Project 1 Brief and Guide
24-week programme, Project 1 Phase (Weeks 5 to 12). This is your real brief. Every week from here answers it.
The Brief
Choose one track. This is the project you will research, prototype, test, refine, and present across Weeks 5 to 12.
Design track brief
Challenge: redesign a desk organiser or creative learner toolkit so a student can start and pack away creative work quickly in a small or shared space.
Who it serves: a learner with limited, often shared, desk space.
Constraints: low cost materials, small footprint, must suit a shared desk, must be tested with at least two real users.
Success looks like: a resolved, tested design that measurably improves setup or pack-away, shown as a portfolio case study.
Architecture and spatial track brief
Challenge: design a compact creative learning pod for a small community or learning site, that can be set up and cleared quickly for sessions.
Who it serves: a community group or small learning site running short creative sessions.
Constraints: small footprint, affordable materials, good daylight, flexible layout, must be tested as a model with real users.
Success looks like: a resolved, tested spatial concept shown as a model and a portfolio case study.
Key Ideas You Need First
1. A brief is a starting point, not a solution
The brief names a challenge and constraints. It does not tell you the answer. Your job over the next weeks is to find it through evidence.
2. Define your user before you research
Name a specific person or group. Vague users lead to vague designs.
3. A research plan keeps you honest
Decide in advance what you will find out, from whom, and how. This stops you skipping research and guessing.
Tools And Materials Needed
- The brief above, and the Project 1 Milestone Checklist.
- Your Week 3 folder system.
- The Problem Framing Template to define your user and starting problem.
Step-By-Step Walkthrough
- Choose your track and copy the brief into your Project 1 folder.
- Define your user in one or two sentences: who they are, where they work, what they struggle with.
- Write your starting problem using the problem framing template. It will sharpen after research.
- Write a one-page research plan. List what you need to find out, who you will ask, how (interview, observation, desk research), and by when.
- Check against the milestone checklist so you know what each week of Project 1 expects.
Demonstrated Example: Research Plan
User: a design student who works from a small shared bedroom desk in short evening sessions.
| What I need to find out | From whom | How | By when |
|---|---|---|---|
| How setup and pack-away actually happens now | 2 students with shared desks | 10-minute interviews plus a photo of their desk | Week 6 |
| What existing organisers get wrong | Existing products and one article | Desk research, save 3 references | Week 6 |
| What a good session start feels like | Same 2 students | Ask about their best recent session | Week 6 |
Why this is strong: it names a specific user, sets concrete research actions with a deadline, and clearly feeds the weeks that follow.
Your Task This Week
- Choose your track and accept the brief.
- Define your user in one or two sentences.
- Write your starting problem and a one-page research plan.
Submission Checklist
| Upload item | Pass standard |
|---|---|
| Chosen brief with user | Track chosen, user named and specific. |
| Research plan | Says what, from whom, how, and by when. |
Assessment And Pass Criteria
- A brief is accepted and the user is specific and realistic.
- The research plan has concrete actions, sources, and dates.
- The starting problem is open, not a hidden solution.
Common Mistakes
- Skipping the user. A vague user gives a vague design.
- No research plan. Without one you will guess instead of find out.
- Choosing the answer already. The brief is a question, not a solution.
Extension Challenge
Add one edge-case user to your plan, someone with very little space or a physical limitation. Designing for them usually improves the design for everyone.