Element F - Consideration of Design Viability
Preface
Consideration of design viability is not information related to making a profit off of your idea in the stereotypical sense, but rather about if the idea has any chance of succeeding as a real solution. An idea to help very poor areas gain access to clean water is indeed a real problem to solve, but not likely one that is about making a financial profit. It should be noted that even the most openly giving and caring of non-profit organizations will not invest their resources in any idea that has no plan for getting the solution working at the source of the problem in a sustainable way.
Assessment
Consideration of Design Viability
- The proposed design was carefully reviewed based on several relevant extra-functional considerations.
- A judgment by the student about design viability based on those considerations—the capacity of the proposed solution to address the problem—is clearly realistic and well supported with credible evidence.
Essential Questions
- How do I show evidence that the proposed design has merit beyond the classroom or lab as a real solution?
- How can I show evidence that the design could realistically get into the hands of the people the design is trying to help in a sustainable way?
- What evidence would I have to offer to honestly ask a family to invest their life savings in this idea?