Summary.Half a sample of 274 secondary school pupils took part in a woodwork design test and half in a metalwork design test. Half the pupils participating in each test developed their design solutions by modelling in an easily worked substitute material (clay for wood, card for metal) and half by drawing. Four specialist judges assessed the design solutions developed by modelling as functionally more effective, more appropriate to the final material, and more suited to construction by a pupil in the workshop than those developed by drawing.