The Design Process

TECHNOLOGY

What IS design?
Design is a problem solving activity using a planned and organised method to find a solution.

Anyone can be a designer. It comes naturally to humans, but is often seen as a skill. But anyone can learn a skill!
TECHNOLOGY

Why do we design?
Humans modify their world and surroundings to improve their existence. TECHNOLOGY is the word used to describe all that man does to modify his world, and also the results of his actions.

IMPROVING

MANUFACTURING SCIENCE

TECHNOLOGY

Designing is an important part of technology. Designing is one of the ways we create, change, modify and hopefully IMPROVE our environment.

TECHNOLOGY

What design ISNT

Design is NOT inventing something entirely new or something that is different from anything that already exists. Most often it is about improving existing situations or objects.

TECHNOLOGY

Designing is a skill
A skill is something we learn to be able to perform a certain task. The more skill we have, the better we perform the task.
A skill is made up of sub-skills simpler skills that combine into the main skill. Sub-skills can be made up of even simpler sub-subskills. Learning a skill means learning all the sub-skills and sub-sub-skills until you can do them easily.

TECHNOLOGY

Learning a skill
Who has learnt to speak a second language? Who has learnt to play a musical instrument? Speaking a second language or playing a musical instrument are both skills. They have to be learnt, and at first it can be difficult and discouraging.

TECHNOLOGY

Learning to play the piano . . .

Learning some music theory Learning to recognise and play notes Learning to read music Familiarising yourself with the piano Learning and remembering what the right hand does Learning and remembering what the left hand does Combining right and left hand Practice, practice and more practice!

TECHNOLOGY

Learn and understand sub-sub-skills and practice them until they become automatic. Put them together to learn and understand a subskill and practice it until it becomes automatic. Put all the sub-skills together and practice them until they become automatic. Learning a new skill is very difficult at first, but then it becomes interesting and enjoyable and it IMPROVES YOUR LIFE.

TECHNOLOGY

Because designing is a skill, anyone can learn the skill of designing.

Being able to design becomes interesting and enjoyable and it improves your life.
Design skills can be used in all parts of your life remember: Design is a problem solving activity using a planned and organised method to find a solution
TECHNOLOGY

So . . . back to DESIGN
Design is done using the DESIGN PROCESS
A PROCESS is a method of doing or producing something.

Like all processes or methods, the design process can be broken down into stages or steps. If you know the steps, you can proceed from start to finish in an organised manner.
TECHNOLOGY

A few facts about the design process

Every designer designs the way they are most comfortable with. The design process can be changed to suit the task or the designer. Different design process methods may have different steps or steps in a different order. Different methods arent right or wrong just different! Generally though, the process can be broken down into some common steps or tasks.
TECHNOLOGY

The stages of the design process can vary but generally comprise: Situation
Design brief Investigation Realisation

Stages of the design process

Evaluation
TECHNOLOGY

Stages of the design process

Situation

Evaluation

The process is more CYCLIC than LINEAR

Design brief

Realisation

Investigation

TECHNOLOGY

Stages of the design process

Situation

Evaluation

Sometimes it is necessary to go backwards as well

Design brief

Realisation
TECHNOLOGY

Investigation

SITUATION
The situation identifies either a problem or a human need that needs a solution. Sometimes the designer is given the situation. In some cases it is up to the designer to identify a situation.

TECHNOLOGY

Example of a situation
Chefs in a restaurant use lots of knives of different sorts. They tend to get left on the bench, misplaced under and behind things and can be knocked onto the floor. The chef may even accidentally come into contact with a point or a blade. They are constantly washed and are best left to air dry.

TECHNOLOGY

DESIGN BRIEF
The design brief is a carefully considered written statement describing what you are aiming to achieve to solve the problem described in the given situation.
It DOESNT just state what you are going to make or design. Use BROAD terms that dont over-define.
TECHNOLOGY

Example of a design brief

A product is needed that will hold and store chefs knives safely in a busy restaurant. The knives should be easy to select and remove from the device. It must be portable, stable, easy to clean, long wearing and allow wet knives to dry easily.
(Use general terms to discourage the brain locking into preconceived ideas)
TECHNOLOGY

INVESTIGATION
Investigation involves using information from the situation and the design brief to establish the design CONSTRAINTS. Constraints will help limit investigation and realisation and help you to focus by helping to work out what most likely can and cant be done.
TECHNOLOGY

Investigation involves planning:

INVESTIGATION

Work out where to investigate internet, libraries, asking the right people, observing. Investigating what has to be done and when certain things need to be completed. Good planning requires a timeline with tasks clearly stated so things arent forgotten. Investigation needs good DOCUMENTATION notes and diagrams to record data.
TECHNOLOGY

Investigation involves research:

INVESTIGATION

Looking at what has been done before by others this is called state of the art. Researching materials, manufacturing processes, how things work, similar situations. Research results need to be useful dont collect information that isnt relevant or understandable. (If it isnt needed, keep a note
of the source and keywords just in case.)

TECHNOLOGY

Investigation is often ongoing. Sometimes it is necessary to go back and do more research, check facts, or do alternative research.
!!!!! Always organise research so it is easy to refer to. Number pages, list references (where you got it) so that you can find it again and justify why you have made decisions to others.

INVESTIGATION

TECHNOLOGY

Example of investigation knife holder

What has to be done for this project and when is it to be finished? Knife types and sizes used by chefs how many? Are their any good knife holders out there already? What materials are easily cleaned and water and cleaner resistant? What manufacturing processes could be used? How much should the item cost? Does it have to look good as well as work well? How is it moved around, cleaned, etc.?
TECHNOLOGY

REALISATION
Realisation is the word used for the process of using what you know (from the situation, design brief, constraints and investigation) to produce a solution. There are generally two stages:

Ideation (ideas on paper) Making

TECHNOLOGY

REALISATION - IDEATION
Concept designs Sketches of ideas and brainstorming,
including notes. Information such as rough dimensions, materials to be used and construction methods should be included. Freehand sketches allows quicker recording of ideas. The aim is to document and organise your ideas so that: You remember ideas and can go back and re-examine them others can view your ideas and understand what you mean. the concept designs.

Final design A final design must be chosen or synthesised from Workshop drawings - The final design must drawn neatly and
include different views, dimensions, construction details and notes.

Renderings Pictorial colour drawings of the design. TECHNOLOGY

REALISATION - MAKING
Prototypes and models before making the final product, a
model of the design can be made. This may be: a visual prototype to show what the item will look like. A structural prototype to show how the object or part of the object works. Prototypes & models are made if it is impossible to make the product in the workshop as it would be manufactured. Prototypes & models can be made at a different scale, be only a part of the final design, or be made from cheaper materials. Prototypes can identify design problems and save time & money.

Final product If possible, the final product is made in

the workshop using the correct scale, materials, etc.

TECHNOLOGY

EVALUATION
The final design must be evaluated to see how successfully it provides a solution for the problem or human need identified in the situation. Evaluation often involves testing of the prototype or final product.
TECHNOLOGY

EVALUATION
Questions to ask when evaluating can include: How did the product/solution turn out? Does it work? Have the constraints been met to satisfy the brief? What problems were encountered and were they/will they be able to be fixed? How can the design be improved? Were time constraints for the project met? Is the solution economical? Are there any possible environmental or social impacts? TECHNOLOGY

REMEMBER . . .

designing is a skill
that anyone can learn and get better at by using the skill and practising the skill.
Design skills help you to become a better thinker and problem solver and can be used anywhere in your life and work.
TECHNOLOGY