7.1.5

Specifications

Test yourself on Specifications

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Design Brief and Specification

A design brief informs you what it is you need to design. It should be clear and simple.

Design brief

Design brief

You are required to write a design brief and specification as part of your NEA.
For example:
- Design and make a children's toy inspired by space.
- The product will need to be eye catching, safe and educational.

Changing the brief

Changing the brief

Design briefs and specifications can change throughout your project.
Your brief will change as you conduct more research.
You may change the brief after modelling and testing your idea.
You may also change the brief following client feedback.

Manufacturing Specification

You will need to write a manufacturing specification that will list what your product MUST do and COULD do. By doing a range of research and speaking with your client you will be able to write the manufacturing specification.

Manufacturing specification

Manufacturing specification

You will need to write a manufacturing specification that will list what your product MUST do and COULD do.
By doing a range of research and speaking with your client you will be able to write the manufacturing specification.

Design solutions

Design solutions

This may change as you develop your design solution but it is a list to help you design and model your idea.
Categories to consider in your specification...
(Ensure they are MEASURABLE and SPECIFIC.)

Categories to consider

Categories to consider

Aesthetics.
Customer.
Cost.
Environment.
Safety.
Size.
Function.
Materials.

1

Core Technical Principles

1.1

New & Emerging Technologies

1.1.1Industry 1.1.2Enterprise 1.1.3Sustainability 1.1.4People 1.1.5Culture & Society 1.1.6Environment 1.1.7Production Techniques & Systems 1.1.8Emerging Technologies & Design 1.1.9End of Topic Test - New & Emerging Technologies 1.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Emerging Technologies

1.2

Energy Generation & Storage

1.2.1Fossil Fuels & Nuclear 1.2.2Renewable Energy 1.2.3Energy Storage Systems

1.3

Developments in New Materials

1.3.1Modern Materials 1.3.2Smart Materials 1.3.3Exam-Style Questions - Smart Materials 1.3.4Composite Materials 1.3.5Technical Textiles

1.4

Systems Approach to Designing

1.4.1Inputs 1.4.2Processes 1.4.3Outputs 1.4.4Looped Systems

1.5

Mechanical Devices

1.5.1Types of Movement 1.5.2Levers 1.5.3Linkages 1.5.4Rotary Systems 1.5.5End of Topic Test - Designing & Mechanical Devices

1.6

Materials Categories

1.6.1Timbers 1.6.2Metals & Alloys 1.6.3Metals & Alloys 2 1.6.4Polymers 1.6.5Polymer Types 1.6.6Textiles 1.6.7Textile Types: Fibres 1.6.8Textile Types: Weave 1.6.9Paper & Boards

1.7

Material Properties

1.7.1Physical & Working Properties 1.7.2End of Topic Test - Materials 1.7.3Exam-Style Questions - Materials

2

Paper & Board: Specialist Technical Principles

2.1

Selection of Materials

2.1.1Paper & Boards 2.1.2Working with Paper & Boards

2.2

Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses

2.2.1Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses 2.2.2Cardboard & Paper

2.3

Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint

2.3.1Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint 2.3.2Paper & Board: The Six Rs 2.3.3Social Issues

2.4

Paper & Board: Sources & Origins

2.4.1Paper & Board 2.4.2End of Topic Test - Paper & Board

2.5

Paper & Board: Using Materials

2.5.1Paper & Board: Properties of Materials 2.5.2Paper & Board: Modification of Materials 2.5.3Paper & Board: Shape & Form

2.6

Paper & Board: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

2.6.1Paper & Board: Forms 2.6.2Paper & Board: Types 2.6.3Paper & Board: Sizes 2.6.4Paper & Board: Standards Components

2.7

Paper & Board: Scales of Production

2.7.1Paper & Board: Scales of Production 2.7.2Exam-Style Questions - Scales of Production

2.8

Paper & Board: Specialist Techniques & Processes

2.8.1Paper & Board: Techniques & Processes 2.8.2Paper & Board: Quality Control

2.9

Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes

2.9.1Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes 2.9.2End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

3

Timber: Specialist Technical Principles

3.1

Timber: Selection of Materials

3.1.1Timber Based Materials 3.1.2Timber: Environment & Ethics

3.2

Timber: Forces & Stresses

3.2.1Timber: Forces & Stresses 3.2.2Timber

3.3

Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint

3.3.1Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint 3.3.2Timber: The Six Rs 3.3.3Timber: Social Issues 3.3.4Exam-Style Questions - Timber

3.4

Timber: Sources & Origins

3.4.1Timber 3.4.2Timber: Processing & Seasoning 3.4.3Manufactured Board 3.4.4End of Topic Test - Timber

