--- title: "Drawing a design so someone else can build it" description: "Use labelled front, side and top views, dimensions with units, a stated scale, and details about materials and joins to communicate how an object should be made." canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/drawing-a-design-so-someone-else-can-build-it-mt_8ezErqUhZw source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/drawing-a-design-so-someone-else-can-build-it-mt_8ezErqUhZw.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Drawing a design so someone else can build it Use labelled front, side and top views, dimensions with units, a stated scale, and details about materials and joins to communicate how an object should be made. Subject: Design & Technology · Area: Designing & Making · Ages 10 to 12 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/drawing-a-design-so-someone-else-can-build-it-mt_8ezErqUhZw ## Ready when they can - Draw an object from front, side and above and label which view is which - Put dimensions on a drawing with units, and state the scale used - Say what an exploded view shows that a single outside view cannot - Look at someone else's drawing and name the one thing missing that would stop you building it ## Lesson: Draw it so someone else can build it A design drawing gives a maker information for building an object. Use your design brief to decide what to show. Include shape, dimensions, materials and joining details. Ask about information that is missing or unclear. Label views as front, side and top. For a rectangular box, the front shows width and height. The side shows depth and height. The top shows width and depth. The height must agree in the front and side views. Dimensions give real sizes with units. They stay unchanged when a print is resized. State the scale instead of guessing from the picture. Scale compares drawn and real lengths. At 1 cm drawn = 5 cm real, 3 drawn cm means three groups of 5. Multiply to add them: 3 x 5 = 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 real cm. Divide to count groups: 25 / 5 = 5 drawn cm, since five groups of 5 make 25. An exploded view shows parts separated while keeping their relative positions clear. It helps explain how they fit together. Add material and joining notes where needed. To find the thickness of pieces stacked without gaps, add their thicknesses. Two pieces each 3 mm thick make 3 + 3 = 6 mm. **Example.** A rectangular frame is 5 m long and 2 m wide. Its border follows all four sides. Add 5 + 2 + 5 + 2 = 14 m. This total is the perimeter. Use the real dimensions rather than measuring the picture. *(drawing: Check what the maker can learn from your drawing.)* Sizes alone do not tell a maker whether to use card or wood. Separate-part pictures may still need joining notes. If a print is enlarged or reduced, update its stated scale. Clarify missing information before making the object. **Recap.** Label views, give real dimensions with units, state the scale, and include materials and joins. Clarify missing information before making. *Lesson and assessment material written for this dataset.* ## Practice 13 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Design briefs and better products](https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/design-briefs-and-better-products-mt_QeNClHE0EG) ## Optional connections - [Nets of 3-D shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/nets-of-3-d-shapes-mt_vnJEztczji) ## Opens up - [Systems: Input, Process, Output](https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/systems-input-process-output-mt_bMNTQ-3a_u) - [CAD and making by machine](https://lightmysky.com/learn/design-and-technology/cad-and-making-by-machine-mt_jNf8g85YbY)