GCSE-readyDesign briefs and specifications
Before you design, you need to know exactly what problem you are solving and what a good answer must do.
The design brief
Example: 'Design and make a lamp for a teenager's bedroom that can be used for reading in bed.'
A design context is the situation the problem comes from, such as a bedroom, a school or a kitchen.
The specification
Good specification points are specific and measurable, so you can test them later.
Weak: 'It must be small.' Strong: 'It must fit in a space 150 mm wide.'
Most specification points start with 'The product must...' or 'The product should...'.
ACCESS FM
| Letter | Stands for | Ask |
|---|---|---|
| A | Aesthetics | How should it look and feel? |
| C | Cost | How much can it cost? |
| C | Customer | Who is it for? |
| E | Environment | How can it reduce harm to the environment? |
| S | Size | How big or small must it be? |
| S | Safety | How will it be safe to make and use? |
| F | Function | What must it do? |
| M | Materials | What should it be made from? |
Rewrite this weak specification point so it is measurable: 'The phone stand must be light.'
- A measurable point gives a number that can be tested.
- We can set a maximum mass and check it with scales.
- For example: 'The phone stand must weigh less than 200 g.'
Answer: 'The phone stand must weigh less than 200 g.'
A design brief explains the problem, the user and the context. A specification lists specific, measurable requirements. ACCESS FM: Aesthetics, Cost, Customer, Environment, Size, Safety, Function, Materials.
- Design brief
- A short statement of the design problem, who it is for and where it will be used.
- Specification
- A list of measurable requirements that a product must meet.
- ACCESS FM
- A checklist for specifications and product analysis: Aesthetics, Cost, Customer, Environment, Size, Safety, Function, Materials.
- Aesthetics
- How a product looks, feels, sounds or smells, and how attractive it is to the user.
- Not “A detailed list of measurements”. That describes a specification, not a brief.
Try two quick questions
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2 more questions
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Which is a design brief?
- It must weigh less than 300 g
- A sketch of a lunchbox
- Design a lunchbox for primary pupils that is easy to open
- A test report
Show the answer
Answer: Design a lunchbox for primary pupils that is easy to open
A brief states the problem and who it is for.
Which of these is a specification point?
- Design a phone stand
- A sketch
- A user interview
- It must cost less than £5 to make
Show the answer
Answer: It must cost less than £5 to make
Specification points are requirements.
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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.