Introduction to Evaluating Impact

Welcome! You have reached the final part of the Design Cycle. You have researched, planned, built, and tested your solution. Now, it is time for the most important question of all: Did your design actually make a difference?

In this chapter, we focus on Criterion D, strand iv: Evaluating the impact of your solution on the client or target audience. This isn't just about whether the product "works"—it’s about how the product changed the life, work, or environment of the person you made it for.

Don't worry if this seems a bit deep at first! Impact is simply looking at the "before" and "after" to see if you solved the problem you identified way back in Criterion A.

1. Who are we talking about?

Before you can explain the impact, you need to be clear about who you are helping. In MYP Design, we usually talk about two groups:

  • The Client: This is a specific person (like a teacher, a parent, or a business owner) who asked you to solve a problem.
  • The Target Audience: This is a group of people (like "students aged 11–13" or "people who enjoy gardening") who will use your product.

Quick Tip: If you made a website for a local bakery, the Client is the bakery owner, and the Target Audience is the hungry customers!

2. What is "Impact"?

Impact is the effect your solution has. When you explain the impact, you are looking for evidence of change. Ask yourself these questions:

  • Does the solution solve the original problem?
  • How does the user feel when using it?
  • Does it save them time, money, or effort?
  • Does it help them learn something new or perform a task better?

Analogy: Imagine you designed a new backpack for a student who has back pain.
The Product: A backpack with padded straps.
The Impact: The student no longer feels pain after walking to school, meaning they can focus better in their first-period class.

3. The "Command Term" Ladder

In the MYP, your grade depends on how much detail you provide. The "Command Terms" show you how to move up the levels:

  • Year 1 (State): You just name the impact.
    Example: "The client said the lamp looks good in their room."
  • Year 3 (Outline): You give a brief summary of the impact.
    Example: "The lamp provides enough light for the client to read at night, which makes their bedroom more functional."
  • Year 5 (Explain): You give a detailed account including reasons or causes.
    Example: "The solution had a positive impact because the adjustable brightness allows the client to study without eye strain. By using LED bulbs, I also reduced the client's energy costs, solving their concern about sustainability."

4. How to Measure Impact

You cannot just guess the impact; you need evidence. Here are three simple ways to find out what the impact really is:

  1. User Feedback: Give the product to your client and ask them questions. "How has this changed the way you do [task]?"
  2. Observation: Watch the target audience use your product. Do they look happy? Do they look frustrated? Do they finish the task faster than before?
  3. Before vs. After: Compare the old situation to the new one. If the original problem was "my desk is messy," and the desk is now clean, the impact is organization and efficiency.

Did you know? Some of the biggest impacts in design are small. For example, the "Save" icon (the floppy disk) has had a huge impact on how we understand digital storage, even though most teenagers today have never seen a real floppy disk!

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Talking about yourself: Don't say "I worked hard on this." This strand is about the User, not the Designer.
  • Describing the product instead of the impact: Don't just say "The app has a blue button." Instead, say "The blue button was easy for the target audience to find, which helped them navigate the app without getting confused."
  • Being too vague: Avoid words like "good" or "nice." Use specific words like "efficient," "accessible," "user-friendly," or "durable."

6. Summary & Key Takeaways

To do well in this part of Criterion D, remember these three things:

  • Focus on the User: Always link your evaluation back to the client or target audience.
  • Use Evidence: Base your explanation on what people actually said or did during testing.
  • Look at the Big Picture: Think about how the solution changed the user’s situation for the better.

Quick Review:
- Client/Target Audience: Who is it for?
- Impact: What changed for them?
- Explain: Why and how did that change happen?

Next Step: Once you have explained the impact, you are finished with your Evaluation! You have successfully closed the loop of the Design Cycle.