The Design Process

1. The Design Process Where do consumer products begin?

2. What is Engineering Design? • What documentation process do engineers use when working through a project? Design notebook? • What is the design process engineers and designers use? • What is a mock-up?

3. Your Challenge Throughout this activity you will use cardboard, poster board, and tape, to build a mock-up (model) of a new simple wooden game. Think about some of the wooden games you have played. But wait! You’ll be using the Engineering Design Process… We will build on the game designs throughout the year and end the class by manufacturing the best design. Make sure your designs are good!

4. But first…what is a design notebook? • Put the project title and your name on the notebook. • Keep a table of contents in the front of the notebook. • Every page in the notebook should be numbered. Don’t skip any pages. – it should be chronological. • Complete all entries in ink. • Don’t overcrowd materials on pages. • Make your entries as you do the work. • Include all your ideas, good or bad. • Cross out errors with an X or line. • Do not tear out pages. Number each page in the notebook. • Rough sketches and calculations can be done directly in the notebook. • Loose pieces of paper or CAD drawings can be taped in the notebook. • Tape each corner of paper • Sign from the loose paper, across the tape, to the notebook page on each corner and date. • Research that can be retrieved easily should not be entered in the notebook. • Enter the location and date of material in the notebook. • Sign and date each notebook page at the bottom as you create them. • A witness should sign and date in a space provided. • The witness should have the technical ability to read the notebook.

6. Define the Problem Define the Problem • What are; the requirements? • Criteria or desired features • Constraints and limitations – i.e. cost, time, and materials Your Task: • Design a simple wooden game. • What games have you played in the past that fit this criteria?

7. Research the Problem Research the Problem • Use the internet, interviews, observations, etc. to research the problem. Your Task: • What types of games do you like? • Where would you use a game like this? • Do you know of any games like this? • Are there any games you could redesign and make a simple wooden game?

8. Develop Possible Solutions • Brainstorming – think of as many solutions as possible. • Materials for your final product will include: wood, poster board, marbles, wooden dowels, golf tees, PVC sheets • Keep these materials in mind as you design. Your Task: • Individually: sketch at least two different ideas for a simple wooden game. • With your partner: • What elements do you like about the designs? • What elements do you not like about the designs? Develop Possible Solutions

9. Choose the Best Solution • No one can tell which solution will be best. At this point you need to compare each solution with the criteria you set in the identify the problem step. Your Task: • Give each design a name and create a chart to check off if the design meets your criteria. • Which solution will you make a mock-up of with manila folders? • Can you combine various aspects of different solutions into one final solution? Choose the Best Solution

10. Create a Prototype • Before committing to a particular solution, engineers create a prototype. • Prototype: full scale working model that tests whether the technology meets the requirements. • Prototypes rarely work as expected. Your Task: • Create a scaled sketch of your chosen design. • Create a pattern that can be used to help cut your materials. • Build a mock-up with the available materials. • Pay attention to detail and try to produce a quality model. Create a Prototype

11. Test and Evaluate • Test the solutions to see if it meets the design criteria. Your Task: • Try playing the game. • Did you measure and assemble it correctly? • What works well? What needs to be improved? • How much do you think you could sell a final version for? Test and Evaluate

12. Communicate • Explain your solution • Communicate the solution to the people who might use the product. Your Task: • Why should someone buy your wooden game? • What makes it worth it? • If you had enough time and materials, what would you do differently? Communicate

13. Redesign Redesign • Find a way to improve the initial design. Your Task: • Go back to the first steps in the process and add some ideas you might have changed your mind about since completing the design. • The engineering design process is more like a wheel than a series of steps…it’s a constant cycle.

14. The design process is a continuous cycle.

15. Review of Engineering Design? • What documentation process do engineers use when working through a project? Design notebook? • What is the design process engineers and designers use? • What is a mock-up?

16. This is just the beginning… What else happens in the production or manufacturing of a product? Financial costs Production planning Facility planning Quality control The manufacturing process Production review We will cover each of these topics and relate each topic back to the simple game designs building into our final culminating activity of manufacturing the top design in the class.