Welcome W 8.2 Introduction to Engineering Design II (IE 202) Chapter 5: Expanding Design Alternatives 1 1

Today’s Learning Outcomes By the completion of today's meeting, students should be able to: Expanding and reducing the design space. Taking advantage of the design information that is already available. 2 2

Expanding/Reducing Des. Sp Methods for expanding or reducing the design space include: Expanding a design space without reinventing the wheel: Patent search, intellectual property Classification and Search Support Information System 3 3

Exp./Red. Des. Sp. Cont’d. Taking advantage of already available design information by Benchmarking Reverse Engineering Group work methods to expand or reduce the design space The 6-3-5 method The C-sketch method The Gallery method 4 4

Exp./Red. Des. Sp. Cont’d. Thinking about thinking divergently Metaphor Design by analogy 5 5

Patents Def.: A document granting monopoly rights to produce, use, sell or get profit from an invention, process, plant or design, e.g. Utility patent - Xerox copying, Canon Laser engine, household appliances, light bulbs, cameras. Process patent - polymers such as Lexan, Rayon. Design patent - ornamental aspects of a product such as shape, configuration, and/or any surface decoration. 6 6

Benchmarking In industry, benchmarking is an accepted technique used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a wide range of processes, procedures, and operations associated with the company business. Areas of concern range from customer satisfaction, product design and manufacturing, and business operations such as order entry, billing, or repair. It searches for the best practices, thus leading to superior performance. 7 7

An Example 8 8

Reverse Engineering A systematic methodology for analyzing the design of an existing device or system, either as an approach to study the design, or as a prerequisite for re-design. 9 9

Convergent Thinking It describes what we do to narrow the design space to focus on the best alternatives after we have opened up the design space sufficiently. Our problem solving takes on a narrow focus so as to converge to solution within known boundaries or limits. 10 10

Divergent Thinking It is done when we try to remove limits or barriers, hoping instead to be expansive while trying to increase our store of design ideas and choices.. Thus, we want to “think outside of the box” or “stretch the envelop” when we are trying to expand the design space and generate design alternatives. 11 11

Brain Writing (6-3-5) A creativity tool aimed to address the potential deficiencies of brainstorming (uneven participation and verbally led) by encouraging participation from all, with an emphasis on sketching of ideas. The name Brain Writing 6-3-5 comes from the process of having 6 people write 3 ideas and have 5 people review it. 12 12

Practice Use the Brain Writing 6-3-5 method to design a multi-purpose pen. Present your ideas to the instructor. Take 10 minutes to finish your work. 13 13

C-Sketch Method In the C-Sketch method, designers work on developing graphical representations of solutions to a design. Designers work independently, developing a sketch of their proposed solution to the problem for a predetermined length of time (cycle-time). When the time has expired, the sketch is passed to the next designer. 14 14

C-Sketch Method Cont’d This designer may then add, modify, or delete aspects of the design solution. The fundamental limitation to changes in the sketches is that the entire design may not be erased. The sketches are passed sequentially through the team. Designers add their own imprint on the design sketches. At the conclusion of the exercise, a set of solutions will be available, the number of which equals the number of designers participating in the method. 15 15

C-Sketch Method Cont’d It may be helpful to use the C-Sketch Method to generate ideas from your Morph Chart. The examples are from microlaryngeal stabilization device. 16 16

C-Sketch Method Cont’d 17 17

The Gallery Method Each student writes/draws his idea. Every member posts his design on the wall, forming a gallery of ideas. All members tour the gallery getting many ideas. They come back with fresh ideas and new insight to make better designs. 18 18