Referencing is a small section of the IB Design Technology IA that can quietly cause big problems if handled poorly. Many students either overthink it and panic, or underestimate it and risk academic honesty issues. The good news is that IB expectations for referencing in Design Technology are clear and manageable once you understand what matters.

Referencing is not about perfection — it is about transparency and honesty.

Why Referencing Matters in IB Design Technology

IB Design Technology is built on research and justification. Whenever you use:

• Information from websites or books
• Existing product analysis
• Data, images, or diagrams
• Design theory explanations

you are expected to acknowledge the source.

Failing to do so can lead to:

• Loss of marks
• Academic honesty concerns
• Serious consequences if plagiarism is suspected

Even unintentional plagiarism is still plagiarism.

What Needs to Be Referenced?

You should reference:

• Secondary research (websites, textbooks, articles)
• Images or diagrams you did not create
• Data or statistics
• Quotes or paraphrased explanations

You do not need to reference:

• Your own ideas
• Your own sketches or photos
• Your own testing results
• User interviews conducted by you

If the idea came from somewhere else, reference it.

The Most Common Referencing Mistake

The biggest mistake students make is thinking paraphrasing removes the need to reference.

Even if you rewrite information in your own words, you must still cite the source. Changing wording does not make the idea yours.

Another common error is forgetting to reference images. Any image that is not your own must be cited.

What Referencing Style Should You Use?

IB Design Technology does not require a specific referencing style such as APA or MLA. What matters most is consistency and clarity.

A good reference should include:

• Author or organisation
• Title of the page or resource
• Website or publication name
• Date accessed

As long as a reader could locate the original source, your referencing is acceptable.

In-Text Referencing vs Bibliography

Strong IAs usually include both:

• In-text references (brief citations near the information used)
• A bibliography (a list of full references at the end)

In-text references show examiners exactly where external information influenced your thinking. A bibliography alone is often too vague.

How Referencing Links to Higher Marks

While referencing itself does not earn marks, poor referencing can limit marks by:

• Undermining research credibility
• Raising academic honesty concerns
• Making justification appear weak or copied

Clear referencing strengthens your IA by showing that:

• Research is legitimate
• Ideas are properly applied
• Design decisions are informed, not invented

Examiners are far more comfortable rewarding marks when sources are clearly acknowledged.

Referencing Existing Products and Inspiration

When analysing existing products:

• Name the product type
• Reference where information or images came from
• Explain what you learned from it

Do not present existing designs as your own ideas. Transparency strengthens originality, not weakens it.

Common Referencing Errors to Avoid

Students often lose credibility by:

• Copying text directly
• Forgetting to reference diagrams
• Using a single vague bibliography entry
• Referencing inconsistently

These issues are easy to fix early and stressful to fix late.

How Much Referencing Is Enough?

There is no required number of sources.

Strong IAs:

• Reference when needed
• Do not pad bibliographies
• Clearly link sources to design decisions

Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can poor referencing fail my IA?

In serious cases involving plagiarism, yes. Even minor issues can raise concerns and limit marks.

Do I need to reference design theory?

Yes, if it comes from a source rather than your own explanation.

Can I use images from Google?

Yes, but they must be clearly referenced.

Final Thoughts

Referencing in the IB Design Technology IA is not about academic perfection — it is about honesty, clarity, and professionalism. Students who reference properly protect themselves, strengthen their justification, and make examiners far more confident in awarding marks.

Good referencing supports strong thinking. Poor referencing undermines it.

RevisionDojo Tip

RevisionDojo is the best platform for IB Design Technology students who want to handle referencing correctly without overcomplicating it. With clear examples, referencing checklists, and academic honesty guidance, RevisionDojo helps students avoid costly mistakes and submit IAs that are confident, credible, and examiner-ready.