Design+Cycle

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The MYP design cycle is a system that will help you do your work by following certain steps. The system is useful and easy to understand because it guides you through the steps of how to do your project. The Design cycle starts with an INVESTIGATION and follows with PLAN/DESIGN, CREATE and then EVALUATE. toc

Investigate
The investigation requires a description of the problem and an explanation on why the problem is important.The student must also relate the problem to their own life, to society and to one or more areas of interaction (A.O.I.'s). In addition to this, students will want to generate a couple of questions to guide them through their investigation. Surveys and questionnaires should be conducted and the responses and feedback gathered should be analyzed. A design brief and a design specification are also required. In the design brief, the student explains what he or she is going to do to solve the problem. In the specification, one should write the essential and desirable characteristics they want their end product to have. The student should also have some tests written down (these will test the product against the specification). Research should be conducted and the sources should be documented.

Plan
In this stage, the student should include a variety of designs. Each of these designs should be explained with storyboards, sketches, or labeled diagrams. The designs should be evaluated against the design specification. Finally, the student should choose one design and justify his/her reasoning for choosing that design.

Design
The requirements of the plan stage could include the creation of a time line or a calendar. You will need a step-by-step plan as evidence of planning.The student should critically evaluate his/her time plans. If the student has made any modifications to his/her original design, the changes should be justified. Students will need their teacher to “approve” their plan.

Create
While following the time plan and working on the creation of his or her product, the student should keep a process journal in their Design Folder Workbook (this journal will be helpful when writing the evaluation). The tools and techniques utilized in the process of creation should be explained. Any changes made to the final design should be justified. Evidence should also be provided, such as photographs, screen shots, etc.

Evaluate
Finally, the student should include the feedback received from testers in their evaluation. In addition to this, an analysis of the questionnaire results (if used) should also be included. A detailed evaluation of the student's performance at each stage of the design cycle discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each stage is essential, as are observations on how each stage could have been improved. A discussion on the impact of my product on the student, others and/or the environment should be included as well.


 * Adapted from the work of Jordi Owens, Mesa Middle School, with permission. Please see Credits page.**