1. Engineering design is the process of devising a system, component, or process to meet
desired needs. It is a decision-making process in which the basic sciences, mathematics,
and engineering sciences are used to convert resources optimally to meet a stated objective.
Engineering design includes most of the following features:
•creativity
•open-ended problems
•formulation of design problem statements and specifications
•consideration of alternative solutions
•feasibility considerations
•production processes
•detailed system descriptions
•constraints such as economic factors, safety, reliability, aesthetics, ethics and social impact.
- Adapted  from ABET

2. Steps in the engineering design loop (typically an iterative process)
1. Encounter a problem.
2. Formally define the problem.
3. Identify criteria for solving the problem.
4. Prioritize the desired outcomes to the problem.
5. Create a list of possible solutions. Each possible solution is a plan.
6. Create an implementation of the most feasable solution.
7. Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution.
Engineering Designers typically follow these steps:
1. Understand their customer's needs (requirements).
Establish design objectives (specifications) to satisfy a given set of customer attributes.
Define the problem they must solve to satisfy these needs.
3. Create and select the solution through synthesis.
4. Analyze and optimize the proposed solution
5. Check (validate) the resulting design against the customer's needs.
6. Implement the selected design