NEA Project Skills (EdExcel)
NEA Project Skills
A Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) project in Design and Technology is a significant undertaking. It allows you to demonstrate your design thinking, practical skills, and problem-solving abilities through a self-directed project. Success in this project hinges on mastering a range of key skills throughout the design process.
I. Identifying and Exploring Opportunities (Research & Investigation Skills)
This initial phase is crucial for setting the direction of your entire project. It's about understanding needs, contexts, and possibilities.
Identifying a Need or Opportunity:
Observation: Develop keen observational skills. Look around you – in your home, school, community, or wider world. Identify everyday problems, inefficiencies, unmet needs, or areas for improvement.
Empathy: Put yourself in the shoes of potential users. What are their frustrations? What could make their lives easier, more enjoyable, or more efficient?
Contextual Awareness: Consider different contexts – social, cultural, economic, environmental. How do these contexts influence needs and opportunities?
Brainstorming & Idea Generation: Use brainstorming techniques (mind maps, SCAMPER, etc.) to generate a wide range of potential project ideas based on your observations and identified needs.
Feasibility Check (Initial): Briefly consider if your initial ideas are realistically achievable within the project constraints (time, resources, skills).
Research and Investigation:
Market Research: Investigate existing products or solutions that address similar needs. Analyze their strengths and weaknesses. What gaps exist in the market? What can you learn from existing designs?
User Research: If possible, directly engage with potential users. Conduct interviews, surveys, or focus groups to understand their specific needs, preferences, and requirements in detail.
Technical Research: Explore materials, components, manufacturing processes, and technologies relevant to your potential project ideas. Understand their properties, limitations, costs, and environmental impact.
Contextual Research (Deeper Dive): Expand your understanding of the chosen context. Research social trends, cultural influences, economic factors, environmental considerations, and relevant regulations or standards.
Visual Research: Gather visual inspiration – look at existing products, design trends, materials, and forms. Use mood boards, Pinterest, design websites, and physical examples.
Analysis of Research: Systematically analyze your research findings. Identify key themes, user requirements, design opportunities, and technical possibilities. Summarize your research in a clear and concise manner.
II. Designing and Developing Ideas (Design & Development Skills)
This is the creative heart of the project, where you translate your research and understanding into tangible design proposals.
Developing Design Brief and Specification:
Refining the Need/Opportunity: Based on your research, refine your initial idea into a clear and specific design brief. What problem are you really trying to solve?
Defining Design Criteria: Create a detailed design specification. This is a list of measurable criteria that your final product must meet. Consider:
Function: What must the product do?
Performance: How well must it perform its function? (e.g., speed, accuracy, capacity, lifespan)
Aesthetics: What should it look like? Consider form, style, and visual appeal.
Materials & Manufacturing: What materials and processes are appropriate and feasible?
Ergonomics & Human Factors: How will users interact with the product? Is it comfortable, safe, and easy to use?
Sustainability: Consider environmental impact, material sourcing, and product lifecycle.
Cost: What is the target cost or budget?
Size & Scale: What are the size and scale constraints?
Safety & Legal Requirements: Are there any safety standards or regulations to consider?
Idea Generation and Conceptualization (Iterative Process):
Sketching & Visualisation: Use sketching, 2D and 3D drawing, and digital tools to visualize your ideas. Explore different forms, shapes, and configurations.
Modelling (Low-Fidelity): Create quick, rough models using paper, card, foam, or simple materials to test basic concepts and forms.
Exploring Different Design Solutions: Don't settle on the first idea. Generate multiple design concepts that address the design brief and specification in different ways.
Considering Alternatives: Think about different materials, mechanisms, technologies, and manufacturing approaches for each design concept.
Concept Selection & Justification: Evaluate your different design concepts against your design specification. Select the most promising concept and justify your choice based on its strengths and how well it meets the criteria.
Detailed Design Development:
Detailed Drawings & Plans: Produce accurate and detailed drawings or CAD models of your chosen design. Include dimensions, material specifications, component details, and manufacturing instructions.
Material Selection (Detailed): Finalise your material choices, considering properties, availability, cost, sustainability, and suitability for manufacturing.
Component Specification: Select and specify any bought-in components (e.g., electronic components, fixings, mechanisms).
Manufacturing Planning: Plan the sequence of manufacturing processes needed to create your product. Consider tools, equipment, and techniques required.
Ergonomic and User Testing (Early Stage): If possible, create mock-ups or simulations to test ergonomic aspects and user interaction early in the design process.
Refinement and Iteration (Design Focused): Based on your detailed design work and any early testing, refine your design. Identify potential problems or areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to your drawings and plans.
III. Making and Prototyping (Practical & Manufacturing Skills)
This stage is about bringing your designs to life, translating your plans into a tangible product.
Preparation for Making:
Material Procurement: Source and gather all necessary materials, components, and fixings.
Tool and Equipment Preparation: Ensure you have access to and are competent in using the required tools and equipment safely. Check equipment is in good working order.
Workspace Setup: Organize your workspace to be safe, efficient, and conducive to making.
Risk Assessment (Making Focused): Conduct a specific risk assessment for the manufacturing processes you will be using. Identify hazards and implement safety measures.
