Criterion B – Conceptual Design

B (i) Developed feasible ideas to meet appropriate specifications,  which explores solutions to the problem.

  •  Generating original ideas.
    • Start with napkin sketches (name/number the individual sketches).
    • Select about 4  ideas to incrementally improve so to better meet the appropriate specifications.
    • Use concept modelling (see below).
    • Evaluate them against the specifications, with the client (can be in a table) and peer review (summarised).
    • Choose one or two based on the evaluation to further. develop. Maybe your client likes features from two models that you can incorporate into the final solution.
    • Test and evaluate models to see if they meet specifications/requirements.
      • This includes not only the overall design but also aspects of the design.
      • Collect data that will aide design development.
    • Undertaking additional (and record it) research as required to inform development.
  •  Communicating ideas clearly using appropriate techniques.
    • graphic, CAD, and physical (3d printed and card) modelling.
    • appropriate and meaningful annotations (no more than 10 words) to identify key features that explain how they meet the design specifications.
    • annotations should also related back to the theory, e.g. topic 1.
    • annotations should show design thinking and be linked to previous designs.

This should be on approximately six A4 (letter) pages or equivalent. No extended writing.


B (ii) Use  concept modelling to guide design development.

  • Concept models in the form of sketches, CAD, 2D and 3D models should be used to establish the validity of ideas against specifications before refining ideas through detailed development.

Concept modelling is used to:

  •  Test design ideas to find out if they will meet requirements
    • against the specifications
    • gain target audience (client) feedback.
    • peer/expert appraisal.
  •  Provide feedback, which is used to develop designs further.
  • You should consider the appropriate use of conceptual modelling techniques to develop, refine and test your ideas:
    • graphical – freehand, isometric, 2D, perspective, etc.
    • physical – physical models, prototypes, mock ups, using any materials/machines available to you.
    • virtual – CAD ( fusion) , then you can 3D print a mockup/prototype.
  • Develop your two chosen ideas further with extra modelling (Graphic, CAD, etc).
    • Continue annotations (see above).
    • Annotations should show design thinking and be linked to previous designs.

This should be on approximately four A4 (letter) pages or equivalent. No extended writing.


B (iii) Justifies the most appropriate idea for detailed development.

  • Evaluate ideas and models to identify/validate the most feasible solution:
  • The most appropriate idea should be validated before development is refined to enable manufacture.
  • Present the most feasible idea.
    • 3D sketch or CAD model.
  • Summarise your chosen solution in a statement justifying the reasoning.

This should be on approximately one A4 (letter) pages or equivalent and approximately 300 words.

Design Tech for IB students