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Class 4_1. Today’s topics: Work session on alternative designs and WOT Questions about DP?. Questions about DP?. Model of the Design Process. Define the problem. Specify product requirements. Invent alternatives. Evaluate the alternatives. Engineer the details / analyze performance.
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Class 4_1 Today’s topics: • Work session on alternative designs and WOT • Questions about DP?
Model of the Design Process Define the problem Specify product requirements Invent alternatives Evaluate the alternatives Engineer the details / analyze performance Test prototypes Report complete product description
Review Design rule-of-three: Always invent at least 3 alternative designs for any design or part of a design.
Observations… Smart does not equal creative Henry Ford story: time to think important
Creativity tips • Don’t artificially restrict the problem • Don’t stop with the first idea! • Do use a variety of thinking “languages” (verbal, visual, mathematical, musical…) • Do seek analogies, imagery, playfulness
Creativity tips • Don’t fear looking stupid or unconventional • Do get as much information as is reasonably available. • Adding one new piece of information greatly improves the chance of coming up with a creative solution.
Other creativity tips • Do let problems incubate (Requires “charging” first!) • Do withhold judgment • Do assume that creativity can be enhanced with practice
How to invent alternatives? • Think… • Use creative problem solving techniques • Brainstorm • Try a morphological chart
Brainstorming • A creative idea generation technique • Rules: • Work with a group, 3-6 best • Try to think of ideas quickly • Do not judge any ideas • Feed off of other’s ideas • Write down all ideas • Be playful, silly, “crazy” • Work through the mid-way slump
Evaluating alternatives • If you have done your work well, you now have 3 feasible alternatives • How do you decide which is best? • Think… • Discuss with colleagues • Do some analysis/modeling/testing • Weighted objectives table
Advantages of W.O.T approach • Systematizes your thinking • Also makes your decision easier to present to others • Can be done collaboratively to try to arrive at a consensus decision • Don’t “cheat”! Try not to bias your use of the process with preconceived decision
Working session today • Please have your alternative designs and WOT available for inspection. • Assignment: hand in the section of your design report that includes your prob. defn’, specs., alternative designs, and the WOT. Due Tues, Feb.4. Submit on paper, with design report template cover sheet.