Students investigate how design elements, design principles, and technical drawing conventions shape both the look and function of everyday products, then use the PLTW engineering design process to define problems, generate concepts, develop solutions, construct and test simple prototype ideas, evaluate results, and present their thinking. Across the module, they create multiple solutions through rapid sketching, compare artistic and technical drawing for engineering communication, and use partner critique, revision, measurement, and team consensus to select and improve stronger design choices. The learning experience builds toward a before-and-after sketch portfolio, a technical drawing sheet, and a Prototype Pitch Expo where students explain how their design changed in response to function, aesthetics, constraints, testing data, and feedback from peers and local industry professionals. It prepares students to evaluate solutions systematically, communicate visually with clarity, and reflect on whether a design is successful, how close is close enough, and how it could be optimized.

Students will move through the PLTW engineering design process by defining a problem, generating concepts through rapid sketching and product analysis, developing a solution, constructing and testing a simple prototype, evaluating results, and presenting a final design. They will generate and compare multiple ideas using criteria, constraints, measurement, and team consensus to determine which solution best meets user needs and design goals. Students will use technical drawing basics—line quality, proportion, dimensions, and annotation—to communicate design intent clearly, distinguish engineering drawing from artistic drawing, and document revisions after partner critique. By the end of the experience, students will present an annotated technical drawing and working prototype, using evidence from testing, comparison, reflection, and feedback to justify how design elements and principles influenced function and visual appeal.

Students will create a sequence of artifacts aligned to the PLTW design process: problem-definition notes on stakeholder needs, criteria, and constraints; rapid concept sketches comparing multiple solutions; an annotated product audit of a familiar object; peer-feedback revision notes; and a before-and-after sketch portfolio showing how ideas changed through critique, measurement, and consensus. In teams, they will develop a selected concept into a technical drawing sheet with clear line quality, proportion, dimensions, and labeled design elements and principles, then construct and test a simple working prototype that addresses a real design need. The culminating product is a Prototype Pitch Expo presentation featuring the revised sketch portfolio, technical drawing, test evidence, prototype demonstration, and a concise explanation of how the team defined the problem, generated concepts, developed the solution, evaluated performance against success criteria, and identified next-step improvements informed by industry feedback.

Open with a fast “best-designed product” showdown using two everyday items with contrasting aesthetics and function, such as an older flip phone and a modern smartphone, then have students vote and justify their choice with evidence about line, form, texture, balance, usability, and how each product solves a user problem. Move into a brief PLTW design process challenge: students examine an object from their backpack or desk, define the problem it solves, identify likely criteria and constraints, and complete a 60-second rapid sketch with notes about what makes it effective or ineffective for the user. Introduce the essential questions about generating strong design solutions, choosing the best possible option, and communicating ideas clearly through technical drawing, then preview that their work will lead to a prototype pitch expo with feedback from a local engineering or industrial design partner. End with a quick partner check-in so students compare sketches, identify one strength and one needed revision, and make an immediate update to labels, dimensions, or annotations.

Host a Prototype Pitch Expo where small teams showcase their working prototype, final technical drawing sheet, and before-and-after sketch portfolio organized around the PLTW design process: Define Problem, Generate Concepts, Develop Solution, Construct and Test, Evaluate Solution, and Present Solution. Students deliver a 2-minute design defense to classmates, teachers, and a local engineering or industrial design partner, explaining how design elements and principles influenced function and appearance, how criteria and constraints guided decisions, and how critique, measurement, and team consensus led to revision. Add a feedback gallery walk with simple audience rubrics or sticky-note comments focused on clarity, function, technical communication, and evidence of iteration across the design process. End with a reflection wall where students respond to prompts about success criteria, whether the design was successful, how close is close enough, and what they would optimize next.