The Design Process

(Individual Activity Or a Team Approach)

STEP 1. IDENTIFY PROBLEMS & OPPORTUNITIES: ANALYZING REAL
WORLD SITUATIONS
The process of designing begins when there is a problem in need of a solution.
State the problem.
The needs and wants that people express can be opportunities for designing.

Thought Process
Needs
Problems
Observations
Solutions

Other times the designer may change an existing design.

Change

Invention is the development of something new. But design work does not stop
once a new product has been produced. The products of technology progress
over time. The invention of something new is limited compared to the may
improvements made in items already invented. These improvements are called
innovations.

Ask questions.

Re-design
Improve

STEP 2. GATHER INFORMATION (Brainstorm)

Writing Process

Writing a clearly stated design brief is just one step. Now you must write down all
the information you think you may need. Some things to consider are the
following:
FUNCTION: A functional object must solve the problem
described in the design brief. The basic question to ask is:
"What, exactly, is the use of the article, item, or object?"
APPEARANCE: How will the object look? The shape, color,
and texture should help make the object attractive.
MATERIALS: What materials are available to you? You should think about the
cost of these materials. Are they affordable? Do they have the right physical
properties, such as strength, rigidity, color, and durability? (Outline your choices
best to worst.)

Design Brief

Function

Appearance

Materials

CONSTRUCTION: Will it be hard to make? Consider what methods you will

need to cut, shape, form, join, and finish the material. (Outline your options)
Construction

SAFETY: The object you design must be safe to hold use touch or handle. It
should not be hazardous, dangerous, or cause accidents.
Safety

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STEP 3. RESEARCH
Look around (What has been done before?)

Key
Concepts

Do your homework. (Library, Internet, Interviews)

Ideas

Find the latest technology.

Ask questions.
DEVELOPING SEVERAL SOLUTIONS
You should identify, develop, and produce a number of solutions. It is very
important that you record (write or draw) every idea on paper as it occurs to you.
This will help you remember and describe them more clearly. It is also easier to
discuss them with other people if you have a clear drawing or sketch. These first
sketches do not have to be very detailed or accurate. They should be made
"quickly". The important thing is to record all your ideas. (Do not be critical.) Try
to think of lots of ideas, even some wild ones. The more ideas you have, the
more likely you are to end up with a good solution. (Your ideas will be sorted out
and refined next)
STEP 4. SELECT AND REFINE THE BEST SOLUTION
You may find that you like several of the solutions. Eventually, you must choose
one. (Put your ideas up on the wall) Usually, careful comparison with the original
design brief will help you to select the best.
You must also consider:
Your own skills.
Your team skills.
The materials available.
Methods involved
Time needed to build each solution.
Cost of each solution.
Safety

Possible
solutions

Summarize

Design
requirements

Deciding among the several possible solutions is not always easy. It helps to
summarize the design requirements and solutions and put the summary on a
chart. Which would you choose? In cases like this, let it be the one you like best.
DETAILED DRAWING
Next, make a detailed drawing from your sketches of the chosen solution. This
drawing must include all of the information needed to make your product item or
project. It should include the following:

TwoDimensional
2D
Drawing

The overall dimensions

Detailed dimensions
The materials to be used
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How it will be made (process)

What finish will be required (color, texture, etc)
Important notes (Remember special details)
MODEL THE SOLUTION (3-Dimensional Prototype)
A model is a full-size or small-scale simulation of an object. Architects,
engineers, and most designers use models. (Developed from sketches or the
2-dimensional detailed drawings). Models are one more step in communicating
an idea. It is far easier to understand an idea when seen in 3-dimensional form.
A scale model is often used when the objects being designed are very large or
heavy.
A prototype is the first working version of the
designer's solution. It is generally full size and
often handmade. For a simple object such as
a pencil holder, the designer probably would
not make a model. He or she may go directly
to a prototype.