Manufacturing Processes:
Accurate Marking Out & Measuring: Precise marking out and measuring are crucial for accuracy. Use appropriate tools and techniques.
Material Cutting & Shaping: Employ appropriate cutting, shaping, and forming techniques for your chosen materials.
Joining & Assembly Techniques: Master relevant joining methods (adhesives, fasteners, welding, soldering, etc.) to assemble components accurately and securely.
Finishing Techniques: Apply appropriate finishes to enhance aesthetics, durability, and functionality (painting, varnishing, polishing, etc.).
Quality Control (During Making): Continuously check the accuracy and quality of your work throughout the manufacturing process. Identify and correct any errors or deviations from your design.
Prototyping and Iteration (Making Focused):
Phased Making: Consider making your product in stages or modules. This allows for testing and refinement at intermediate points.
"Making to Think": Use the making process itself as a way to further develop and refine your design. You may encounter unforeseen challenges or opportunities during making.
Adaptation and Problem Solving: Be prepared to adapt your design or manufacturing approach if problems arise during making. Document any changes you make and justify your decisions.
Testing and Evaluation (During Making): As you make, test sub-assemblies or components to ensure they function as intended. This allows for early identification and correction of problems.
IV. Testing and Evaluation (Analytical & Critical Thinking Skills)
Evaluation is not just a final step; it should be integrated throughout the project. This stage involves systematically assessing your product and the entire design process.
Testing Against Specification:
Functionality Testing: Does your product perform its intended function effectively? Test all aspects of its functionality as defined in your design specification.
Performance Testing: Quantify the performance of your product where possible. Measure speed, strength, accuracy, efficiency, etc., and compare to your specification targets.
Usability Testing: Get feedback from potential users (if possible) on the ease of use, ergonomics, and user experience of your product.
Durability & Reliability Testing: Assess the robustness and expected lifespan of your product through appropriate testing methods.
Safety Testing: Thoroughly check your product for safety hazards and ensure it meets relevant safety standards.
Evaluating Design and Making Processes:
Successes and Strengths: Identify what aspects of your design and making processes went well. What were your key successes?
Limitations and Weaknesses: Be critical and honest about the limitations and weaknesses of your design and making processes. Where could you have done better?
Areas for Improvement: Based on your evaluation, identify specific areas where your product or design process could be improved.
Impact of Design Decisions: Reflect on how your design decisions (material choices, manufacturing methods, form, function) impacted the final outcome and its success in meeting the design specification.
Efficiency and Effectiveness: Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of your working methods, time management, and resource utilization throughout the project.
Sustainability Evaluation: Assess the environmental impact of your product and its lifecycle. Consider material sourcing, manufacturing processes, energy consumption, and disposal.
V. Iteration and Refinement (Continuous Improvement Skills)
Iteration is a key principle in design. It's about using evaluation feedback to drive further improvements and refinements.
Using Evaluation Feedback: Actively use the findings from your testing and evaluation to identify specific areas for improvement in your design or making process.
Design Refinement (Based on Evaluation): Go back to your design drawings and plans and make modifications based on your evaluation feedback. This might involve changes to form, function, materials, components, or manufacturing methods.
Making Refinements: Implement the design changes you have made. This might involve re-making parts, adjusting assemblies, or applying different finishes.
Re-testing and Re-evaluating: After making refinements, re-test and re-evaluate your product to see if the changes have resulted in improvements. Repeat this iterative cycle of design, make, test, and evaluate as needed.
Documenting Iterations: Clearly document all iterations and refinements you make to your design and product. Explain why you made these changes and what impact they had. This demonstrates a reflective and iterative design process.
VI. Communication and Presentation Skills
Effectively communicating your design journey and outcomes is crucial.
Visual Communication:
High-Quality Photography: Take clear, well-lit photographs of your product at various stages of development and the final outcome.
Drawings and Diagrams: Use drawings, diagrams, and exploded views to clearly illustrate design features, mechanisms, and manufacturing processes.
CAD Models & Renderings: If you used CAD, include screenshots of your models and rendered images to showcase your design.
Visual Layout and Presentation: Present your work in a visually appealing and organized manner. Use clear headings, subheadings, captions, and consistent formatting.
Written Communication:
Clear and Concise Writing: Write clearly and concisely, using appropriate technical terminology. Avoid jargon and overly complex language.
Structured Report: Organize your project documentation logically, following a clear structure (e.g., Introduction, Research, Design Development, Making, Testing, Evaluation, Conclusion).
Justification and Rationale: Clearly explain and justify your design decisions, material choices, manufacturing methods, and evaluation findings. Provide reasons for your choices and back them up with evidence from your research and testing.
Reflective Writing: Demonstrate critical reflection throughout your documentation, particularly in the evaluation and iteration sections. Show that you have learned from the process and can identify areas for improvement.
Verbal Communication (If Required):
Presentation Skills: If you need to present your project verbally, practice your presentation skills. Be clear, confident, and engaging.
Explaining Your Project: Be prepared to explain your design process, key decisions, and evaluation findings to an audience.
Answering Questions: Be ready to answer questions about your project in a knowledgeable and thoughtful manner.