Generation of Ideas

Ideas.

In this section your should aim to produce between 7 to 10 different ideas, (or more), that will all satisfy the requirements of the specification - a good way to progress this is to take each point in your specification and produce an idea that relates to that point - Eventually you will have a series of ideas that solve the requirements of your specification. in the development you can sort out the best of those ideas for the final product.

Fill each design page with ideas or details of the ideas. - White paper carries no marks - Use a variety of ways to get your ideas over, Isometric and Orthographic drawing, annotate all drawings to explain what they mean but do not have more words than drawings on the paper.

Try to produce ideas that are clearly workable. Try to show that they are 3D objects. Try to show how they work and what they do. Always show the thickness and depth of the ideas simple line drawings are probably not enough.

Use your research – it should be clear that you are looking at your research as a source of inspiration – MAKE THIS CLEAR.

Look around you all the time and try to find things that can inspire ideas. Existing products - Shop windows - Magazines - Nature - Patterns - TV programmes - all sorts of things if you are receptive.

The shape of a vacuum cleaner can become a futuristic car body. The design of a toy can be modified to make a kitchen timer. Etc.

Do not throw away marks by editing out ideas that you feel are not as good as others. Keep all of your work and select the best from it later.

All of your ideas should be evaluated in notes as you go along.

Keep your design pages neat – Start at the left and work towards the right so that the examiner can follow what you are doing.

Think about:

a) Does this design meet the requirements

b) Explain why you have rejected an idea

c) Show where you have used material from your research

d) Say what decisions you have made

e) Say how you could improve on an idea

f) Decide if the idea is appealing and say what you could do to improve this.

List alongside your designs the materials that might be used, are they available, do you know how to use them.