---
title: "Designing products"
description: "Design purposeful products for yourself and other users: say who a product is for and what it must do, gather ideas from looking and asking, set simple design criteria, and describe or draw a design t"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/designing-products-mt_fZo-OWjM-T
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/designing-products-mt_fZo-OWjM-T.md
retrieved: 2026-11-12
---

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# Designing products

Design purposeful products for yourself and other users: say who a product is for and what it must do, gather ideas from looking and asking, set simple design criteria, and describe or draw a design that meets them

Subject: Design & Technology · Area: Designing & Making · Ages 5 to 8
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/designing-products-mt_fZo-OWjM-T

## Ready when they can

- State who a design is for and what it needs to do before making it (e.g. 'a boat for my teddy, so it has to float')
- Set simple criteria and check a design against them (e.g. 'the card had to stand up on its own')
- Draw or describe a design idea clearly enough for someone else to picture it

## Lesson: Plan before you make

Before you make something, decide who it is for and what it must do. Knowing who will use it helps you plan for their needs.

**Example.** Mia plans a boat for Teddy. It must float with Teddy on board. This rule is a design criterion. Two or more rules are called design criteria.

Look at things people use. Ask what they need and what is hard to use. Their answers can help you choose useful parts for your design.

*(drawing: Use these checks before making. Check the rules again afterwards.)*

Draw your idea or describe it with words. Say what it looks like, what parts it has, and what the parts do. These details help a friend picture your idea.

Check your idea against each rule. Mia checks whether her planned boat has room for Teddy. After making it, she tests whether it floats with Teddy aboard. It meets a rule when it does what that rule asks.

**Recap.** Say who it is for and what it must do. Draw or describe your idea, then check its rules.

*Lesson and assessment material written for this dataset.*

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Optional connections

- [Describing Material Properties](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/describing-material-properties-mt_auVZZEuXjs)

## Opens up

- [Design That Changed the World](https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/design-that-changed-the-world-mt_6PWs6Qp8V6)
- [Design briefs and better products](https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/design-briefs-and-better-products-mt_QeNClHE0EG)