3.5

Timber: Using Materials

3.5.1Timber: Properties of Materials 3.5.2Timber: Modification of Materials 3.5.3Timber: Shape & Form 3.5.4Timber: Shape & Form 2

3.6

Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.6.1Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.7

Timber: Scales of Production

3.7.1Timber: Scales of Production

3.8

Timber: Specialist Techniques & Processes

3.8.1Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes 3.8.2Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes 2 3.8.3Timber: Quality Control

3.9

Timber: Surface Treatments & Finishes

3.9.1Timber: Surface Treatments 3.9.2Timber: Finishes 3.9.3End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

4

Metal: Specialist Technical Principles

4.1

Metals: Selection of Materials

4.1.1Metal-Based Materials 4.1.2Ferrous Metals 4.1.3Non-Ferrous Metals 4.1.4Alloys 4.1.5Metals: Environment & Ethics

4.2

Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.2.1Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.3

Metals: Ecological & Social Footprint

4.3.1Metals: Ecological Footprint 4.3.2Metals: Social Footprint 4.3.3Metals: The Six R's 4.3.4Metals: Social Issues

4.4

Metals: Sources & Origins

4.4.1Origins of Metal 4.4.2Processing Metals

4.5

Metals: Alloy-Based Materials

4.5.1Types of Metal Alloys 4.5.2Alloying Elements 4.5.3Properties & Benefits 4.5.4Processing & Fabrication 4.5.5Applications of Alloys 4.5.6Metal Alloys in Industry 4.5.7Applications of Metal Alloys

4.6

Metals: Using Materials

4.6.1Properties of Metals 4.6.2Modification of Metals 4.6.3Metals: Shape & Form

4.7

Metals: Scales of Production

4.7.1Metals: Scales of Production

4.8

Metals: Specialist Techniques & Processes

4.8.1Metals: Tools 4.8.2Metals: Tools & Equipment 4.8.3Metals: Cutting, Forming & Machining Processes 4.8.4Metals: Joining, Casting & Heat Treatment Process

4.9

Metals: Quality Control

4.9.1Metals: Quality Control 4.9.2Metals: Quality Control Processes

4.10

Metals: Surface Treatments & Finishes

4.10.1Metals: Surface Treatments 4.10.2Metals: Surface Treatments for Metals 4.10.3Metals: Finishes 4.10.4Metals: Finishing Techniques for Metals

5

Polymers: Specialist Technical Principles

5.1

Polymers

5.1.1Polymers: Functionality & Aesthetics 5.1.2Polymers: Environment & Ethics 5.1.3Polymers: Sources, Origins & Properties 5.1.4Polymers: Forces & Stresses 5.1.5Polymers: Ecological & Social Footprint 5.1.6Polymers: The Six R's

5.2

Polymer Categories

5.2.1Categories of Polymers 5.2.2Thermoforming Polymers 5.2.3Thermosetting Polymers

5.3

Polymer Forms

5.3.1Polymers: Stock Forms 5.3.2Polymers: Shape & Form

5.4

Polymer Production, Techniques & Quality Control

5.4.1Polymers: Scales of Production 5.4.2Polymers: Specialist Techniques & Processes 5.4.3Polymers: Quality Control Systems: Tolerance 5.4.4Polymers: Finishes

6

Textiles: Specialist Technical Principles

6.1

Textile Materials

6.1.1Origin of Textiles 6.1.2Textile Industry

6.2

Selection of Materials

6.2.1Natural Fibres 6.2.2Synthetic Fibres 6.2.3Environmental Concerns 6.2.4Environmental Impact 6.2.5Ethical Challenges

6.3

Forces & Stresses

6.3.1Forces & Stresses

6.4

Ecological & Social Footprint

6.4.1Ecological Footprint 6.4.2Social Footprint 6.4.3Addressing Ecological & Social Footprints 6.4.4The Six R's 6.4.5Labour Conditions 6.4.6Social Issues 6.4.7Addressing Social Issues

7

Designing & Making Principles

7.1

Investigation & Data

7.1.1Iterative Design 7.1.2Primary & Secondary Data 7.1.3Market Research 7.1.4Ergonomics 7.1.5Specifications 7.1.6End of Topic Test - Investigation & Data 7.1.7Exam-Style Questions - Specifications

7.2

Environmental, Social & Economic Challenges

7.2.1Challenges 7.2.2Your Research

7.3

The Work of Others

7.3.1Designers 7.3.2Architects 7.3.3Product Design 7.3.4Industrial Designers 7.3.5Product Design Companies 7.3.6Textile Design Companies 7.3.7End of Topic Test - The Work of Others

7.4

Design Strategies

7.4.1Design Strategies

7.5

Communication of Design Ideas

7.5.1Design Communication

7.6

Prototype Development

7.6.1Prototype Development

7.7

Selection of Materials

7.8

Tolerances

7.8.1Tolerances

7.9

Material Management

7.9.1Managing Material 7.9.2Tools

7.10

Specialist Equipment

7.10.1Health & Safety

7.11

Specialist Techniques & Processes

7.11.1Specialist Techniques & Processes 7.11.2Surface Finishes 7.11.3End of Topic Test - Designing & Making

Jump to other topics

1

Core Technical Principles

1.1

New & Emerging Technologies

1.1.1Industry 1.1.2Enterprise 1.1.3Sustainability 1.1.4People 1.1.5Culture & Society 1.1.6Environment 1.1.7Production Techniques & Systems 1.1.8Emerging Technologies & Design 1.1.9End of Topic Test - New & Emerging Technologies 1.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Emerging Technologies

1.2

Energy Generation & Storage

1.2.1Fossil Fuels & Nuclear 1.2.2Renewable Energy 1.2.3Energy Storage Systems

1.3

Developments in New Materials

1.3.1Modern Materials 1.3.2Smart Materials 1.3.3Exam-Style Questions - Smart Materials 1.3.4Composite Materials 1.3.5Technical Textiles

1.4

Systems Approach to Designing

1.4.1Inputs 1.4.2Processes 1.4.3Outputs 1.4.4Looped Systems

1.5

Mechanical Devices

1.5.1Types of Movement 1.5.2Levers 1.5.3Linkages 1.5.4Rotary Systems 1.5.5End of Topic Test - Designing & Mechanical Devices

1.6

Materials Categories

1.6.1Timbers 1.6.2Metals & Alloys 1.6.3Metals & Alloys 2 1.6.4Polymers 1.6.5Polymer Types 1.6.6Textiles 1.6.7Textile Types: Fibres 1.6.8Textile Types: Weave 1.6.9Paper & Boards

1.7

Material Properties

1.7.1Physical & Working Properties 1.7.2End of Topic Test - Materials 1.7.3Exam-Style Questions - Materials

2

Paper & Board: Specialist Technical Principles

2.1

Selection of Materials

2.1.1Paper & Boards 2.1.2Working with Paper & Boards

2.2

Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses

2.2.1Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses 2.2.2Cardboard & Paper

2.3

Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint

2.3.1Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint 2.3.2Paper & Board: The Six Rs 2.3.3Social Issues

2.4

Paper & Board: Sources & Origins

2.4.1Paper & Board 2.4.2End of Topic Test - Paper & Board

2.5

Paper & Board: Using Materials

2.5.1Paper & Board: Properties of Materials 2.5.2Paper & Board: Modification of Materials 2.5.3Paper & Board: Shape & Form

2.6

Paper & Board: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

2.6.1Paper & Board: Forms 2.6.2Paper & Board: Types 2.6.3Paper & Board: Sizes 2.6.4Paper & Board: Standards Components

2.7

Paper & Board: Scales of Production

2.7.1Paper & Board: Scales of Production 2.7.2Exam-Style Questions - Scales of Production

2.8

Paper & Board: Specialist Techniques & Processes

2.8.1Paper & Board: Techniques & Processes 2.8.2Paper & Board: Quality Control

2.9

Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes

2.9.1Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes 2.9.2End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

3

Timber: Specialist Technical Principles

3.1

Timber: Selection of Materials

3.1.1Timber Based Materials 3.1.2Timber: Environment & Ethics

3.2

Timber: Forces & Stresses

3.2.1Timber: Forces & Stresses 3.2.2Timber

3.3

Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint

3.3.1Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint 3.3.2Timber: The Six Rs 3.3.3Timber: Social Issues 3.3.4Exam-Style Questions - Timber

3.4

Timber: Sources & Origins

3.4.1Timber 3.4.2Timber: Processing & Seasoning 3.4.3Manufactured Board 3.4.4End of Topic Test - Timber

3.5

Timber: Using Materials

3.5.1Timber: Properties of Materials 3.5.2Timber: Modification of Materials 3.5.3Timber: Shape & Form 3.5.4Timber: Shape & Form 2

3.6

Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.6.1Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.7

Timber: Scales of Production

3.7.1Timber: Scales of Production

3.8

Timber: Specialist Techniques & Processes

3.8.1Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes 3.8.2Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes 2 3.8.3Timber: Quality Control

3.9

Timber: Surface Treatments & Finishes

3.9.1Timber: Surface Treatments 3.9.2Timber: Finishes 3.9.3End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

4

Metal: Specialist Technical Principles

4.1

Metals: Selection of Materials

4.1.1Metal-Based Materials 4.1.2Ferrous Metals 4.1.3Non-Ferrous Metals 4.1.4Alloys 4.1.5Metals: Environment & Ethics