Model
- Full-size or
Scale
-3D

Prototype

STEP 5. TESTING AND EVALUATING THE SOLUTION (Improve)

Testing

Testing and evaluating answers three basic questions:

Does it work?
Does it meet the design brief?
Will modifications improve the solution?

Modifications

Safety

The question "does it work?" is basic to good design. It has to be answered.

This same question would be asked by an engineer designing a bridge, by the
designer of a subway car, or by an architect planning a new school. If you were
to make a mistake in the final design of the pencil holder what would happen?
The result might simply be unattractive. At worst, the holder would not work
well. Not so if a designer makes mistakes in a subway car's seat belt design.
Someone's life may be in danger!
STEP 6. COMMUNICATE AND PRESENT THE SOLUTION:
Designers and engineers communicate their solutions
through physical, verbal, graphic or mathematical
means. Demonstrations of operations along with an
oral presentation of how a problem was solved using
a design process are just one example of how to
communicate the solution.

Communicate

Demonstrate

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State the Problem ____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________
Developing Possible Solutions
Observe situation, collect data
Brainstorm possibilities
Research
Sketch at least four solutions and list the materials needed.
Solution #1

Solution #3

Solution #2

Solution #4

Select and Refine two solutions and list the materials needed. Make models.
Solution # ___

Solution # ____

Final Solution chosen with models and/or prototype. Test it. Collect data on performance.
Solution # ___

Evaluate final solution does it work? What changes would make it better?

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Design _____________________________________________________________________
Student name(s) _____________________________________________________________

Category

Score

Planning
A minimum of two
sketches have been
completed

Four or more sketches are

neat with clear
measurements and labeling
for all components.

Three or more sketches

are neat with clear
measurements and
labeling for most
components.

Two or more sketches provide

clear measurements and
labeling for most
components.

Sketches do not show

measurements clearly
or are otherwise
inadequately labeled.

Identified criteria and

constraints

Data taken several times in

a careful, reliable manner.

Data taken twice in a

careful, reliable manner.

Data taken twice in a careful,

reliable manner.

Data not taken carefully

OR not taken in a
reliable manner.

Research

Accurate information
gathered from several
sources in a systematic
manner.

Accurate information
gathered from a couple of
sources in a systematic
manner.

Accurate information
gathered from a couple of
sources but not
systematically.

Information gathered
from only one source
and/or information not
accurate.

Function

Project functions
extraordinarily well,
holding up under
atypical stresses

Project functions well,

holding up under typical
stresses.

Project functions pretty well,

but deteriorates under typical
stresses.

Fatal flaws in project

with complete failure
under typical stresses.

ConstructionMaterials

Appropriate materials were

selected and
creatively modified in ways
that made them even
better.

Appropriate materials were

selected and there was an
attempt at creative
modification to make them
even better.

Appropriate materials were

selected.

Inappropriate materials
were selected and
contributed to a product
that
performed poorly.

Construction and
Manufacture-Care
taken

Great care taken in

construction process so
that the structure is neat,
attractive and follows plans
accurately.

Construction was careful

and accurate for the most
part, but 1-2 details could
have been refined for a
more attractive
product.

Construction accurately
followed the plans, but 3-4
details could have been refined
for a more attractive
product.

Construction appears
careless or haphazard.
Many details need
refinement for a strong
or attractive product.

Design Notebook
Content

Notebook provides a
complete record of
planning, construction,
testing, modifications,
reasons for
modifications, and some
reflection about the
strategies used and the
results.

Notebook provides a
complete record of
planning, construction,
testing, modifications,
and reasons for
modifications

Notebook provides quite a bit

of detail about planning,
construction,
testing, modifications,
and reasons for
modifications

Notebook provides very

little detail about
several aspects of the
planning,
construction, and
testing process.

Clear evidence of
troubleshooting, testing,
and refinements based on
data or scientific principles.

Clear evidence of
troubleshooting, testing
and refinements.

Some evidence of
troubleshooting, testing and
refinements.

Little evidence of
troubleshooting, testing
or refinement.

Modification/Testing

Total Score

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