Design

What is Design?

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402616. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Design:

An iterative decision-making process that produces plans by which resources are converted into products or systems that meet human needs and wants or solves problems.

Design is a creative planning process that leads to useful products and systems.

The design process typically occurs in teams whose members contribute different kinds of ideas and expertise. Sometimes a design is for a physical object such as a house, bridge, or appliance and sometimes it is for a non-physical thing such as software.

There is no perfect design.

All designs can be improved. The best designs optimize the desired qualities - safety, reliability, economy, and efficiency - within the given constraints. All designs build on the CREATIVE ideas of others.

The Attributes of Design

PurposefulHas requirementsSystematicIterativeCreativeMultiple Solutions

"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way." Edward de Bono

Creative Thinking

from Jacci Howard Bear (originally published in The INK Spot 1995)

Put Yourself in a Creative State of MindWe all have some level of creativity within us. As with other activities, you can teach yourself to be more creative. Sometimes creative thinking requires us to look at things from new perspectives. Learn to unleash your inventive genius by thinking backwards. Here is an appropriate acronym containing five steps to creative thinking -- S A E D I -- that's IDEAS backwards!

S - sate of mind - creative thinking requires positive thinkingA - Atmoshpere - a positive atmosphere contributes to a positive and creative state of mind.E - Effective Thinking, identify your goals as effective, defective or positiveD - Determination, don’t give upI - Ink, get in the habbit of making notes and sketches

Design/Creativity Challenge

1. Divide class into groups of four or five to work collaboratively.

2. Brainstorm a product that your group wants to create.

• Example: TV, Chair, Car

3. Brainstorm a name for your product.

4. Create details for your products Everyone in your group must have input for this section. No one can be left out -- make sure you use lots of creativity and no idea is stupid.

• Example: TV Chair

• Includes: fan, toothbrush, cap washer

5. Create a drawing of your product, including the name and a catchy phrase to present to the class.

Brainstorming is more effective in a group setting. Different expertise or experiences can be called upon to solve different parts of the problem as they are identified. If there was only one “correct” way to design airplanes, we would still be using the Wright Brothers example.

RUBRICDesign Challenge Rubric

Challenge Exceeds Meets Inadequate

Originality

Drawing

Group Participation

Catch Phrase

Creativity

In the Rubric, what makes a good product?

What makes your product exceed all others?

Is it creative? Is it an original design? Is your drawing complete? Did everyone participate?What is your catch phrase like?

What makes your product meet expectations?

What makes a product inadequate?

As a class, lets decide what makes each of these areas important and assign a number to each and a grade to the numbers.

Requirements for a design are made up of criteria and constraints

Criteria identify the desired elements and feature of a products or system and usually relate to their purpose or function. Constraints, such as size and cost establish the limits on a design.

What are some constraints that we could have put on this activity?

What constraints or criteria did you work within if any?

The design of all new products and processes begins with an idea in someone’s mind. Do you have what it takes to be creative and come up with the next or new generation of ideas and products?