4.2

Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.2.1Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.3

Metals: Ecological & Social Footprint

4.3.1Metals: Ecological Footprint 4.3.2Metals: Social Footprint 4.3.3Metals: The Six R's 4.3.4Metals: Social Issues

4.4

Metals: Sources & Origins

4.4.1Origins of Metal 4.4.2Processing Metals

4.5

Metals: Alloy-Based Materials

4.5.1Types of Metal Alloys 4.5.2Alloying Elements 4.5.3Properties & Benefits 4.5.4Processing & Fabrication 4.5.5Applications of Alloys 4.5.6Metal Alloys in Industry 4.5.7Applications of Metal Alloys

4.6

Metals: Using Materials

4.6.1Properties of Metals 4.6.2Modification of Metals 4.6.3Metals: Shape & Form

4.7

Metals: Scales of Production

4.7.1Metals: Scales of Production

4.8

Metals: Specialist Techniques & Processes

4.8.1Metals: Tools 4.8.2Metals: Tools & Equipment 4.8.3Metals: Cutting, Forming & Machining Processes 4.8.4Metals: Joining, Casting & Heat Treatment Process

4.9

Metals: Quality Control

4.9.1Metals: Quality Control 4.9.2Metals: Quality Control Processes

4.10

Metals: Surface Treatments & Finishes

4.10.1Metals: Surface Treatments 4.10.2Metals: Surface Treatments for Metals 4.10.3Metals: Finishes 4.10.4Metals: Finishing Techniques for Metals

5

Polymers: Specialist Technical Principles

5.1

Polymers

5.1.1Polymers: Functionality & Aesthetics 5.1.2Polymers: Environment & Ethics 5.1.3Polymers: Sources, Origins & Properties 5.1.4Polymers: Forces & Stresses 5.1.5Polymers: Ecological & Social Footprint 5.1.6Polymers: The Six R's

5.2

Polymer Categories

5.2.1Categories of Polymers 5.2.2Thermoforming Polymers 5.2.3Thermosetting Polymers

5.3

Polymer Forms

5.3.1Polymers: Stock Forms 5.3.2Polymers: Shape & Form

5.4

Polymer Production, Techniques & Quality Control

5.4.1Polymers: Scales of Production 5.4.2Polymers: Specialist Techniques & Processes 5.4.3Polymers: Quality Control Systems: Tolerance 5.4.4Polymers: Finishes

6

Textiles: Specialist Technical Principles

6.1

Textile Materials

6.1.1Origin of Textiles 6.1.2Textile Industry

6.2

Selection of Materials

6.2.1Natural Fibres 6.2.2Synthetic Fibres 6.2.3Environmental Concerns 6.2.4Environmental Impact 6.2.5Ethical Challenges

6.3

Forces & Stresses

6.3.1Forces & Stresses

6.4

Ecological & Social Footprint

6.4.1Ecological Footprint 6.4.2Social Footprint 6.4.3Addressing Ecological & Social Footprints 6.4.4The Six R's 6.4.5Labour Conditions 6.4.6Social Issues 6.4.7Addressing Social Issues

7

Designing & Making Principles

7.1

Investigation & Data

7.1.1Iterative Design 7.1.2Primary & Secondary Data 7.1.3Market Research 7.1.4Ergonomics 7.1.5Specifications 7.1.6End of Topic Test - Investigation & Data 7.1.7Exam-Style Questions - Specifications

7.2

Environmental, Social & Economic Challenges

7.2.1Challenges 7.2.2Your Research

7.3

The Work of Others

7.3.1Designers 7.3.2Architects 7.3.3Product Design 7.3.4Industrial Designers 7.3.5Product Design Companies 7.3.6Textile Design Companies 7.3.7End of Topic Test - The Work of Others

7.4

Design Strategies

7.4.1Design Strategies

7.5

Communication of Design Ideas

7.5.1Design Communication

7.6

Prototype Development

7.6.1Prototype Development

7.7

Selection of Materials

7.8

Tolerances

7.8.1Tolerances

7.9

Material Management

7.9.1Managing Material 7.9.2Tools

7.10

Specialist Equipment

7.10.1Health & Safety

7.11

Specialist Techniques & Processes

7.11.1Specialist Techniques & Processes 7.11.2Surface Finishes 7.11.3End of Topic Test - Designing & Making

Practice questions on Specifications

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

1
Which of the following features would NOT be appropriate for a design for a children's toy inspired by space? Multiple choice
2
Points at which your design brief might change:Fill in the list
3
Manufacturing specifications should list:Fill in the list
4
What should you do before writing the manufacturing specification?Fill in the list

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Ergonomics

End of Topic Test - Investigation & Data