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

• 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

• 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

• 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.