The Design Process

Key QuestionsHow does a design process guide the engineer from a loosely understood problem to a highly refined solution?

What brainstorming techniques do engineers use to generate ideas during a design process?

What kinds of sketches do engineers use to record their initial ideas?

What kinds of computer-based modeling methods do engineers use to develop their solutions?

How and why do engineers use analytical tools?

How do engineers communicate and present their ideas?

Purpose

• design process can be thought of as a systematic problem-solving method for generating and developing ideas into solutions.

Steps

• STEP 1 Define the Problem – Develop a design brief --• a concise information tool that summarizes the most

important information about a design project.

– The problem statement is written to clearly and concisely identify a client's or target consumer's problem, need, or want.

STEP 1 Define the Problem

• A design brief will identify:– the person or entity who serves as the client;– the individual(s) or group who is to be held

accountable for the design service;– the client's problem, need, or want;– the challenge that will result in an engineering

solution, and the degree to which that solution must be realized; and

– any limitations within which the engineer must operate throughout the design process.

Step 1

• difference between a problem and a challenge.– problem does not require a person to act. – tells you to design something, he or she is

presenting you with a challenge, not a problem.• The challenge is summarized within the

design statement , which follows the problem statement in a design brief.

Design Brief Figure

STEP 2 Brainstorm

• Brainstorming can include any technique that a design team uses to generate ideas.

• discuss the problem• identify existing knowledge that team

members have that relates to the problem• generate questions that need to be answered• define areas of focus that will be assigned to

various members of the team for research.

STEP 2 Brainstorm

• Brainstorming guidelines are:– Stay focused on the task at hand.– Do not judge or criticize ideas but feel free to ask

questions and provide positive comments.– Don't limit yourself to only rational ideas.– Build off the ideas of the other participants.– Only one person should present their idea at a

time

STEP 2 BrainstormStepladder Method

• Step 1. Clearly define the problem and criteria.• Step 2. Allow group members time to create ideas individually.• Step 3. Two group members come together to share their

ideas and brainstorm new ideas that develop as a result of the sharing process.

• Step 4. A third member is added who presents his or her ideas to the other two members and then listens to the ideas from the original two members. After all of the ideas have been shared, time is allowed to brainstorm new ideas.

• Step 5. Repeat step 4 by adding one new group members at a time until all members have joined and shared their ideas.

STEP 3 Research and Generate Ideas

• Primary research– generating original information through

interviews, surveys, experiments, and observations.

• Secondary research – gathering and sifting through preexisting

information. • Books, films, patents, professional journals, periodicals,

and encyclopedias

STEP 4 Identify Criteria and Constraints

• Identify and agree on limits within which an acceptable solution must be developed.

• Criteria are specific standards against which a design will be judged acceptable or unacceptable.

• Constraints are general limits that are imposed on a design project such as project deadlines, budgets, materials, or manufacturing processes.

STEP 5 Explore Possibilities

• Involves returning to the initial solution ideas and sketches that were recorded in the engineer's notebook during step 2 (brainstorming) and step 3 (research and generating ideas) and building from them.

• Brainstorm– identify two or three ideas that have the greatest potential,

recognizing the limitations • Finally conduct a formal critique of the detailed ideas.

STEP 6 Select an Approach

• A decision matrix is a chart that designers use to quantify their opinions of two or more design ideas by assessing each idea according to a series of important considerations.

STEP 6 Select an Approach

STEP 7 Develop a Design Proposal

• develop the idea into a solution. • usually consists of:– CAD part models and assemblies – assembly drawings– dimensioned multiview drawings of each

manufactured component – schematic diagrams

STEP 8 Model or Prototype

• Def.– A model is a detailed three-dimensional

representation of a design that is used to communicate, explore, or test an idea.

– A prototype is a one-of-a-kind working model of a solution that is developed for testing purposes.

STEP 9 Test and Evaluate

• Measure a solution's functionality. • Data generated and recorded

STEP 10 Refine

• Any issues or shortcomings that are identified through testing and analysis are discussed among the design team.

• May need to backtrack to an earlier step in the design process in order to move forward

STEP 11 Create the Final Solution

• Is the final solution:– a custom (one-of-a-kind) design– a limited-production item– a mass-produced product?

STEP 12 Communicate the Results

• Final solution is communicated via:– the form of a technical report,– digital presentation – demonstration of the actual working solution.

• May also involve the creation of:– instruction manuals– graphic advertisements– patent documents.