IB Design Technology Part I (SL)

IB Design Tech SL1 is year one of a two-year course designed to cover IB's Design Tech Standard Level (SL) curriculum. To design is to understand user needs, redefine problems, and develop innovative solutions that can be tested and refined. The IB Diploma Programme Design Technology SL course encourages students to examine the material, environmental, social, political, and economic factors that influence design decisions. It fosters critical engagement with technology and emphasizes the designer’s role in creating sustainable and inclusive solutions for both local and global communities.
The course is grounded in an inquiry-driven approach that integrates theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and ethical design principles within real-world contexts. Design thinking is central to the learning experience, encompassing user empathy, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iterative development based on stakeholder feedback. Students are expected to engage with clients or user groups to identify needs, develop and test solutions, and evaluate outcomes.

Part 1, students complete a series of foundational, inquiry-based units that build essential knowledge, understanding and skills. These units introduce research methodologies; explore the complex relationships between design choices, material properties, and sustainability; and examine how ideas are transformed into functional and impactful products. Students engage in product analysis and informed material selection, investigate the theoretical foundations of user research, and apply practical skills to critically evaluate and improve existing designs.