Design Technology Overview
An extended essay in design technology provides students with an opportunity to undertake in-depth
research into the processes involved in the design and development of products or systems, and to
make an assessment of their impact on individuals and society at large.
The outcome of the research should be a coherent and structured piece of writing that effectively
addresses a particular issue or research question and arrives at a particular, and preferably personal,
conclusion.
Absolute reliance on textbooks and the internet is discouraged and no extended essay in design
technology should be based exclusively on such sources.
Choice of topic
The chosen topic must be clearly concerned with issues relating directly to the subject. Where the topic
may be approached from different viewpoints, the treatment must be approached from a design
technology perspective. Students are expected to be familiar with the design cycle, as clarified in the
current Design technology guide.
Students are encouraged to select a topic that is appropriate to their interests and abilities, and the
resources available. They should avoid topics of a purely historical nature that merely document the
development of a product or technology.
Essays may focus on systems design rather than a specific product, for example:
• investigating the labelling of chemicals in transit, from the point of view of provision for
dealing with accidents
• investigating and implementing a system for reducing food wastage in a school/college
canteen
• evaluating the feasibility of a combined heat and power scheme for a local community.
When choosing a topic for a design technology essay, students should start by exploring appropriate
design contexts. For example, it may be worth considering:
• artifacts that do not work properly or seem wasteful of resources
• the needs of particular user groups such as the elderly, infirm or disabled
• new technologies and how they might influence or combine with existing technologies.
It is essential that the topic chosen is appropriate for a design technology extended essay and not
merely a review of a technological product or technological development.
The following examples of titles for design technology extended essays are intended as guidance only.
Moreover, it may help if the student further defines the topic chosen for study in the form of a research
question, followed by a statement of intent that indicates which broad process is going to be used in
answering the question. In this way, the approach to the topic chosen may be even further clarified.
Some examples of this could be as follows.
Topic
Ergonomic design of telephones for the physically impaired
Research
question
How have ergonomic factors been considered in the design of a new telephone for
physically impaired people?
Approach
An essay that considers how ergonomics can be used to improve the design of a new
telephone.
Topic
Bicycle design
Research
question
Has the introduction of new materials improved the performance of modern racing
bicycles?
Approach
An essay that examines the use of new materials in the design of bicycles and their
components.
Topic
Automated textile production
Research
question
Does an automated textile process provide better-quality products than a mechanized
process?
Approach
An investigation into a specific automated textile production process.
Treatment of the topic
An extended essay in design technology may be based on literature, surveys or experiments. However,
since design technology is an experimental science, many students will wish to base their essay on
practical/experimental work, although this is not compulsory. Practical activity may take the form of:
• experiments to test materials or evaluate performance
• modelling situations and products to assess effectiveness
