
Show before / after (sketches, CAD, prototype stages), explain what changed, and justify why using test data or user comments.
Suggested timeline
- Weeks 1–6 · Research Choose a problem you care about. Primary + secondary research. Brief and specification.
- Weeks 7–12 · Ideas Many concepts, concept models, pick and justify one solution. Start detailed drawings.
- Weeks 13–20 · Make & iterate Manufacturing plan, build prototype, test, refine, document every step.
- Weeks 21–24 · Evaluate Final testing against every requirement. Honest evaluation. Assemble and proofread the report.
Typical school year
- Year 12: Core topics 1–6; IA introduced around Term 2; mock exams at end of year.
- Year 13: Finish remaining IA sections; final exams in May of Year 13.
HL students complete the same A–D work, then add Criteria E and F on commercial production. See the
HL design project guide.
Checklist before you submit
- Every requirement in A is tested and referenced in D
- Photos and annotated sketches explain your thinking, not just decorate the page
- Every major decision is justified with research, testing, or user feedback
- Iteration is visible with clear before/after comparisons
- Word count and page limits checked