The Design Process

How engineers get stuff done

Nicolette Darjean

September 10, 2020

Lesson Objectives:

Explain the purpose for understanding engineering
Define "design"
Explore how engineers use the Engineering Design Process to Define a Problem and Generate Concepts

Lesson Prep:

Log in to the my.pltw.org website. On the Course Landing page click General Student Resources in the browser to your left. You should preview: Process Thinking and Professional Practices sections.

You must log into your IED course to access this link on my.pltw.org

Lesson Instructions:

To complete this lesson, use your mouse to scroll down following arrows and underlined click links to investigate the Engineering Design Process.

Complete each of the Check Ups at the conclusion of each mini lesson. They are each graded as 10pt formative activity assessments.

Once you are finished, make sure to answer the Exit ticket at the end and you're done!

Tip: You may always reference your my.pltw.org account if you'd like to print out the full lesson activities!

Look for the printer icon in the upper right hand corner of all pages to print.

Lesson Preview Vocab

*Dr. Forrest Bird, 1965, Inventor of the world's first mechanical ventilator*

Purpose for Understanding Engineering??

Engineering . . .

Is using math and science to solve practical problems
Requires creativity, persistence, and a desire for improvement

What is "Design"?

According to International Technology Education Association (ITEA) Standards for Technological Literacy, design....

Refers to anything that was made by a conscious human effort.
A process used to systematically solve problems, satisfy human needs or wants and to narrow down the possible solutions to one final choice.

One needed problem for us since 1918 has been cloth face masks! Red Cross workers fold reusable masks during the influenza pandemic, Boston, MA, USA, March, 1919; Copyright © 2020 Courtesy National Archives (165-WW-269B-37)

How do Engineers use the design process?

The Design Process--

Serves as both a guide and a series of checkpoints for effective problem-solving
The design process is iterative
Design is rarely a straightforward process so it's common to repeat steps of the process several times before an optimal solution is found.

Investigate design brief : visit the my.pltw.org website under General Student Resources>Process Thinking>Writing a Design Brief

01 / 06

1 Define the Problem (scroll down)

An acceptable problem is one for which there is no known solution, or one for which there is a solution that can be significantly improved upon.

An acceptable problem must be:

Valid (that is, not a problem because you say so, but because other credible sources agree that it is a problem)

Justifiable (i.e., the effort to solve the problem is warranted based on need and cost).

1 Define the Problem (scroll down)

To define the problem, we should ask the following to:

Who says it is a problem?

What are the needs and wants of the stakeholders ?

Are there prior solutions to the problem?

Is the problem worth solving?

What are the specific criteria and constraints required to solve the problem?

1 Define the Problem (scroll down)

To prove that your problem is valid and justified, we should:

Include a clear justification of why the problem is worth solving.

Include multiple, comprehensive considerations from varying viewpoints.

Include a description of a community or group of people who would benefit from solving the problem.

Provide credible and properly referenced sources.

1 Define the Problem Success! (scroll down)

You finally validated your problem!

Now, create a design brief or a listed set of design requirements to solve the problem for the stakeholder.

Stakeholders (the client, the designer, the target consumers) will have a list of needs or requests of the solution...the criteria (ex. The toy must have safety features, have 3 parts, etc)

Stakeholders will have to work within certain limitations (boundaries) and so will you...the constraints (ex. cost, size, etc.)

1 Define the Problem

If the problem is not valid or justifiable, the designer must define a new problem!

Check up!

Let's see what we've learned.

Click here!

01 / 05

2 Generate Concepts

When generating concepts, the designer is engaged in researching possible solution ideas now that the problem has been clearly defined.

These ideas may already exist and can be implemented with something new or you may find that you may need to invent something on your own.

Investigate research: visit the my.pltw.org website under General Student Resources>Professional Practices>Effective Research

2 Generate Concepts

Ideas researched should be plentiful! Ideas that make sense and crazy should be included! This is called brainstorming .

BEWARE! It can be hard to tell when to stop researching and brainstorming. Sometimes the designer may need to revisit the problem definition or redefine the problem if it's too broad.

Investigate brainstorming: visit the my.pltw.org website under General Student Resources>Professional Practices>Brainstorming Solutions

2 Generate Concepts

Brainstorming in itself is a process. It looks like this:

--Research the problem.

--Brainstorm possible solutions.

--Consider any additional design goals.

--Apply STEM principles.

--Select and justify an approach.

If the technology necessary to develop the solution does not exist, scientific research may be necessary to pursue a solution.

2 Generate Concepts

How do you determine which idea to start with?

Use a Decision Matrix ! This is a great tool to objectively choose a solution based on analysis and logic, not personal opinion.

Investigate the decision matrix: visit the my.pltw.org website under General Student Resources>Process Thinking>Decision Matrix

Check Up!

Let's see what you've learned!

Click here!

Congratulations! You've worked hard today!

Let's conclude with an Exit Ticket. Click here!