The purpose of this study is to examine students' experience of design-based research in science applications courses. The study was carried out during the fall semester of the 2018-2019 academic year in the science application course. The participants of the study were 44 eighth grade students attending in two classes of a secondary school located in Odunpazarı district of Eskisehir. In the study, a design-based research method was used. The students were asked to describe a problem from daily life during the application phase of the study. Afterwards, they were expected to design products to solve this problem. Data collection tools of this study were the Reflection Form for Design Steps, which was developed by the researcher, and the Self-Assessment Form included in the Technology Design Course Curriculum. The application was completed in an eight-week period. Content analysis was used to analyze the obtained data. It is seen that students have mostly departed from their own life in the identification of the problem, and the ideas that they have generated were about problem solving, new ideas, and making life easier. Students followed the stages of the design process such as research, design, problem identification, and drawing sketches. Regarding the evaluation of their experience during the design process, most of the students stated that they learned how to design, but they found it difficult to combine materials. Students stated that next time they would pay more attention to choosing design features, identifying the problem, and finding interesting products. Research can be carried out to examine the skills that are thought to be effective in the design process such as decision making, critical thinking, and problem solving. Within the scope of the 2023 Education Vision, it is planned to establish “Design-Skill Workshops”. With such an application, students' design skills can be improved.