IB Diploma Programme · Design Technology Resource Hub

Every subtopic of DP Design Technology, ready to teach.

Every subtopic of the DP Design Technology syllabus, structured around the key concepts, the assessment objectives, and real-world design inquiry.

72Lessons
3Themes · 24 topics
SL · HLEvery subtopic
AO1–AO4Aligned throughout
What's included

One pack. Everything you need to teach the course.

72
Lesson plans
A full plan for every subtopic — objectives, timings, and a clear teaching arc.
72
Student worksheets
Structured practice tasks ready to print or assign.
72
Mark schemes
Full mark schemes aligned to the assessment objectives.
Interactive digital lessons
Self-paced lessons for in-class or independent study.
3
Themes · 24 topics
The complete DP Design Technology syllabus, SL and HL.
AO1–4
Exam-aligned
Exam-style questions + mark schemes mapped to the AOs.
The themes

24 topics, one coherent course.

Open any theme to see its topic map and the skills students build across SL and HL.

Theme A

Human Factors, Materials, and Systems

Ergonomics and user research through to materials science and the structural, mechanical, electronic, and manufacturing systems that underpin designed products.
24 lessons · 8 topics

Theme A develops foundational knowledge across eight topics: the principles of ergonomics and anthropometric data, user-centred research and prototyping methods, material classification and properties, and — at HL — structural systems, mechanical systems, electronic systems, and manufacturing techniques. Together, these topics establish the technical and human-factors literacy that underpins rigorous design decision-making.

productsand environments they useformSystems and innovation
8 topics · SL & HL
A1.1 ErgonomicsA2.1 User-centred research methodsA2.2 Prototyping techniquesA3.1 Material classification and propertiesA3.2 Introduction to structural systems (HL) HLA3.3 Introduction to mechanical systems (HL) HLA3.4 Introduction to electronic systems (HL) HLA4.1 Manufacturing techniques (HL) HL

Skills & assessment. Lessons build students' ability to apply the key concept of Systems across interconnected domains, analyse material and structural trade-offs, interpret technical data, and evaluate design decisions against functional requirements — skills directly assessed in AO2 and AO3 tasks. HL lessons on structural loads, gear ratios, circuit types, and manufacturing processes are clearly flagged and include exam-style questions with full mark schemes.

Theme B

Design Process, Modelling, and Production

From defining a design brief and generating ideas through to material selection, systems application, and production at scale — the full design process in practice.
24 lessons · 8 topics

Theme B addresses eight topics centred on the practice of design: user-centred design principles, the stages of the design process, modelling and prototyping methods, material selection frameworks, and — at HL — the application and selection of structural, mechanical, and electronic systems, alongside the principles of production systems. Lessons move students from research and ideation into technical decision-making and manufacturing contexts.

Design thinkingSystemsprocessesforce
8 topics · SL & HL
B1.1 User-centred designB2.1 design process >B2.2 Modelling and prototypingB3.1 Material selectionB3.2 Structural systems application and selection (HL) HLB3.3 Mechanical systems application and selection (HL) HLB3.4 Electronic systems application and selection (HL) HLB4.1 Production systems (HL) HL

Skills & assessment. The theme builds students' capacity to construct and evaluate design specifications, select and justify modelling approaches, apply Ashby charts and CES Edupack frameworks, and analyse production systems — all central to AO2 and AO4 demands in the external papers. HL lessons on gear ratios, microcontrollers, lean manufacturing, and quality control are clearly flagged throughout.

Theme C

Responsibility, Sustainability, and Evaluation

Designer responsibility, inclusive design, sustainability frameworks, circular economy thinking, product evaluation, and — at HL — life-cycle analysis and design for manufacture.
24 lessons · 8 topics

Theme C engages students with the ethical, social, and environmental dimensions of design across eight topics: the designer's responsibility for safety and ethics, inclusive design principles, and sustainability strategies including circular economy and life-cycle analysis. Product analysis and evaluation methods are developed alongside HL topics on emotional durability, speculative design, LCA data interpretation, and design for manufacture strategies.

Responsibilityabilityor circumstance.Evaluation
8 topics · SL & HL
C1.1 Responsibility of the designerC1.2 Inclusive designC1.3 Beyond usability (HL) HLC2.1 Design for sustainabilityC2.2 Design for a circular economy >C3.1 Product analysis and evaluationC3.2 Life-cycle analysis (HL) HLC4.1 Design for manufacture strategies (HL) HL

Skills & assessment. Lessons develop students' ability to apply evaluative frameworks, construct structured product analyses, interpret LCA data, and engage with the concept of Responsibility as a key design lens — skills central to AO3 and AO4 in both papers. HL lessons on design activism, LCA stages, tolerances, and value engineering are clearly flagged and include exam-style questions with full mark schemes.

How the lessons work

A clear teaching arc in every lesson.

01
Hook
Surface prior thinking and frame the inquiry.
02
Develop
Guided development of the theory and key concepts.
03
Practise
Structured practice on the worksheet tasks.
04
Apply
An applied or evaluative task that lifts thinking.
Explicit learning objectivesCommand-term focusATL skill linksDifferentiation support
Assessment-ready

Built for the exams students will sit.

AO1
Knowledge & understanding
Recall and demonstrate the content.
AO2
Application & analysis
Apply understanding to new contexts.
AO3
Synthesis & evaluation
Formulate, analyse and evaluate.
AO4
Skills
Use and apply subject-specific technique.
Why DP Design Technology teachers choose this hub

Walk into every lesson already prepared.

The entire DP Design Technology course, built to the current syllabus and ready to teach — so your time goes into the students in front of you, not into building resources from scratch.

01
Aligned to the current DP guide
Every SL and HL subtopic, framed by the key concepts and the inquiry approach.
02
The planning, already done
72 lesson plans, worksheets and mark schemes with a consistent teaching arc — teach as-is or adapt.
03
Exam confidence built in
Exam-style questions and full mark schemes mapped to AO1–AO4 and the command terms.
Available per subject, or added to a whole-school license bundle.