The Folio That Couldn't Prove Its Own Success
A student has finished a redesign of a school bag strap for a client with shoulder pain. The brief required reduced pressure on the shoulder, adjustable fit, and a cost under $60. The final folio contains a mood board, 40 concept sketches, a CAD model, and a photo of the finished strap. The only evaluation is the sentence: 'The client said it was comfortable and I think it looks much better than the original.' The student cannot show pressure measurements, fit adjustments, or a cost breakdown. The teacher must grade against the brief criteria.
1. Explain why this folio cannot demonstrate success against the brief, and what evidence is missing.
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The folio shows process artefacts but not evidence of outcomes. Mood boards, sketches, and CAD prove activity, not that the brief was met. The three criteria are unaddressed with data:
- Reduced shoulder pressure: no measurement. A simple before/after comparison (for example, a pressure map, a scale under the strap, or a recorded pain rating over a set walk) would provide evidence.
- Adjustable fit: no record of adjustment range, number of sizes accommodated, or fit testing on the client.
- Cost under $60: no bill of materials or receipts, so compliance is unverified.
The single sentence of evaluation is anecdotal and self-reported, and 'I think it looks better' is an aesthetic judgement, not a criterion. The folio therefore cannot support a judgement that the design succeeded, regardless of how much work was done.
2. Design an evaluation plan the student could still complete to produce defensible evidence.
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A defensible plan ties each test to a criterion:
- Pressure reduction: measure the original and redesigned strap under the same load. Options: a bathroom scale under the strap to compare force distribution, a pressure-sensitive mat if available, or a structured client rating (0–10 discomfort) after a fixed 20-minute walk with both straps, recorded before and after.
- Adjustable fit: document the adjustment range in millimetres, test on at least three body sizes, and record whether the client can adjust it unaided.
- Cost: itemise materials and labour with receipts, total, and compare to $60.
- Client feedback: use a short structured questionnaire with scaled items plus open comments, rather than one sentence.
- Limitations: state sample size (one client) and that findings are indicative, not generalisable.
Presenting results in a table against the three criteria converts the folio from a description of activity into an evidence-based evaluation, and an honest limitations statement strengthens rather than weakens the judgement.