MYP Design Year 1 · Unit 5 · Lesson 39
Product Development
L39 · 01
Define the Need & User
A strong project begins with a need that another person can understand before they ever see your design idea.
Criterion A.i
U
USERWho experiences the situation?
P
PROBLEMWhat specifically is difficult, inefficient, inaccessible, or frustrating?
W
WHYWhy would improving this situation matter?
Learning Focus
Explain + justify
L39 · 02
Today’s formal task: explain and justify the need for a solution.
SituationWhere and when does the problem happen?
→
DifficultyWhat does the user experience?
→
ImportanceWhy is a solution worth developing?
JUSTIFYGive a clear reason why the need is worth addressing.
Mini-Lesson
Strong need ≠ solution pitch
L39 · 03
Solution-first
“I need to make a three-slot wooden pencil holder.”
Need-first
“Students sharing a worktable lose time locating loose drawing tools because small items roll, mix together, and become hidden under other materials.”
Make the Need Defensible
Use evidence you already observed
L39 · 04
Who?
Specific user or familiar user group.
Where / when?
Learning-space context.
What happens?
Observable difficulty.
Why matter?
Impact on access, organization, time, use, or experience.
Workshop
Problem Definition Workshop
L39 · 05
Workshop
Build the A.i response from evidence.
STEP 01
Evidence
Return to the problem-hunt notes.
STEP 02
Draft
Write user, situation, difficulty, and why it matters.
STEP 03
Partner check
Can a partner understand the need without hearing your future solution?
Formal A.i
Need for a Solution
L39 · 06
Write the final response.
A strong Year 1 response clearly explains the need and gives a reason why addressing it would help the user.
Exit Audit
Would a stranger understand the project need?
L39 · 07
Check for four elements.
User · situation · specific difficulty · reason a solution is needed
Next lesson
Students identify and prioritize the main research needed before developing ideas.
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