Design Specialist

Job Description

The Role and Responsibility of the Designer: Designers adapt their approach to suit different design situations but share a common understanding of the design cycle to develop valid and appropriate solutions. Designers have an ethical responsibility to the community and the environment; their decisions can have a lasting impact and should be regularly reflected upon. A good designer maintains an unbiased and objective perspective, critically evaluating products or systems to identify strengths and weaknesses. Skills and Attributes of a Designer: Effective communication—both visual and oral—is essential for presenting ideas clearly. Designers must demonstrate creativity and imagination, underpinned by a solid knowledge base of factors that influence or constrain the design process. All decisions should be supported by relevant research and investigation to ensure feasibility and purposefulness. Designers are expected to think creatively and critically, while adhering to a clear design specification. The Human Context of Design: Design is shaped by the diverse backgrounds and traditions of the global community. Design involves a collaborative inquiry, shared methodologies, and a commitment to understanding and solving problems through innovation. Core Focus of MYP Design: MYP Design challenges students to apply practical and creative thinking to solve real-world problems. Students are encouraged to explore the historical and contemporary role of design across cultures and time periods. The subject promotes awareness of personal, social, and environmental responsibility in making design decisions. The MYP Design Cycle: At the heart of MYP Design is the Design Cycle, which structures student inquiry and action into four key stages: Inquiring and Analyzing – understanding the problem and conducting research. Developing Ideas – creating a design specification and exploring feasible ideas. Creating the Solution – planning and producing a product or system. Evaluating – testing and reflecting on the success and impact of the solution. A solution in MYP Design can be a model, prototype, product, or system developed and created independently by students. Show more Show less