7.1 Generating The “Design Space:” A Space Of Engineering Designs

Question 1

What is a crucial first step to creating actual designs?

Answer 1

A crucial first step to creating actual designs is to build a design space.

Question 2

What is a design space?

Answer 2

A design space is an imaginary intellectual region of design alternatives that contains all of the potential solutions to our design problem.

Question 3

Why are design spaces useful?

Answer 3

Design spaces are useful because they convey a feel for the problem at hand.

Question 4

What does a large design space indicate?

Answer 4

A large design space suggests a design domain with a large number of acceptable designs, or a design problem with a large number of design variables.

Question 5

What is a morphological chart?

Answer 5

Morphological (morph) chart:

• a formal tool for generating design spaces and for generating within those spaces a population of designs that perform the functions we specify.
• a matrix in which the leftmost column is a list of all of the principal functions that our design must perform and also some of the key features it must have.

Question 6

Construct a morphological (morph) chart for the juice container example.

Answer 6

Question 7

What is the maximum number of design alternatives for the juice container based on the following morph chart?:

Answer 7

The beverage container morph chart of Figure 7.1, the number of design alternatives could be as large as 4 X 5 X 6 X 2 X 3 = 720.

Question 8

Shade the following juice container morph chart for two feasible design alternatives such that the means are dark and light shaded.

Answer 8

Question 9

Shade the following juice container morph chart for two INFEASIBLE design alternatives such that the means are dark and light shaded.

Answer 9

Question 10

What is divergent thinking?

Answer 10

Divergent thinking

• an attempt to remove limits or barriers, hoping to increase our store of design ideas and choices.
• “thinking outside of the box” or “stretching the envelope”

Question 11

When might we utilize divergent thinking?

Answer 11

We might utilize divergent thinking when we want to expand our space of design alternatives.

Question 12

What is convergent thinking?

Answer 12

Convergent thinking:

• is an attempt to narrow our design space to ·focus on the best alternative(s).
• “staying within our game” and “knowing where the boundary/goal is”

Question 13

When might we utilize convergent thinking?

Answer 13

We might utilize convergent thinking in order to converge on a solution within known boundaries or limits.

Question 14

What is key when engaging in divergent thinking?

Answer 14

When engaging in divergent thinking, make sure to think outside the box, BUT stay within the physics!

Question 15

Describe the steps of the 6-3-5 method.

Answer 15

In the 6-3-5 Method:

• Six team members seated around a table to participate in this idea generation “game”
• Each of whom writes down three design ideas, briefly expressed in key words and phrases
• The six individual lists are then circulated past each of the remaining team members in a sequence of five rotations of written (only) comment and annotation
  
  • verbal communication or cross talk is not allowed.

Question 16

Describe the steps of the C-Sketch method.

Answer 16

C-Sketch Method:

• starts with a team seated around a table, with each member sketching one design idea on a piece of paper
• then proceeds as does the 6-3-5 method.
  
  • Each sketch is circulated through the team in the same fashion as the lists of ideas in the 6-3-5 method, with all of the annotations or proposed design modifications being written or sketched on the initial concept sketches.

Question 17

Describe the steps of the gallery method.

Answer 17

Gallery Method

1. Team members first develop their individual, initial ideas within some allotted time
2. Afterward, all of the resulting sketches are posted on a corkboard or a conference room whiteboard.
3. This set of sketches serves as the backdrop for an open, group discussion of all of the posted ideas.
4. Questions are asked, critiques are offered, and suggestions are made.

Question 18

For what are the 6-3-5, C-sketch, and gallery methods used?

Answer 18

The 6-3-5, C-sketch, and gallery methods used get team reactions to each other’s design ideas and idea sketches.

Question 19

What is the main way that the gallery method differs from the 6-3-5 and C-Sketch methods?

Answer 19

The main way that the gallery method differs from the 6-3-5 and C-Sketch methods is by communication cycles.

Question 20

What are key to remember with regard to design generation?

Answer 20

Guiding Thoughts on Design Generation

• Design generation is an exciting, creative activity, BUT it is goal-directed creative activity
  
  • It is designed to serve a known purpose, not to search for one.
• Remember that creative activity requires work.