Design Process Flashcards
Why have a structured design process? (6)
> Communicating the design process
To overcome psychological inertia’ (writers block)
To manage the design process and check yourself via ‘stage gates’
To ensure that people with suitable expertise are applied at the right stage in the process
To help conform with quality control systems
Justify: To help record the rationale of the design chosen.
What are the 9 stages of a general design process?
- Brief
- Specification
- Identify problems
- Establish Functions
- Research Solutions
- Initial Designs
- Develop designs
- Final design
- Make Manufacturing instructions
What are the 3 types of design according to Pahl and Beitz?
> Original design: Requiring original solution
Adaptive design: Adapting a known system to a new (different) task
Variant design: Varying aspects of the system whilst retaining the same function.
Define design ‘analysis’
The resolution of anything complex into its elements. The study of these elements and their interrelationships.
Define design ‘synthesis’
Putting together parts or elements to produce new effects.
What is the Pahl and Beitz model for the design process?
⇒ Task Clarification of task: > Functions > Constraints > Detailed specification ⇒ Specification Conceptual design: > Function > Structures > Search for solution > Combination of solutions into design variants ⇒ Concept Embodiment design > Layout > Forms > Developing in accordance to technical and commercial considerations ⇒ Preliminary layout ⇒ Definitive layout Detail design: > Final form > Arrangement > Dimensions > Materials > All the parts > Manufacturing instructions ⇒ Documentation [Picture1]
What are IDEOs design process? (5)
- Understand:
Scope the project.
Observe and learn first-hand about people and contexts of use. - Synthesize:
Translating research insights into opportunities for design. - Visualize:
Creating visible and tangible experiences. - Refine:
Improving design ideas by prototyping and making them physical so users can interact with them. - Implement:
Supporting resolution of human issues in the first design.
What is the double diamond method of design?
- Discover:
Behaviour-led design research. - Define:
Creative work shops and idea generation. - Develop:
Review ideas through culture thinking and design. - Deliver
Prototyping and selection and mentoring.
What are the 4 main aspects of a specification?
Requirements: > Description of the purpose of the artefact but not how it is to do it. > Do no imply solutions > Requirements that are essential > Requirements that are desirable
Constraints:
> What are the limits to the design?
Criteria:
> How do we know the chosen design is a good one?
Context of use:
> Sets out how the products will be used
What are 32 different things a specification could include?
> Materials > Product life span > Quantity > Documentation > Legal > Safety > Testing > Environment > Patents > Shelf life and storage > Quality and reliability > Packing > Competition > Maintenance > Weight > Market consumption > Politics > Manufacturing facility > Disposal > Company constraints > Shipping > Size > Processes > Customer > Time scale > Product cost > Performance > Life in service > Installation > Aesthetics > Standard specification > Ergonomics
What is abstracting? When would you use it?
> Ignoring what is particular or incidental
Emphasizing what is general and essential
You would abstract when producing a specification
What would you do if you were abstracting? (5)
> Eliminate personal preference
Omit incidental requirements
Quantitative requirements ⇒ qualitative requirements
Generalize requirements
Formulate the problem in solution neutral terms
What is a user scenario? (5)
> Context > Create personas (user profiles) and scenarios. > How it would be used > Observe users of the product > Question users and their experiences
What is a function structure?
These are the functions of a product and then the sub functions
How are functions expressed?
As verb-noun combinations
When should brainstorming occur?
> When radical solutions are required.
> When practical solutions have not been discovered
How should a brainstorming session work?
> Leader of the group should only organise and take notes. Not direct the discussion,
Groups must be prepared before the meeting with potential solutions
Participants should be open minded
All ideas should be written down
No criticisms of solutions allowed
No elimination of ideas
How can combining concepts be laid out?
Using a table:
> Each row should have a different sub-function
> Each column should have a different solution
Combinations of solutions can be brainstormed by picking 1 solution per sub-function from any column.
How are design ideas captured?
> Matrices
Notes
Sketches
What are the 4 types of sketches according to Dan Trowsdale?
> Thinking sketches: Making use of drawing surface in support of their individual thinking process
Talking sketches: Making use of a shared drawing surface in support of a group discussion
Prescriptive sketches: Communicate design decisions to persons outside of the design process
Storing sketches: Archive designs, ideas and form
What types of paper can be used to sketch?
> Graph paper
> Isometric paper
What is the weighted objectives method?
> A table with attributes that are important on the left side.
Each attribute is given a weight in a different column
This is the different attributes are compared with each design idea and given a score.
Each score is then multiplied by the weighting for a final score.
For each idea, the scores are added together for a total score which can be used to determine the best idea.
What are the problems with a weighted objectives method?
> Its Subjective
The number implies a precision which does not exist
The users are good at making it so it comes out as the solutions they want
What is the controlled convergence method?
> One idea is chosen for which the other ideas are compared. This idea is called datum.
Each other idea is compared as either better, worse or equal to datum.
We DO NOT asses the number of + and – but instead determine whether anything can be done to improve the design without reversing any positives.
What are the problems with the controlled convergence method?
> If too many strong concepts emerge, the assessment criteria are too vague
What is detailed design?
Lays out the final form, arrangement, dimensions and materials of all parts. Manufacturing instructions are produced.
