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IB Design Technology
SL · Lesson 46 · IA Day 16 — Testing Against All Specifications
01 / 09
Lesson 46 · Unit 6

IA Day 16 —
Test Against All Specifications

Close the evidence gaps: the strongest Criterion D work evaluates the fidelity model against all design specifications and intended-user needs.

80 minutesIA Criterion D
Guiding question: Which design claims are still unsupported by testing?01
Today’s destination

By the end of class, you should be able to…

01

Audit every specification

Find missing, weak or duplicated evidence.

02

Choose appropriate tests

Use performance data and intended-user testing where relevant.

03

Evaluate—not merely state

Explain what results mean relative to the requirement.

04

Close or acknowledge gaps

Strengthen the evidence without inventing results.

Success check: Produce clear, criterion-aligned IA evidence during today’s studio block.
IA DAY 16 · complete the test evidence02
Criterion D · top-band language

Evaluate the testing against all design specifications and intended-user needs.

That does not mean every requirement needs the same test. It means every requirement needs an appropriate, honest evidence trail.

Criterion D · all design specifications03
SpecPriorityEvidence already collectedStrengthAction today
S1EssentialPerformance testStrongNone / verify
S2EssentialUser comment onlyWeakAdd task observation / metric
S3DesirableNoneGapChoose appropriate evidence
See the gaps before writing pages04

Function / performance

Measured task results, loads, movement, fit, error count or other appropriate performance data.

Usability / ergonomics

Intended-user observation, task performance, reach/clearance/comfort evidence.

Aesthetics

Targeted user feedback, comparison to stated aesthetic requirement and visual evidence.

Manufacture / material / safety

Drawing/CAD/material evidence, justified constraints, relevant tests or limitations—depending on the specification.

Match the evidence method to the requirement05
State

“S2 passed.”

A conclusion with little visible reasoning.

Evaluate

Result → requirement → implication

Explain how the evidence compares with S2, what remains limited, and whether further refinement is needed.

Evaluation explains significance06
Studio block

The mini-lesson is short. The evidence-making is the lesson.

60+minutes work
Audit the full specification
Mark strong / weak / missing evidence.
Run priority gap tests
Start with essential requirements and intended-user needs.
Capture the evidence
Do not rely on memory—save measurements, photos and feedback.
Write evaluation notes
Record what each result means and whether refinement is still required.
IA studio · close evidence gaps07
No invented results
Every claim comes from a real test/source/observation.
Integrity
All specs considered
No requirement disappears because it is inconvenient.
D
User needs visible
Intended-user evidence appears where appropriate.
User
Limitations acknowledged
A model limitation is explained rather than hidden.
Evaluate
Strong evidence can include honest limitations08
Exit ticket

Before you leave…

1. Identify the weakest-tested essential specification.
2. State what evidence you added today.
3. Name any specification the physical model cannot fully test and how you will communicate the limitation honestly.
Next lesson

IA Day 17 — Formal Design Drawings for a Manufacturer

Keep the evidence chain moving: user → research → decision → test.

Curriculum alignment
IA Criterion D highest-band descriptor: a fidelity model thoroughly addressing the problem statement that evaluates testing against all design specifications and the needs of the intended user. Design specifications should include relevant UX/user needs and other suitable attributes, components, constraints, environment, functions, safety, aesthetics and manufacture requirements.
Lesson complete9 slides
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