THE DESIGN PROCESS
1: DEFINE THE PROBLEM
What is the focus of the project you will be working on?
2: DEFINE CONSTRAINTS & CRITERIA
- What are your constraints (your limits)? Weight, cost, time, materials, size, etc...
- What is your criteria (what your product needs)? Does it need to be a certain size, perform a specific task, support a certain amount of weight, be made of a specific material, etc...?
3: RESEARCH
Research materials, location, similar projects - what worked, what didn't (don't copy - improve!)
4: BRAINSTORM
Quantity!!! Come up with an many ideas as possible! Get Crazy!
C-Sketching
C-Sketching
5: EVALUATE SOLUTIONS
Which solutions are actually feasible? Can you use pieces of several solutions? Which materials are obtainable? Which ones fit within your constraints and criteria?
6: CHOOSE THE BEST SOLUTION
Which solution is the best?
7: DESIGN
Use CAD, sketch, cardboard/paper prototypes...
8: BUILD A PROTOTYPE
Implement your design.
9: TEST
Put your prototype to the test!
Did it work?
Did it work?
10: REPEAT!
What changes do you need to make to perfect your design? Go back through the process to make fixes.