Lesson Plan

Resources → Subject Notes → Design and Technology → Notes
Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 25/02/2026
Subject: Design and Technology
Lesson Topic: The different software programs that are available to designers and manufacturers to design and develop products, including: desktop publishing software, photo manipulation software, technical drawing software, 3D modelling software.
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the purpose and key features of desktop publishing, photo manipulation, 2‑D CAD and 3‑D modelling software.
  • Compare typical file formats and output uses for each software category.
  • Select appropriate software tools for different stages of the product development cycle.
  • Demonstrate how to integrate outputs from one software type into another to create a complete design package.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • Computer with internet access (software demos installed: InDesign, Photoshop, AutoCAD, SolidWorks)
  • Handout summarising software categories and key features
  • Worksheet for comparative activity
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Exit‑ticket slips
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick discussion about how everyday products are marketed and manufactured, asking students to recall the different types of information they have seen – brochures, technical drawings, and 3‑D images. Build on their prior knowledge of basic CAD and graphic design tools. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to identify which software is best suited to each stage of the design process and justify their choices.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5 minutes): Students list any design‑related software they have used and note its primary purpose.
  2. Mini‑lecture (15 minutes): Overview of the four software categories (desktop publishing, photo manipulation, 2‑D CAD, 3‑D modelling) with key features and typical examples.
  3. Comparative activity (10 minutes): In pairs, complete a worksheet matching design stages to the most suitable software and justify the choice.
  4. Live demonstration (15 minutes): Show how a texture created in Photoshop is applied to a SolidWorks model, then export a 2‑D drawing to InDesign for a brochure layout.
  5. Group discussion (10 minutes): Reflect on workflow integration, file‑format compatibility and real‑world implications.
  6. Exit ticket (5 minutes): Write one sentence stating which software they would select for a given design scenario and why.
Conclusion:
Recap the main purposes of each software type and how they connect within a product development workflow. Collect the exit tickets to gauge understanding, and assign a homework task: research a real product’s software workflow and prepare a brief report describing the tools used at each stage.