The Engineering Design
Process
RHS Tech Ed
What Is Design?
What Is a Design Process?
A design process is a systematic
problem-solving strategy, with criteria
and constraints, used to develop many
possible solutions to solve or satisfy
human needs or wants and to narrow
down the possible solutions to one final
choice.
– ITEA Standards for Technological
Literacy
Design Process
Various design
processes are used
across different technical
fields. The following are
examples.
Design Process Example
1. Identify problems and opportunities
2. Frame a design brief
3. Investigate and research
4. Generate alternative solutions
5. Choose a solution
6. Developmental work
7. Model and prototype
8. Test and evaluate
9. Redesign and improve
Design Process Example
[Link] the need
[Link] the criteria
[Link]/research/investigate
[Link] alternate solutions
[Link] a solution
[Link] the solution
[Link]/prototype
[Link] and evaluate
[Link] and improve
Design Process Example
1. Define the problem
2. Brainstorm
3. Research and generate ideas
4. Identify criteria and specify constraints
5. Explore possibilities
6. Select an approach
7. Develop a design proposal
8. Make a model or prototype
9. Test and evaluate the design using specifications
10. Refine the design
11. Create or make solution
12. Communicate processes and results
Design Process
Design process used in ED is an example of one design
process
Many design processes exist and are effective
Consistently applying a single clearly defined design process
provides a basis for understanding
Design Process used in ED
1. Define the Problem 6. Testing and Evaluating
2. Identifying Criteria and the Design Using
Specifying Constraints Specifications
3. Researching and Generating
Ideas 7. Communicating
4. Exploring Possibilities & Processes and Results
Selecting an Approach
5. Designing & Making a Model 8. Refining the Design
or Prototype
1. Define the Problem
• Identify a problem
– Break the scenario down to its simplest
ideas
• Validate the problem
– Who says it is a problem?
– Needs and wants
– Prior solutions
• Justify the problem
– Is the problem worth solving?
2. Identifying Criteria and Specifying
Constraints
• Create design requirements
• What do you want to accomplish
• Identify materials
• Identify tools
• Identify what can and cant be
done
3. Generate Concepts
• Research
• Brainstorm possible solutions
• Consider additional design
goals
• Apply STEM principles
• Select an approach
4. Exploring Possibilities & Selecting
an Approach
• List all ideas gathered
• Take each possibility and expand
• Evaluate plausibility
• Determine which idea is the best
5. Develop a Solution
• Create detailed design
solution
• Justify the solution path
• Technical Drawings
6. Construct and Test a Prototype
• Construct a testable
prototype
• Plan prototype testing
– Performance
– Usability
– Durability
• Test prototype
– collect test data
– analyze test data
7. Present the Solution
• Document the project
– Project Portfolio
• Communicate the
project
– Formal Presentation
8. Evaluate the Solution
• Evaluate solution
effectiveness
• Reflect on design
– Recommend improvements
• Optimize/Redesign the
solution
– [Return to prior design process
steps, if necessary]
– Revise design documents
Evaluate the Solution
• Does the solution
solve the problem?
• If not, the designer
must return to a
previous step of the
design process.
A Design Process
Product improvement
or redesign will
require the designer
to repeat the design
process.