Design Fundamentals

Year 9 Technology

Duration: 94 minutes
Class size: 22 students
Unit: Designing with Technology (Lesson 5 of 20)

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Lesson Description

Students will explore the fundamentals of design, focusing on five key concepts: purpose, user, functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics. They will learn how these concepts guide decisions throughout the design process to create meaningful, usable, and environmentally responsible solutions.

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Curriculum Alignment

Western Australian Curriculum: Design and Technologies

• Content Descriptions:
  • AC9TDE10P04: Develop design criteria independently including sustainability to evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions
  • AC9TDE10K06: Analyse and make judgements on how characteristics and properties of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment can be combined to create designed solutions
  • AC9TDE10K01: Analyse how people in design and technologies occupations consider ethical, security and sustainability factors to innovate and improve products, services and environments

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Learning Objectives (WALT)

• WALT understand the fundamental design concepts of purpose, user needs, functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics.
• WALT analyse how these concepts influence the creation of designed solutions.
• WALT apply design fundamentals to evaluate and improve design ideas.

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Success Criteria

Students will be successful if they can:

• Explain the purpose of a design and identify its intended user(s).
• Describe how functionality influences design choices.
• Discuss sustainability considerations in design decisions.
• Recognise the role of aesthetics in user engagement and product appeal.
• Apply these fundamentals to critique or improve existing design ideas.

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Resources Needed

• Whiteboard and markers
• Projector and presentation slides
• Design example images (products, environments, services)
• Worksheets for group activities
• Materials for prototyping (cardboard, paper, markers, glue)

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Activity:
  Teacher presents the lesson focus: Design Fundamentals. Using real-world product images, initiate a brief class discussion: Why was this product made? Who uses it? Is it functional? Is it sustainable? Is it attractive?
• Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and set the context for learning.
• Differentiation: Provide sentence starters or guiding questions for students who may need support.

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2. Teaching Input (Theory) (20 minutes)

• Focus: Detailed exploration of the five design fundamentals:
  • Purpose: What is the design trying to achieve?
  • User: Who will use the design? Consider accessibility and inclusivity.
  • Functionality: How well does it perform its intended task?
  • Sustainability: Environmental impact, material choice, lifecycle thinking.
  • Aesthetics: Visual appeal and how it influences user experience.
• Use slides with definitions, examples, and implications. Include a short case study of a product that successfully balances these elements.
• Assessment Mode: Questioning to confirm understanding.

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3. Class Activity – Group Design Analysis (25 minutes)

• Instructions:
  Divide the class into 4 groups. Each group receives an image or description of a designed product/service/environment. Groups analyse their item using the five principles.
• Task:
  Complete a worksheet answering questions related to each design fundamental and suggest one improvement for each.
• Success Criteria: Worksheet completed with thoughtful analysis.
• Differentiation:
  • Support: Provide scaffolding in the worksheet with sentence starters.
  • Extension: Challenge advanced students to consider trade-offs between fundamentals (e.g., sustainability vs. aesthetics).

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4. Group Presentations and Peer Feedback (15 minutes)

• Groups present key findings and improvements to the class (3-4 minutes each).
• Peers provide constructive feedback using a simple "Two Stars and a Wish" model (two positives, one suggestion).

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5. Individual Reflection and Quick Design Task (20 minutes)

• Task: Individually sketch a quick design idea for a simple everyday product (e.g., water bottle, phone stand) using the five fundamentals as a guide. Include notes explaining each aspect.
• Purpose: Apply learned concepts to their own creative work.
• Differentiation: Allow verbal response or digital drawing tools for students who prefer.
• Extension: Advanced learners can write a brief justification addressing potential trade-offs in design decisions.

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6. Learning Consolidation & Review (4 minutes)

• Recap WALT and success criteria.
• Quick exit ticket: Students write one new thing they learned about design fundamentals and one question they still have.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Visual Supports: Use images, diagrams, and graphic organisers to support understanding.
• Peer Support: Group work enables scaffolding by peers.
• Flexible Output: Students can choose to present ideas verbally, visually, or in writing.
• Additional Challenges: Extension tasks for students ready to deepen their critical thinking.
• Support Prompts: Sentence starters and guided questions for those with learning difficulties.

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Extension Activities

• Research emerging sustainable materials and present how they could be used in one chosen product.
• Design a user persona to deepen understanding of the 'user' fundamental and redesign a product from their perspective.
• Investigate ethical implications in design (e.g., data privacy in smart tech products) and propose responsible design criteria.

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Assessment Strategies

• Formative assessment through group discussions, worksheet activity, and presentations.
• Teacher observations and questioning during activities.
• Review of individual sketches and reflection notes to assess understanding.
• Exit ticket analysis to guide future teaching points.

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Teacher Reflection (Post-Lesson)

• Evaluate student engagement and understanding of design fundamentals.
• Note effectiveness of differentiation and adjust future lessons accordingly.
• Consider if students are making connections between fundamentals and real-world design challenges.

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This lesson plan delivers a comprehensive exploration of the fundamental design concepts aligned with the Western Australian Curriculum for Year 9 Design and Technologies. It balances theoretical knowledge with practical application, encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, while embedding sustainability and user-centred design philosophies integral to contemporary technology education .