Specifications

Learning Intentions: be able to write a detailed specification

Specification

The specification is a list of all the requirements that the product must meet and all the things it must do, have and be.

The information listed in the specification comes from when you analysed the design brief and your research into materials, making processes, product analysis, specific research into the problem and what you found out from a questionnaire.

Constraints

It is especially important that any constraints are listed in the specification. For example, if you only had wood available, this would be a constraint.

When a specification is used

• The specification will be used many times during later stages in the design process. For example:

• If there is a choice of possible designs, they might be compared against the specification to see which one is best.

• When the final product has been completed, the design will be compared to the specification to check that it does what it is needed to do

Example Specification – can you make it better?

Using a specification to test your product

Examiner’s Tip

• You must be able to produce detailed and

justified specifications

• You must include the specific requirements for

your product