Design Time
Here We Go!
The Design Process
• We’ve been using the design process already
• There is no one way to design.
• Has about 9 steps, according to John V-Neun,
an Innovation First, Inc. Lead Mechanical
Engineer.
The Design Process
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Step 1 – Define the Problem
Step 2 – Generate Specifications
Step 3 – Specification Ranking / Weighting
Step 4 – Brainstorm Design Concepts
Step 5 – Prototyping
Step 6 – Choose a Concept
Step 7 – Detailed Design
Step 8 – Manufacturing & Implementation
Step 9 – Analyze Results
The design process
• But design is an iterative process.
• The secret is to repeat the process or parts of
the process to improve the final result.
• Jump back and forth through the Design
Process, repeat steps as necessary.
The Real-ish Design Process
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Step 1 – Define the Problem
Step 2 – Generate Specifications
Step 3 – Specification Ranking /
Weighting
Step 2a – Add more Specifications
Step 3a – Re-rank Specifications
Step 4 – Brainstorm Design Concepts
Step 5 – Prototyping
Step 4a – Brainstorm more Design
Concepts
Step 5a – More Prototyping
Step 6 – Choose a Concept
Step 5b – More and More Prototyping
Step 7 – Detailed Design
Step 5c – More Prototyping
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Step 4b – Determine more Design
Concepts
Step 5d – More Prototyping
Step 7a – More Detailed Design
Step 8 – Manufacturing &
Implementation
Step 9 – Analyze Results
Step 4c – Back to the Drawing Board…
More Design Concepts
Step 5e – More Prototyping
Step 7b – More Detailed Design
Step 8a – Build it again…
Step 9a – Test it again….
Etc.
The Design Process
• Step 1 – Define the problem!
– Single most important step.
– Without knowing the problem, how can we solve
it?
• Define the “true” problem.
– Get to the “root of the issue”, don’t just fix
symptoms.
– Avoid “perceived problems”
The Design Process
• Step 2 – Generate Specifications
– Specification – An explicit set of requirements to
be satisfied by the final solution.
• Typically come from two places:
– Design Constraints
– Functional Requirements
The Design Process
• Step 3 – Specification Ranking / Weighting
– All specs are not created equal.
• These are often ranked in some way.
– One ranking system:
• W = Wish
(not that important, but would be nice if possible)
• P = Preferred
(important, but the project won’t fail without it)
• D = Demand
(Critical to the project, MUST be included)
– Sometimes related specifications will be created with
different rankings.
The Engineering Design
Process
• Step 4 – Generate Design Concepts
– Almost everyone does the same this when faced with a
problem, often subconsciously. – Think of alternative
courses of action.
• Formally documenting this intuitive action helps to solve
complex engineering problems.
– Brainstorm Solutions - (more on this)
– Figure out the “how” for the “what” of the specifications.
– Two Words – Napkin Sketches!
Brainstorming
• Group creativity technique
• Generate a LARGE number of ideas.
• Focus on quantity not quality.
– Many ideas are generated in the hope that a few good
ideas will develop.
• Critical part of solving any problem.
• Record EVERYTHING, no idea is too silly.
– You never know what will spark a GREAT idea.
The Design Process
• Step 5 – Prototyping
– Make your napkin sketches “real”…
– The goal here is to LEARN as much as you can
about the concepts and how well each
functions.
– Prototypes designed to be crude, but
functional enough to be educational.
– See the concept interact with the real
environment.
The Design Process
• Step 6 – Choose a Concept
– Take the lessons learned from prototyping and make
a decision. Choose a concept to go forward with.
– Often the “right” solution just reveals itself. Find the
elegant solution.
• “"When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I
only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have
finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." Buckminster Fuller
– There are more methodical ways to make a decision…
• “Vote” is a 4-letter word!
Weighted Objectives Table
Comparison Criteria
Weight
Cost
15
Complexity
10
Weight
10
Required Driver Precision
5
GAME ELEMENT
5
GAME ELEMENT
5
Total: 50
The Design Process
• Step 7 – Detailed Design
– Take the concept and make it into something
more “real”.
– The goal at the end of this is to have a design
or plan that can actually be implemented or
constructed.
– CAD Models, Assembly Drawings,
Manufacturing Plans
The Design Process
• Step 8 – Manufacturing & Implementation
– Depending on the design the implementation could
be a manufactured product, a report, a PowerPoint
presentation.
– Build it!
• Step 9 – Analyze Results
– Review how the implementation went.
– Learn what worked, what didn’t, what can be improved.
– Document the results.