L- