RHS Tech Ed

The Engineering Design Process

What Is Design?

What Is a Design Process?A design process is a systematic problem-solving strategy, with criteria and constraints, used to develop many possible solutions to solve or satisfy human needs or wants and to narrow down the possible solutions to one final choice.

– ITEA Standards for Technological Literacy

Design Process used in RHS

1. Define the Problem2. Identifying Criteria and

Specifying Constraints3. Researching and

Generating Ideas4. Exploring Possibilities &

Selecting an Approach5. Designing & Making a

Model or Prototype

6. Testing and Evaluating the Design Using Specifications

7. Communicating Processes and Results

8. Refining the Design

• Identify a problem– Break the scenario down to its simplest ideas

• Validate the problem– Who says it is a problem?– Needs and wants– Prior solutions

• Justify the problem– Is the problem worth solving?

1. Define the Problem

2. Identifying Criteria and Specifying Constraints

• Create design requirements• What do you want to

accomplish• Identify materials• Identify tools• Identify what can and cant

be done

• Research• Brainstorm possible

solutions• Consider additional

design goals• Apply STEM principles• Select an approach

3. Researching and Generating Ideas

4. Exploring Possibilities & Selecting an Approach• List all ideas gathered• Take each possibility and expand • Evaluate plausibility • Determine which idea is the best

5. Designing & Making a Model or Prototype• Create detailed

design solution• Justify the solution

path• Technical Drawings

• Construct a testable prototype

• Plan prototype testing– Performance– Usability– Durability

• Test prototype – collect test data– analyze test data

6. Testing and Evaluating the Design Using Specifications

• Document the project– Project Portfolio

• Communicate the project– Formal Presentation

7. Communicating Processes and Results

8. Refining the Design• Evaluate solution

effectiveness• Reflect on design

– Recommend improvements

• Optimize/Redesign the solution– [Return to prior design

process steps, if necessary]

– Revise design documents