1. User

Pupils should have a clear idea of who they are designing and making products for, considering their needs and preferences. The intended users could be themselves or others, an imaginary character or a specific target group.

2. Purpose

Pupils should be able to clearly communicate the purpose of the products they are designing and making. Each product must be designed to meet some specified design criteria. And then these products can be evaluated against the design criteria. 

3. Functionality

Pupils should design and make products that function effectively in order to fulfil users’ needs.

4. Design decisions

Pupils need opportunities to make their own design decisions. This allows pupils to demonstrate their creative, technical and practical expertise, and draw on learning from other subjects. Pupils should decide on the form their product will take, how their product will work, what tasks it will perform and who the product will be for.

5. Innovation

When designing and making, pupils need some scope to be original with their thinking.  Projects that encourage innovation lead to a range of design ideas and products being developed. Pupils need the opportunity to take part in the iterative design process. where they evaluate and adapt their designs over time.

6. Authenticity

Pupils should design and make products that are believable, real and meaningful to themselves and others. Pupils should be working within a context that they are already familiar with i.e. Year 1 children could design a stronger and more stable chair for Baby Bear - as they know his was broken by Goldilocks.