← Design Studies syllabus

SingaporeDesign Studies

Sustainable and User-Centred Design

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do designers make products and spaces fit the human body comfortably and safely?

Explain ergonomics and human factors, including anthropometrics, and apply them to design products and spaces that fit people
A focused answer on ergonomics for O-Level Design Studies. Anthropometrics and percentiles, comfort and safety, reach and posture, human factors and cognitive ease, and designing products that fit people.
8 min answer →

What responsibilities do designers have to society, and how can design be used honestly and for good?

Discuss the ethical and social responsibilities of designers, including honesty, inclusivity, safety and design for social good
A focused answer on design ethics for O-Level Design Studies. Honesty and avoiding misleading design, safety, inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, intellectual property, and design for social good.
8 min answer →

How can design include as many people as possible, regardless of age or ability?

Explain inclusive and universal design and apply its principles to create designs usable by the widest possible range of people
A focused answer on inclusive and universal design for O-Level Design Studies. Designing for diversity of age and ability, the principles of universal design, accessibility, and why inclusive design benefits everyone.
8 min answer →

How can designers reduce the environmental impact of what they make across its whole life?

Explain sustainable design and life-cycle thinking, including the 6 Rs, and apply them to reduce a design's environmental impact
A focused answer on sustainable design for O-Level Design Studies. Life-cycle thinking, the 6 Rs (rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle), material and energy impact, and reducing a design's environmental footprint.
9 min answer →

How can we design so that materials are kept in use rather than thrown away, and what does a circular economy mean for designers?

Explain the circular economy and the difference between linear and circular models, and apply circular thinking to material choices in design
A focused answer on the circular economy for O-Level Design Studies. Linear versus circular models, designing out waste, keeping materials in use, recyclable and renewable materials, and circular thinking in design.
8 min answer →

What does it mean to put the user at the centre of design, and how does that change decisions?

Explain user-centred design - understanding users, usability and feedback - and apply it to keep the user's needs central to design decisions
A focused answer on user-centred design for O-Level Design Studies. Putting users first, usability, personas, accessibility, testing with users, and keeping the user's needs central to every decision.
8 min answer →