The Design Process

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The Design Process
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But before we doStatements from those who knew

• "Computers in the future may weigh no more than
  1.5 tons." Popular Mechanics, forecasting the
  relentless march of science, 1949
• "I think there is a world market for maybe five
  computers." Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
• "I have traveled the length and breadth of this
  country and talked with the best people, and I
  can assure you that data processing is a fad that
  won't last out the year."The editor in charge of
  business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

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Statements from those who knew

• "But what ... is it good for?"Engineer at the
  Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968,
  commenting on the microchip.
• "There is no reason anyone would want a computer
  in their home."Ken Olson, president, chairman and
  founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
• "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be
  seriously considered as a means of communication.
  The device is inherently of no value to us."
  Western Union internal memo, 1876.

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The Design Process
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Design Activity
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MFG 130 - Deep, Water Problem

• Design and construct a free-standing structure
  that can support a 2.5 pound weight at least 12
  inches in the air suspended from the structure.
  Describe and document the problem and solution on
  a sheet of paper.
• The structure must span an imagined four foot
  diameter pool of water with no support in the
  water. You can only use the material provided or
  what group members may have with them
• Materials available
• 110 pop sticks
• 12 inches of tape
• 13 rubber bands

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The Design ProcessHow did we Proceed

• Make sense of what we were given
• Individual brainstorms
• Inventoried resources
• We need a plan!
• Did plan a little bit
• Fed off the ideas of the others (ie book idea)
• Organized responsibilities
• Look for other resources
• (tape, bandaids, shoelaces, books, knife,
  backpacks, etc)

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moreStatements from those who knew

• "The concept is interesting and well-formed, but
  in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must
  be feasible."A Yale University management
  professor in response to Fred Smith's paper
  proposing reliable overnight delivery service.
• "The wireless music box has no imaginable
  commercial value. Who would pay for a message
  sent to nobody in particular?" David Sarnoff's
  associates in response to his urgings for
  investment in the radio in the 1920s.
• "I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling
  on his face and not Gary Cooper."Gary Cooper on
  his decision not to take the leading role in
  "Gone With The Wind."

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Statements from those who knew

• "A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the
  market research reports say America likes crispy
  cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you
  make." Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting
  Mrs. Fields' Cookies
• "Everything that can be invented has been
  invented. Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S.
  Office of Patents, 1899.
• "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no
  military value." Marechal Ferdinand Foch,
  Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de
  Guerre.
• "Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous
  fiction".Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology
  at Toulouse, 1872

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The Design ProcessHow to Proceed

• Identify the problem clearly and simply
• Build a structure from sticks to support a 2.5
  lb. weight 12 inches above water with no support
  in the water.
• Support 2.5 lbs 12 inches in the air.

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The Design ProcessHow to Proceed

• Identify the problem
• including cont
• Constraints
• Resources
• Limitations

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The Design ProcessHow to Proceed

• Generate Preliminary ideas
• Brainstorming
• Sketches
• Learn from others
• Dont settle on a single idea
• Also set design goals

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The Design ProcessHow to Proceed

• Select a design refine the problem
• Determine an idea to work on
• Consider material, cost, etc.
• Begin detailed sketches and layouts
• Consider potential failures
• Find holes

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The Design ProcessHow to Proceed

• Prototype and test the design
• Consider specific problems. (books fall over,
  legs to spindly)
• Brainstorm ways to deal with problems
• Test revise test - revise . . .

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The Design ProcessHow to Proceed

• Finalize complete documentation
• Present final product
• Be sure all documentation is complete and
  accurate
• Provide a feedback method
• Celebrate

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The design process is a subset of-The Scientific
Method

• Hypothesis through observation and formulation
• Experimentation to predict existence of
  phenomena, or to predict quantitative results.
• Performance of tests to obtain data regarding
  the hypothesis
• Draw conclusion and determine recommendations
• Repeat

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And the problem solving process

• Hypothesis
• Define the problem clearly and simply
• Experimentation
• Define the problem in terms of the cause not
  symptoms
• Gather good information
• Data
• Look for patterns, links or trends in data
  analysis
• Conclusion
• Determine the cause
• Design a solution that fits the cause
• Implement and test the solution