Quick questions on Evaluation and criteria to evaluate success: HSC Design and Technology Designing and Producing

Ongoing (formative) evaluation happens continuously throughout the design process. At every stage you ask whether the current decision, sketch, prototype or production step still meets the criteria. This is what makes the design process iterative: a prototype that fails an ongoing evaluation sends you back to develop a better solution. Ongoing evaluation is documented in the portfolio through annotated tests, feedback and revised decisions.

Final (summative) evaluation assesses the completed solution against the original criteria to determine fitness for purpose, whether the product, system or environment actually meets the identified need. It also reflects on the design process itself: what worked, what would be done differently, and what the limitations are. A strong final evaluation reaches a clear, evidence-based judgement rather than a vague claim of success.

A range of methods provides the evidence for a judgement:

The central question of all evaluation is fitness for purpose: does the solution do the job it was designed to do, for the intended user, within the constraints of the brief? Fitness for purpose ties together function, safety, usability and quality, and is judged directly against the criteria to evaluate success.

Evaluation is valuable only when it informs action. Ongoing evaluation should visibly change the design in the portfolio, showing improvement driven by evidence. Final evaluation should identify realistic improvements and future directions. This closes the loop of the iterative design process and demonstrates the reflective practice NESA rewards.