Your introductory design challenge is below. Work as a team to solve this challenge. You must be able to prove that you have solved the problem by either a drawing(s) and/or a simple model of the form AND any preliminary sketches, brain storms etc. There may be multiple solutions. 

Photograph or scan your work and post on your e-portfolios. Then submit your assignment through the on Campus assignment portal.

Proper posting and submission is required for a passing grade on this activity.

Instructions:

Design a single form (a 3d shape) that can

pass through all of the shapes in

the given drawing.

The object must pass entirely through each

shape perfectly, leaving essentially

no space between the shape and the

opening as it passes through.

The dimension of the side of the square

the diameter of the circle and the base and height

of the triangle are all the same.

You must prove the validity of your design with a drawing, quick physical model, or cad model.

This unit introduces you to the design process. You will learn to use the basic design process to solve design problems. The Design process is fundamentally the same for many different design based disciplines. The terminology and specific details may vary, as they will from designer to designer. The videos below are a case in point. In the units that follow, you will embark on a design problem of your own to explore the design process.

To be able to identify and explain the Design Process, and to understand that there are different variations of this process.

The Steps of the Design Process

For purposes of clarity the design process is presented as a linear process. However in reality it does not necessarily always work that way. For example you might start with defining the problem, then after doing some research, you might uncover information that causes you to want to re-define the problem. Or, you may jump quickly to developing prototypes and run up against a problem that requires more research. When starting out it is best to begin by following the steps – but its ok to deviate if it makes sense.

Defining the problem: After a problem has been identified it is necessary to diagnose the problem more specifically. What exactly is the problem you are trying to solve?  This is done primarily, by interviewing those who are affected by the problem  (getting multiple points of view) to develop a prioritized list of user needs. Defining the problem flows naturally into the next phase of the process.

Research: Find out what has already been done by others to solve your design problem – or something similar to it. Learn from others by analyzing their solutions (finding out what works and what doesn’t). How can you apply your research to your potential solution?

Iteration (Brainstorming): Develop many wide-ranging possible solutions to the design problem. Follow the basic rules of brainstorming: quantity over quality, no judgment, the crazier the better, build on the ideas of others.

Prototypes, Testing and refinement: From the brainstorm process select one or more of the ideas which seem to have the greatest chance of success. Create several Low Resolution (these are quick and inexpensive explorations) prototypes to begin testing out the ideas.

Use the process of iteration (multiple versions that explore the possibilities) to refine the solution.

Watch each of these videos and summarize their key points in your sketchbooks. Be prepared to provide that brief summary and discuss in class. I will ask you to provide this summary from the notes in your sketchbook

There are dozens of different models of the design process. Most are saying basically the same thing. Watch this short video which explains Stanford University's dSchool model of the design thinking process.

Design Thinking

Take notes in your sketch book and be prepared to discuss this in class