About

Hi, I'm Elaine.

I'm a 2026 Foundation Programme student at United World College Changshu China. This portfolio documents my journey through Design Technology — a subject where creativity, engineering, and human-centered problem solving come together.

Before this course, I had almost no experience with fabrication, modelling, or prototyping. Over the past year, Design Technology became a process of learning through experimentation: testing ideas, making mistakes, rebuilding, refining, and gradually turning concepts into physical outcomes.

Rather than only presenting final products, this portfolio captures the thinking behind each project — the research, iterations, technical processes, and reflections that shaped the final result.

How Each Project Is Structured

Every project in FP Design Technology follows a four-stage design cycle. Each page on this site is organised around these four criteria so you can see not just what I made, but how I thought through it.

Design Cycle
A

Inquiring & Analysing

Research, empathise, and define the problem. Before any designing begins, I investigate the context, the user, and the need through desk research, interviews, and case studies.

B

Developing Ideas

Sketch, ideate, and develop original concepts. I explore multiple directions — moodboards, concept drawings, CAD models — before selecting and refining the strongest solution.

C

Creating the Solution

Build, prototype, and make. This is where the design becomes physical — through woodworking, 3D printing, laser cutting, soldering, or textile construction. I document every step, including the problems encountered.

D

Evaluating

Test, measure, and reflect honestly. I assess the finished product against success criteria using surveys, user trials, physical tests, and self-evaluation — and identify areas for improvement.

Skills Developed This Year

Fabrication

  • Woodworking (hand saw, scroll saw, belt sander, pillar drill)
  • Laser cutting
  • 3D printing & CAD (Onshape)
  • Soldering & basic electronics
  • Foam sculpting & clay modelling
  • Textile construction & batik dyeing
  • Scale modelling (1:75)

Design Thinking

  • User research & interviews
  • Design brief writing
  • Concept sketching & ideation
  • Prototyping & iteration
  • Evaluation & user testing
  • Risk assessment