Chapter 5: The Art of Engineering Robert Harmann

Who is Robert Hartmann?  An electrical engineer at IDEO, an industrial design firm.  Describes the design process and various projects at IDEO.  Discusses the importance of an object’s “look and feel.”  Delves into the role of teamwork at engineering firms.

Key Words  Mass market  Niche market  Innovation  Invention  Industrial designers  Human factors specialist  Ergonomics

Mass market v. Niche market  Mass market refers to all consumers in general.  Niche market describes a specific group of target consumers  For example,…?

Innovation v. Invention  Innovation involves making improvements to existing technologies, products or methods of doing something.  Invention is the process of creating new technologies.  Examples??

Industrial designers  Focus on how an object looks and feels.

Human factors specialists  Use the science of ergonomics to improve product design.  Ergonomics is the study of how people interact with machines and systems in designed environments.

Which of the following is the example of niche market? A.Levi Jeans B.Scuba diving tanks C.Honda Civics D.Time Magazine

Which one is NOT the example of innovation? A.iOS 8 Update B.The birth of the Internet C.Redesigning tooth brushes D.iPhone 6

Who created the size, shape, color, and texture of the case in Robert’s team? A.Electrical engineers B.Human factors specialists C.Industrial designers D.Software engineers

How are artists and engineers similar? How are they different?  Artists create works that brings out an emotional response.  Engineers develop products that people will buy and use.  Both must consider the “audience” or “use” and design for them.

What methods do engineers and designers at IDEO use to ensure their designs will have the right “look and feel”? They employ  Industrial designers who make the objects look good.  Human factor specialists who observe people using an object and determine the best way to redesign it so that it feels good.

Why is it critical to have a diverse group of people on a design team? The greater the diversity of the design team, the greater the diversity of ideas.

How do innovators use the design process differently from inventors?  Both use the design process in very similar ways; however, inventors may need to work harder to define the problem because they deal with problems that have never bee solved before.