1. Writing a Design Brief Presentation Name Course Name
Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

2. A Design Brief is…
A written plan that identifies a problem to be solved, its criteria, and its constraints. The design brief is used to encourage thinking of all aspects of a problem before attempting a solution.
The design brief is complete during step 1 of the design process. “Define Problem”

3. Writing a Design Brief
People are constantly surrounded by objects that compete for their attention.
What were the designers thinking when they created these objects? What purposes do their creations serve, and what problems do they address?
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

4. contains cartoon images
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #1:
What are the features of the product?
made from plastic
contains cartoon images
movable
multicolored
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

5. musical tones Question #1: What are the features of the product?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #1:
What are the features of the product?
musical tones
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

6. sequential alphabet wheel
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #1:
What are the features of the product?
sequential alphabet wheel
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

7. simple shapes wheel Question #1: What are the features of the product?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #1:
What are the features of the product?
simple shapes wheel
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

8. numbers Question #1: What are the features of the product?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #1:
What are the features of the product?
numbers
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

9. wheels Question #1: What are the features of the product?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #1:
What are the features of the product?
wheels
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

10. foldable rear legs Question #1: What are the features of the product?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #1:
What are the features of the product?
foldable rear legs
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

11. grab bar Question #1: What are the features of the product?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #1:
What are the features of the product?
grab bar
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

12. Question #2: What purpose does the product serve?
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

13. Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #2:
What purpose does the product serve?
An infant might use the toy as a learning / play center. The product also appears to convert into a walker, and might be used to help a toddler balance upright as he/she begins to walk. Therefore, the product may be a combination play center / walker.
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

14. Question #3: Children need to prepare for school.
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #3:
What issues might the product address?
Children need to prepare for school.
Parents need toys to keep their children occupied.
Children quickly outgrow their toys.
Children need toys to help them develop their cognitive abilities and fine motor skills.
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

15. Question #4: What might the design brief look like?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Question #4:
What might the design brief look like?
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

16. Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Design Brief (6 parts)
Client A person using the services of a professional person or organization. Who is making you do this design?
Target Consumer Who is going to use the product and who is going to purchase the product. A lot of times they are the same
Designer Who is making the design
Problem Statement description of the issues that needs to be addressed. What problems will you be solving?
Design Statement describes what the solution should do without describing how to solve the problem. describes what the solution should do without describing how to solve the problem (you don’t know how to solve the problem yet). Use action words.
Constraints/Criteria Constraint limit to the design Criteria a principal, standard, or test the design must meet
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

17. Who was the Target Consumer?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Who might the Client be?
A large toy manufacturer, such as Playskool®, Fisher-Price®, LeapFrog®, etc.
Who was the Target Consumer?
Obviously, a child is the end user, but a person (parent, family member, or family friend) considering the purchase of an educational toy for an infant or toddler would be the target consumer.
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

18. The Client Writing a Design Brief Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
The Client
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

19. Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Target Consumer
Often the target consumer and the client are one in the same. Since it is very difficult to know who the actual designer was, that portion has been omitted for this example.
Note:
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

20. Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Design Brief (6 parts)
Client A person using the services of a professional person or organization. Who is making you do this design?
Target Consumer Who is going to use the product and who is going to purchase the product. A lot of times they are the same
Designer Who is making the design
Problem Statement description of the issues that needs to be addressed. What problems will you be solving?
Design Statement describes what the solution should do without describing how to solve the problem. describes what the solution should do without describing how to solve the problem (you don’t know how to solve the problem yet). Use action words.
Constraints/Criteria Constraint limit to the design Criteria a principal, standard, or test the design must meet
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

21. Designer: name your own engineering firm

22. Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Design Brief (6 parts)
Client A person using the services of a professional person or organization. Who is making you do this design
Target Consumer Who is going to use the product and who is going to purchase the product. A lot of times they are the same
Designer Who is making the design
Problem Statement description of the issues that needs to be addressed. What problems will you be solving?
Design Statement describes what the solution should do without describing how to solve the problem. describes what the solution should do without describing how to solve the problem (you don’t know how to solve the problem yet). Use action words.
Constraints/Criteria Constraint limit to the design Criteria a principal, standard, or test the design must meet
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

23. What could the Problem Statement have looked like?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
What could the Problem Statement have looked like?
Most parents expect their children to be able to walk, talk, sing, count, and recite the alphabet before entering elementary school. A growing expectation is that infants and toddlers will develop cognitive abilities and fine motor skills during the first three years of life.
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

24. Problem Statement Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Problem Statement
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

25. Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Design Brief (6 parts)
Client A person using the services of a professional person or organization. Who is making you do this design
Target Consumer Who is going to use the product and who is going to purchase the product. A lot of times they are the same
Designer Who is making the design
Problem Statement description of the issues that needs to be addressed. What problems will you be solving?
Design Statement describes what the solution should do without describing how to solve the problem. describes what the solution should do without describing how to solve the problem (you don’t know how to solve the problem yet). Use action words.
Constraints/Criteria Constraint limit to the design Criteria a principal, standard, or test the design must meet
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

26. What could the Design Statement have looked like?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
What could the Design Statement have looked like?
Design, test, market, and mass produce a multifunction educational toy that is an infant activity center and a toddler walking aid.
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

27. Design Statement Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Design Statement
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

28. Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Design Brief (6 parts)
Client A person using the services of a professional person or organization. Who is making you do this design Target Consumer Who is going to use the product and who is going to purchase the product. A lot of times they are the same
Designer Who is making the design
Problem Statement description of the issues that needs to be addressed. What problems will you be solving?
Design Statement describes what the solution should do without describing how to solve the problem (you don’t know how to solve the problem yet). Use action words.
Constraints/Criteria Constraint limit to the design Criteria a principal, standard, or test the design must meet
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

29. What might the constraints and criteria have been?
Writing a Design Brief
Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
What might the constraints and criteria have been?
Easy to assemble
Visually stimulating to a child
Contains multiple shapes, numbers, and letters
Plays music
Complies with all applicable health and safety codes
Easy to clean
Weighs less than 4 lb
Retail price less than $20
Most parts are primarily injection moldings
Have 4 or less months to give finish product to client
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006

30. Constraints Writing a Design Brief Introduction to Engineering Design
Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Product Improvement By Design
Constraints
© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Project Lead The Way®
Copyright 2006