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WACE MDT ATAR study materials
WACE MDT ATAR study resources

WACE MDT ATAR: Design: Process, Briefs and the Design Factors

WACE MDT ATAR · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Design: Process, Briefs and the Design Factors

The design process in exam terms

A WACE Materials Design and Technology answer earns marks by showing a sequence: identify a need, write a design brief, develop specifications, generate and evaluate concepts, prototype, test, evaluate against the brief, then refine. Name the stage you are describing, because markers look for the label as well as the content.

Concepts you must be able to define

Know the design brief (a short statement of the problem and constraints) versus the specification (measurable criteria such as dimensions, mass, cost ceiling, finish, safety standard). Know the design factors: function, aesthetics, ergonomics, anthropometrics, safety, sustainability, cost, and manufacturability. Be able to say which factor dominates a given scenario and why.

Traps that appear in questions

  • Confusing brief with specification. A brief states intent; a specification is testable. If a question asks for criteria you could measure, it wants a specification.
  • Listing factors without applying them. "It is ergonomic" scores nothing; "the handle diameter of 30 mm suits a power grip" scores.
  • Ignoring the user. Anthropometric data (reach, grip span, stature percentiles) is often the missing link in an ergonomics answer.
  • Skipping evaluation. Questions about "improve the design" expect evidence from testing, not opinion.
  • Treating sustainability as one idea. Separate material choice, energy in manufacture, longevity, and end-of-life.

Worked example

Prompt: justify a material for a school bag handle. Weak answer: "nylon because it is strong." Strong answer: state the criterion (repeated 15 kg load, abrasion against clothing), the property needed (high tensile strength, abrasion resistance, low water absorption), the candidate (woven polypropylene webbing), the comparison (cotton frays and absorbs water), and the test (cyclic load trial, visual wear check). That structure - criterion, property, candidate, comparison, verification - is the rule of thumb to reuse in any justification question.