Design Specifications Activity

Procedure
Consult with your customer(s) or intended customer(s) and complete the following in your
engineering notebook. Use the information you gather to craft your design specification.

1. Who is the target consumer?

●Customer Needs*
○ According to Podiatry Today, over 90% of the US adult population has LLD.
This causes their legs to be uneven lengths. Because of this, the afflicted
must wear a shoe sole extension to even out the lengths.
http://www.podiatrytoday.com/keys-recognizing-and-treating- limb-length-
discrepancy
○
●Performance*
○ This product must be able to attach easily to the bottom of a shoe at variant
heights in order to allow the buyer to walk evenly on two feet.
●Target Cost *
○ According to the community survey that we created, 76.9% of those who have
not suffered from or don’t know anyone who has suffered from LLD would pay
$75 or less for an extension. 71% of those who have or know someone who
has suffered from LLD would pay $75 or less for an extension. Therefore, our
product needs to be $75 or less because the majority of each group would
pay that.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRz4vOnmzZCQzAxrEMvErpLlb
6cSw7x8KAmusSFmaRZLOXmA/viewform?usp=sf_link
○
●Size and Weight*
○ This product must be versatile across all shoe sizes and weight as there are a
wide range of LLD patients.The product needs to weigh less than 3 lbs.The
material needs to be able to withstand upwards of 400 pounds. The sizes will
need to be children’s sizes 8T-7 and adult sizes 4.5M/6W-12.5M/14W.
●Aesthetics*
○ This product needs to be one or two colors to keep it looking aesthetically
pleasing and neat.This also needs to be in the shape of a shoe that way it is
comfortable and sleek looking. The material for the extension needs to be
sleek looking as well, most likely a durable rubber or foam that can easily be
cut.
●Materials*
○ Rubber would be the best. Rubber should be used because it is already the
typical material for shoe soles and it is relatively durable. Soles can last a
long time upwards of a year. Also, we needs a material that can be detached
and put on something else. Rubber can be slightly elastic and can be used to
attach the sole to the bottom of the shoe.
○ http://www.kicksguide.com/top-5-materials-used-to-make-shoes/
●Safety and Legal Issues
○ Some of the legal issues would be dealing with previous patents and
products. Some of the previous products have utilized some of our ideas and
 we don't want to run into legal issues with patents and all that. Safety issues
would be that the sole may snap off and hurt someone’s ankle and things like
that. Other than this it would be relatively safe.
● Ergonomics*
○ The product is designed to be easy to use. the usage of simple velcro like
technology allows for convenient attachment and removal of product, and is
safe for human use, the flexible materials protect the ankles of users from
damages associated with rigid foot lifts
●Operating Environment*
○ The product will operate under the foot of a user, it will be subjected to
pressure, varying temperatures, fluids, dirt and dust, humidity, rocks, uneven
surfaces, and mud
●Global Environment.
○ rubber decays into multiple toxic materials such as polyaromatic
hydrocarbons, heavy metals and carbon black.
(https://www.huffingtonpost.com) Rubber can be recycled and the product
would ideally be recycled.
●Service Life. *
○ 2 years,typical shoes last 8-12 months (www.solescience.ca/how-worn-is-
worn-out/) and our product will have a thicker sole than a normal shoe so it
will last longer
●Product Life
○ 2 to 3 years,new products are frequently released, although few solve any
currently unsolved issues.
●Durability and Maintenance*
o What specific parts of the product must have easy access for
maintenance?
● the material used for the extensions and the bottom of the
extensions need to be washable that way the user can clean
them if they want to
o What is the anticipated maintenance schedule?
● maintenance schedule would be dependant upon the user
o Are special tools required?
● no special tools are required for upkeep
o Will replacement parts be required? How will they be acquired?
● Replacement parts would be the extension layers if they break
that way the user can maintain the required height. The bottom
of the extension would also need to be replaced roughly every
two years as they would wear down. These parts would be
acquired by ordering them on a website.

2. As a team prioritize your list of criteria from most important to least important.
● performance
● customer needs
● target cost
● materials
 ● size and weight
● durability and maintenance
● operating environment
● aesthetics
● ergonomics
● service life
● safety and legal issues
● global environment
● product life
3. As a team list applicable constraints that the designer must work within. Be specific.
In other words, listing “time” as a constraint is not acceptable – you must state
specifically how much time is available for the design process.

● We have until May 15th to complete the design process fully

● the product needs to ideally weigh under 3 lbs but if necessary can weigh up
to 4lbs
● The product needs to withstand 400 lbs and fit sizes 4.5M/6W to 12.5M/14W
● The cost of this product needs to be $75 or under
● The material for this product need to be rubber, foam, and some type of
attachment material like Velcro or silicon
● This product needs to be mostly or all black to keep it looking sleek and
aesthetically pleasing