Design Process Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Design Process

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process What is Design? Design is a creative planning process that leads to useful products and systems. There is no perfect design. Requirements of a design are made up of criteria and constraints. The design process typically occurs in teams whose members contribute different kinds of ideas and expertise. Sometimes a design is for a physical object such as a house, bridge, or appliance. Sometimes a design is for a non-physical thing, such as software. All designs can be improved. The best designs optimize the desired qualities – safety, reliability, economy, and efficiency – within the given constraints. All designs build on the creative ideas of others. Criteria identify the desired elements and features of a product or system and usually relate to their purpose or function. Constraints, such as size and cost, establish the limits on a design.

What is the Design Process? Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process What is the Design Process? The design process is a purposeful method of planning practical solutions to problems. The design process is never final; there are always multiple solutions to a problem. The design process is influenced by requirements called criteria and constraints. Technological problem solving differs from problem solving in other fields of study in which absolute, or “right” answers are sought.

Adopted PLTW® High School Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Adopted PLTW® High School Design Process Explain to students that several different design processes are used throughout the technical field.

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Adopted GTT Design Process 9 1 1 11 Communicate Results Create or Make Define the Problem 8 2 10 Improve Design Brainstorm 3 Research and Generate Ideas Refine Design Process 3 7 Research Test and Evaluate 4 Use this 9 step design process to simplify for the GTT course only. DO NOT use this design process with high school courses. The intent of this is to not overwhelm our younger GTT students. If, however, you are teaching the design process to a student population who you think are capable of learning the 12 step design process, feel free to use the PowerPoint available in the IED/DDP curriculum. 4 6 Identifying Criteria and Constraints Model or Prototype Develop Ideas 5 5 The adopted GTT design process combines several steps. Choose Best Idea Explore Possibilities 6 7 Develop a Design Proposal Select an Approach

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Define the Problem 9 1 Communicate Results Define the Problem 8 2 Improve Design Brainstorm Defining the problem is like conducting detective work. You must examine the evidence and form some conclusions. Design Process 3 7 Research Test and Evaluate 6 4 Model or Prototype Develop Ideas 5 Choose Best Idea Examples: Design a vehicle that can communicate with other vehicles to prevent accidents. Design an athletic shoe that decreases the amount of sprained ankles when worn on hardwood gym floors.

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Brainstorm 9 Communicate Results Design Process 2 Brainstorm 3 4 Research Develop Ideas 6 7 Model or Prototype Test and Evaluate 8 Improve Design 1 Define the Problem 5 Choose Best Idea Brainstorming involves bringing a group of people together to generate many different ideas. Examples: “Make the athletic shoe out of plastic.” “The shoe needs to grip the floor; the bottom should be made of rubber.” “The ankle support should be stiff.” “Don’t forget the air vents.” All ideas are considered – none are criticized!

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Research 9 Communicate Results Design Process 2 Brainstorm 3 4 Research Develop Ideas 6 7 Model or Prototype Test and Evaluate 8 Improve Design 1 Define the Problem 5 Choose Best Idea Research may require going to the library, using computer databases, writing letters, performing experiments, and asking questions. Examples: Read books and magazines View films or videos Search the Internet Ask questions of the “experts” Create and analyze a survey At the conclusion of this step you should be prepared to complete a design brief.

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Develop Ideas 9 Communicate Results Design Process 2 Brainstorm 3 4 Research Develop Ideas 6 7 Model or Prototype Test and Evaluate 8 Improve Design 1 Define the Problem 5 Choose Best Idea Develop multiple ideas that will solve the problem and meet the requirements. The alternatives may all be quite diverse. Criteria: How will the solution actually work? What materials should I use? What should the product look like so that people will buy it? Constraints: Will it be completed by the deadline? What size should it be?

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Choose Best Idea 9 Communicate Results Design Process 2 Brainstorm 3 4 Research Develop Ideas 6 7 Model or Prototype Test and Evaluate 8 Improve Design 1 Define the Problem 5 Choose Best Idea Decide on an idea that best meets the criteria, fits within the constraints, and has the least amount of negative characteristics. List the strengths and weaknesses of each alternative. Optimization – Making improvements to the design idea for better performance or increased safety Trade-off – Giving up one desirable trait for another (i.e., giving up on using a certain material so that the object is more affordable)

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Model or Prototype 9 Communicate Results Design Process 2 Brainstorm 3 4 Research Develop Ideas 6 7 Model or Prototype Test and Evaluate 8 Improve Design 1 Define the Problem 5 Choose Best Idea Model building is used to gather additional information and test design ideas. Examples: Realistic drawings or renderings help you visualize what the solution will look like in real life. Scale models or mock-ups are small, accurate representations of the final product. 3D CAD (computer aided designs) can show objects in action. A prototype is a working model; it looks and functions just like the finished product.

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Test and Evaluate 9 Communicate Results Design Process 2 Brainstorm 3 4 Research Develop Ideas 6 7 Model or Prototype Test and Evaluate 8 Improve Design 1 Define the Problem 5 Choose Best Idea Models of design solutions must be tested and important questions must be answered during the evaluation. Is it safe for people and the environment? Is it comfortable? Is it affordable? Is it aesthetically pleasing (does it look good)? Will it last as long as it needs to? Does it meet the criteria and constraints? Does it work?

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Improve Design 9 Communicate Results Design Process 2 Brainstorm 3 4 Research Develop Ideas 6 7 Model or Prototype Test and Evaluate 8 Improve Design 1 Define the Problem 5 Choose Best Idea After studying all test data and evaluating design solutions, you may need to make changes. Now is the time to improve a design – before production begins. During the improve design phase, you may consider new ideas.

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Communicate Results 9 Communicate Results Design Process 2 Brainstorm 3 4 Research Develop Ideas 6 7 Model or Prototype Test and Evaluate 8 Improve Design 1 Define the Problem 5 Choose Best Idea Share your design ideas with others to prove the design is worthy of manufacturing. Examples: Poster Drawings Charts Prototypes PowerPoint presentation Reports Discussion

Design Process Gateway To Technology® Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process Image Resources Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip Art. Retrieved September 25, 2008, from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx Wikimedia commons (2008). Retrieved September 25, 2008, from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Dummies.jpg