← Singapore Design and Technology
Singapore · SEABSyllabus
Design and Technology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the Singapore Design and Technologysyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
Design Communication and Sketching
Module overview →- Why is freehand sketching a designer's main thinking tool, and which techniques make sketches clear and quick?Use freehand sketching techniques, including construction lines, crating and basic proportion, to communicate and develop design ideas quickly7 min answer →
- How does orthographic projection give the precise, dimensioned views needed to make a product?Produce and interpret orthographic drawings using first-angle projection, with front, side and plan views, correct dimensioning and line conventions8 min answer →
- How do isometric and oblique drawings show an object in three dimensions, and when is each used?Produce isometric and oblique pictorial drawings to show objects in three dimensions, and explain the conventions and uses of each7 min answer →
- How do rendering and annotation turn a plain sketch into a clear, informative communication of a design?Use rendering to show material, form and texture, and use annotation to explain design decisions, so that drawings communicate both how a product looks and how it works7 min answer →
Idea Generation and Development
Module overview →- How does a designer take a promising idea and refine it, step by step, into a workable solution?Develop and refine a chosen idea through annotated sketches, modelling and testing, justifying each change against the specification8 min answer →
- How does a designer produce many varied ideas instead of settling on the first thing that comes to mind?Use idea-generation techniques such as brainstorming, mind mapping, morphological analysis and SCAMPER to produce a wide range of design ideas7 min answer →
- Why do designers build models and prototypes, and how do different kinds of model serve different purposes?Use models and prototypes, from quick study models to working prototypes, to test ideas in three dimensions and gather evidence for refinement7 min answer →
- How does a designer choose objectively between several ideas instead of just picking a favourite?Evaluate and select the best idea by judging each against the design specification, using methods such as a weighted evaluation matrix7 min answer →
Materials and Their Properties
Module overview →- What do material properties such as strength, hardness, toughness and elasticity actually mean, and how do they guide a designer's choices?Define and distinguish mechanical and physical properties of materials, including strength, hardness, toughness, ductility, elasticity and durability, and relate them to design choices8 min answer →
- How are metals classified, and how do ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and alloys differ in properties and use?Classify metals as ferrous, non-ferrous and alloys, describe their properties and uses, and explain why alloys are made8 min answer →
- What is the difference between thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics, and why does it matter for design and recycling?Classify plastics as thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics, describe their properties, uses and recyclability, and select a plastic for a given application8 min answer →
- How does a designer choose the right material by weighing properties, cost, manufacture and environmental impact together?Select appropriate materials for a product by balancing functional properties, aesthetics, cost, ease of manufacture and environmental impact, justifying each choice7 min answer →
- How do hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured boards differ, and how does a designer choose between them?Classify woods as hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured boards, describe their properties and uses, and select a wood for a given application8 min answer →
Mechanisms and Structures
Module overview →- How do gears transmit and change rotary motion, and how is a gear ratio calculated and used?Describe gear trains, calculate gear ratio and output speed, and explain how gears change speed, torque and direction of rotation9 min answer →
- How do levers multiply force, and how does the principle of moments let us calculate the effort a lever needs?Apply the principle of moments to levers, classify the three orders of lever, and calculate effort, load and mechanical advantage9 min answer →
- How do linkages change the direction or type of motion, and where are they used in everyday products?Describe common linkages, including reverse-motion, push-pull, bell-crank and parallel-motion linkages, and explain how each changes the direction or nature of motion7 min answer →
- How do belt-and-pulley systems transmit rotary motion between shafts, and how is their speed ratio calculated?Describe belt-and-pulley drives, calculate the velocity ratio from pulley diameters, and explain their advantages over gears8 min answer →
- How do structures carry loads through struts and ties, and what makes a structure strong and stable?Identify struts and ties and the forces in a structure, explain how triangulation and a low centre of gravity give strength and stability, and describe ways to reinforce structures8 min answer →
Product Evaluation
Module overview →- How does a designer judge a finished product fairly, point by point, against the specification it was meant to meet?Evaluate a product or prototype systematically against each point of the design specification, reaching evidenced judgements and identifying improvements7 min answer →
- What is the difference between objective and subjective evaluation, and when does a designer use each?Distinguish objective from subjective evaluation, recognise the role of each, and combine measured data with informed opinion to judge a product fairly7 min answer →
- How does a designer judge the environmental impact of a product across its whole life, from materials to disposal?Evaluate the environmental impact of a product across its life cycle, applying the 6Rs of sustainable design to reduce that impact8 min answer →
- How does a designer gather reliable evidence about a product through testing and user feedback?Plan and carry out fair testing of a product and gather user feedback, and use the results as evidence to evaluate and improve the design7 min answer →
Research and Investigation
Module overview →- How do anthropometric data and ergonomics make a product fit the human body comfortably and safely?Apply anthropometric data and ergonomic principles, including the use of percentiles, to size products so they fit and suit their intended users8 min answer →
- What is the difference between primary and secondary research, and how does a designer choose the right method for a problem?Distinguish primary from secondary research, select appropriate methods such as interviews, observation, surveys and product study, and turn findings into design requirements8 min answer →
- How does taking an existing product apart, in analysis, reveal what makes it work and what could be improved?Carry out product analysis of an existing product, examining function, materials, construction, ergonomics, aesthetics and cost, to inform a new design7 min answer →
- How does a designer turn a pile of research into a clear, justified specification that drives the rest of the project?Write a justified design specification from research findings, covering function, ergonomics, materials, safety, cost and aesthetics, with measurable points where possible8 min answer →
The Design Process
Module overview →- How does a designer turn a vague situation into a clear statement of who the user is and what they need?Analyse a design situation to identify the user, the problem and the needs and wants, and distinguish a need from a proposed solution7 min answer →
- What are the stages of the design process, and why do designers move through them in a structured but iterative way?Describe the stages of the design process from identifying a situation to evaluating a solution, and explain why the process is iterative rather than strictly linear8 min answer →
- What is the difference between a design brief and a specification, and how does each shape the rest of a project?Write a clear design brief from an analysed situation, and turn research into a measurable design specification against which solutions can be judged8 min answer →
- Why do designers loop back through earlier stages, and how does iteration improve a design over several cycles?Explain the iterative nature of designing, where evaluation and testing feed back into earlier stages, and describe how each cycle refines a solution7 min answer →
Tools, Processes and Fabrication
Module overview →- How do designers cut, shape and form materials, and how is the process matched to the material?Select and use appropriate cutting, shaping and forming processes for woods, metals and plastics, including sawing, drilling, filing and line bending, and work safely8 min answer →
- Why are finishes applied to products, and how is a finish matched to the material and its use?Select and apply appropriate surface finishes to woods, metals and plastics, explaining how finishes protect, improve appearance and suit the material7 min answer →
- How are parts joined together, and how does a designer choose between permanent and temporary methods?Select and use appropriate joining methods, including adhesives, mechanical fixings and wood joints, and distinguish permanent from temporary (knock-down) joints7 min answer →
- Why is accurate marking out the foundation of good making, and which tools and methods achieve it?Mark out and measure work accurately using rules, squares, gauges, dividers and templates, and explain why accuracy and datum surfaces matter7 min answer →