1. Design Process Design Process Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Design Process

2. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
What is Design?
Design is a creative planning process that leads to useful products and systems.
There is no perfect design.
Requirements of a design are made up of criteria and constraints.
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. Sometimes a design is for a non-physical thing, such as software.
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.
Criteria identify the desired elements and features of a product or system and usually relate to their purpose or function. Constraints, such as size and cost, establish the limits on a design.

3. What is the Design Process?
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
What is the Design Process?
The design process is a purposeful method of planning practical solutions to problems.
The design process is never final; there are always multiple solutions to a problem.
The design process is influenced by requirements called criteria and constraints.
Technological problem solving differs from problem solving in other fields of study in which absolute, or “right” answers are sought.

4. Adopted PLTW® High School Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Adopted PLTW® High School Design Process
Explain to students that several different design processes are used throughout the technical field.

5. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Adopted GTT Design Process 9 1 1 11
Communicate Results
Create or Make
Define the Problem 8 2 10
Improve Design
Brainstorm 3
Research and Generate Ideas
Refine
Design Process 3 7
Research
Test and Evaluate 4
Use this 9 step design process to simplify for the GTT course only. DO NOT use this design process with high school courses. The intent of this is to not overwhelm our younger GTT students. If, however, you are teaching the design process to a student population who you think are capable of learning the 12 step design process, feel free to use the PowerPoint available in the IED/DDP curriculum. 4 6
Identifying Criteria and Constraints
Model or Prototype
Develop Ideas 5 5
The adopted GTT design process combines several steps.
Choose Best Idea
Explore Possibilities 6 7
Develop a Design Proposal
Select an Approach

6. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Define the Problem 9 1
Communicate Results
Define the Problem 8 2
Improve Design
Brainstorm
Defining the problem is like conducting detective work. You must examine the evidence and form some conclusions.
Design Process 3 7
Research
Test and Evaluate 6 4
Model or Prototype
Develop Ideas 5
Choose Best Idea
Examples:
Design a vehicle that can communicate with other vehicles to prevent accidents.
Design an athletic shoe that decreases the amount of sprained ankles when worn on hardwood gym floors.

7. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Brainstorm 9
Communicate Results
Design Process 2
Brainstorm 3 4
Research
Develop Ideas 6 7
Model or Prototype
Test and Evaluate 8
Improve Design 1
Define the Problem 5
Choose Best Idea
Brainstorming involves bringing a group of people together to generate many different ideas.
Examples:
“Make the athletic shoe out of plastic.”
“The shoe needs to grip the floor; the bottom should be made of rubber.”
“The ankle support should be stiff.”
“Don’t forget the air vents.”
All ideas are considered – none are criticized!

8. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Research 9
Communicate Results
Design Process 2
Brainstorm 3 4
Research
Develop Ideas 6 7
Model or Prototype
Test and Evaluate 8
Improve Design 1
Define the Problem 5
Choose Best Idea
Research may require going to the library, using computer databases, writing letters, performing experiments, and asking questions.
Examples:
Read books and magazines
View films or videos
Search the Internet
Ask questions of the “experts”
Create and analyze a survey
At the conclusion of this step you should be prepared to complete a design brief.

9. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Develop Ideas 9
Communicate Results
Design Process 2
Brainstorm 3 4
Research
Develop Ideas 6 7
Model or Prototype
Test and Evaluate 8
Improve Design 1
Define the Problem 5
Choose Best Idea
Develop multiple ideas that will solve the problem and meet the requirements. The alternatives may all be quite diverse.
Criteria:
How will the solution actually work?
What materials should I use?
What should the product look like so that people will buy it?
Constraints:
Will it be completed by the deadline?
What size should it be?

10. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Choose Best Idea 9
Communicate Results
Design Process 2
Brainstorm 3 4
Research
Develop Ideas 6 7
Model or Prototype
Test and Evaluate 8
Improve Design 1
Define the Problem 5
Choose Best Idea
Decide on an idea that best meets the criteria, fits within the constraints, and has the least amount of negative characteristics.
List the strengths and weaknesses of each alternative.
Optimization – Making improvements to the design idea for better performance or increased safety
Trade-off – Giving up one desirable trait for another (i.e., giving up on using a certain material so that the object is more affordable)

11. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Model or Prototype 9
Communicate Results
Design Process 2
Brainstorm 3 4
Research
Develop Ideas 6 7
Model or Prototype
Test and Evaluate 8
Improve Design 1
Define the Problem 5
Choose Best Idea
Model building is used to gather additional information and test design ideas.
Examples:
Realistic drawings or renderings help you visualize what the solution will look like in real life.
Scale models or mock-ups are small, accurate representations of the final product.
3D CAD (computer aided designs) can show objects in action.
A prototype is a working model; it looks and functions just like the finished product.

12. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Test and Evaluate 9
Communicate Results
Design Process 2
Brainstorm 3 4
Research
Develop Ideas 6 7
Model or Prototype
Test and Evaluate 8
Improve Design 1
Define the Problem 5
Choose Best Idea
Models of design solutions must be tested and important questions must be answered during the evaluation.
Is it safe for people and the environment?
Is it comfortable?
Is it affordable?
Is it aesthetically pleasing (does it look good)?
Will it last as long as it needs to?
Does it meet the criteria and constraints?
Does it work?

13. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Improve Design 9
Communicate Results
Design Process 2
Brainstorm 3 4
Research
Develop Ideas 6 7
Model or Prototype
Test and Evaluate 8
Improve Design 1
Define the Problem 5
Choose Best Idea
After studying all test data and evaluating design solutions, you may need to make changes.
Now is the time to improve a design – before production begins.
During the improve design phase, you may consider new ideas.

14. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Communicate Results 9
Communicate Results
Design Process 2
Brainstorm 3 4
Research
Develop Ideas 6 7
Model or Prototype
Test and Evaluate 8
Improve Design 1
Define the Problem 5
Choose Best Idea
Share your design ideas with others to prove the design is worthy of manufacturing.
Examples:
Poster Drawings Charts Prototypes PowerPoint presentation Reports Discussion

15. Design Process
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Design Process
Image Resources
Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip Art. Retrieved September 25, 2008, from
Wikimedia commons (2008). Retrieved September 25, 2008, from