THE DESIGN PROCESS

INFORMED DESIGN

SPECIFICATION:

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DESIGN MUST MEET

CONSTRAINT:

LIMIT IMPOSED ON A DESIGN SOLUTION

Finished dragster can’t be longer than

12 inches.

It must be made out of the bass wood block.

How much finished product can cost

What kind of material must be used

Time available for production

STEP 1:

 

Find out what the specifications and

constraints are

RESEARCH THE PROBLEM

 IDENTIFYTHE PROBLEM

Ask questions

STEP 1:IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS

STEP 2:

SPECIFICATION:

CONSTRAINT:

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DESIGN MUST MEET

LIMIT IMPOSED ON A DESIGN SOLUTION

What are the specifications and constraints?

RESEARCH THE PROBLEM

STEP 2:

 RESEARCH THE PROBLEM

SALESALE

INTERNET BOOKS/ LIBRARY

SURVEY

MARKET RESEARCH

How does the weight of a dragster affect its speed?

What is drag, and how does it affect the speed of the dragster?

How could you reduce the amount of drag on your model?

How will the force of friction affect your model?

WHAT KINDS OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS DID WE ASK

FOR OUR DRAGSTER DESIGN PROBLEM?

STEP 3:

 THINK OF ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS

STEP 4:

 CHOOSE and JUSTIFY the BEST DESIGN

PICK THE BEST SOLUTION:

THE ONE THAT BEST MEETS THE SPECIFICATIONS

STEP 5:

 DEVELOP A PROTOTYPE (OR SCALE MODEL)

FULL-SIZE WORKING MODEL OF THE SOLUTION  PROTOTYPE:

 SCALE MODEL:

MAY BE SMALLER OR LARGER THAN FINAL PRODUCT

STEP 6: TEST and EVALUATE the DESIGN SOLUTION

COLLECT PERFORMANCE DATA TO SEE HOW WELL THE DESIGN MEETS THE SPECS

Dragster Performance

STEP 7:

REDESIGN

(IF NECESSARY)

Back to the drawing board!

EXAMINE YOUR DESIGN CRITICALLY

LOOK BACK AT THE DESIGN SPECS

MAKE MODIFICATIONS