MYP Design Year 1 · Unit 5 · Lesson 43
Product Development
L43 · 01

Analyse One Existing Product

Study one relevant product closely enough to understand its main features and how it works.

Student Materials
Criterion A.iii
F
FORMShape, proportions, layout, and overall arrangement.
U
USEHow does the user access, hold, move, store, or operate it?
C
CONSTRUCTIONMaterials, joints, supports, moving parts, and details.
Use ← → / Space to navigate.Lesson 43 · A.iii formal
Learning Focus
Describe the main features
L43 · 02

Today’s formal task: describe the main features of one existing product.

DESCRIBEGive important features and enough detail for another person to understand them.
YEAR 1

Analyse one relevant product carefully. You are not required to analyse a range of products.

A.iii summativeOne product
Mini-Lesson
Choose features that matter
L43 · 03

Form

Shape, size, orientation, compartments.

Function

How the product supports the main task.

User interaction

Grip, access, visibility, opening, carrying.

Construction

Material, joint, reinforcement, support.

Main features are the ones that matter to use and function.Product analysis
Teacher Demo
One familiar organizer
L43 · 04
Example: simple desktop organizer

A wide base keeps the organizer stable. Dividers separate small tools by type. A lower front wall improves visibility and finger access. Folded corners or overlapping panels strengthen the box structure.

Feature → description → what it helps the product do
Use a real product if available.Model concise analysis
Workshop
Existing Product Analysis Studio
L43 · 05
Workshop

Examine one product relevant to your challenge.

STEP 01

Use

Interact with the product safely.

STEP 02

Sketch + label

Show the main form and features.

STEP 03

Describe

Explain the features most relevant to your project.

Teacher provides comparable products where needed.Main workshop
Avoid Generic Analysis
Specific observations
L43 · 06

Generic

“It has sections and is strong.”

Specific

“Three vertical dividers separate narrow tools. Their height keeps items upright while the lower front edge makes the tools easier to see and remove.”

Specific > impressive vocabularyA.iii quality
Formal A.iii
Complete the analysis
L43 · 07

Use your sketch and evidence to present the main features.

A useful existing-product analysis should teach you something that could influence your own design decisions later.
Student completes A.iii pages.Summative evidence
Exit Reflection
What did the product teach you?
L43 · 08

Finish one sentence.

“One existing-product feature worth remembering is _______ because _______.”

Next lesson

Students organize all relevant evidence and formally present the main research findings.

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