Design Technology is a subject focused on designing and developing products and technological solutions while taking into account user needs and specific constraints. The student works as a designer and engineer—defining the problem, analyzing the context, establishing success criteria, creating and comparing concepts, and then modelling, testing, and refining the solution based on collected data.
Within the IB programme, the Design Technology subject places particular emphasis on the creative process and the justification of decisions—including the selection of materials and manufacturing methods, ergonomics, functionality, safety, environmental impact, and the quality of documentation. If you want to study Design Technology in line with IB criteria and prepare for the exam or the Internal Assessment, choose online tutoring with Tuteer.
What is Design Technology and what will you learn in this subject?
Design Technology develops the competencies needed to create technological solutions that can be realistically implemented. These may include, for example, consumer products and household appliances, sports accessories, electronic enclosures and components, or products designed for people with disabilities. The student learns not only how to design, but also how to evaluate the quality of a product based on selected criteria or tests. In this subject, you will master, among others:
- user and context-of-use analysis (scenarios, requirements, constraints),
- planning and conducting tests as well as drawing conclusions based on results,
- the selection of materials and manufacturing techniques with justification (cost, durability, availability, environmental impact),
- modelling and prototyping as tools for validating assumptions, not just presenting an idea,
- project communication, including technical drawings, diagrams, specifications, and clear justifications of decisions.
As a result, during online Design Technology tutoring you will learn to work in a project-based manner, in line with assessment criteria and IB requirements.
Which areas of Design Technology cause students the greatest difficulties?
During online Design Technology tutoring, particular attention is given to the design process—from problem analysis to refining the final solution. Students most often lose marks in exams or in the IA when a project does not stem directly from user needs or when design decisions lack clear justification.
Another common source of difficulty is documentation—online Design Technology tutoring at Tuteer will teach you how to compare different variants, criteria, and iterations that clearly show the development of a project step by step. We also show how to formulate exam responses and how to describe your product in the IA in order to maximise results.
Who are online Design Technology tutoring lessons for?
Online Design Technology tutoring is an excellent choice for students who want to work methodically and achieve high results within the IB programme. The lessons are suitable both for organising technical content and for guiding a project step by step in line with programme criteria.
Students who most often choose online Design Technology tutoring are those preparing for exams, as well as for the Internal Assessment. Online lessons allow you to work from any location—which is why they are so popular among students studying abroad.
What do the Design Technology exam and assessment criteria look like?
The IB Design Technology exam assesses understanding of technical content and the ability to apply it in a design context. Analytical thinking is evaluated, including the interpretation of information, the selection of appropriate solutions, the justification of decisions, and the clear presentation of conclusions.
During online Design Technology tutoring at Tuteer, we practise structuring answers to meet assessment requirements, organise lines of reasoning, and work with specific exam-style tasks.
Internal Assessment in Design Technology – how can we help you?
The Internal Assessment in Design Technology is a project in which the process, testing, and justification of decisions are assessed. At Tuteer, we help plan and guide the work so that each stage is coherent with IB criteria and based on data. Example IA topics include:
- an ergonomic laptop stand,
- a modular desk organiser,
- a safe handle or tool improving grip,
- a sports equipment storage system,
- an enclosure for a simple device or sensor.
During preparation for the Design Technology IA, we help you go through the entire project step by step—together we refine the problem and user, define measurable success criteria, select a concept with justification, plan the prototype and build a test version, then conduct tests, analyse data, and formulate conclusions in a way that aligns with IB programme criteria.
Start online Design Technology tutoring with Tuteer
Tuteer is an international team of tutors specialising in online teaching since 2015. During lessons, we focus on education aligned with the requirements of international programmes, with particular emphasis on the IB.
If your goal is a better exam result or a well-structured IA project, online Design Technology tutoring with Tuteer is the right choice for you. Sign up for online lessons with specialists in their fields and build greater confidence ahead of your upcoming exams.
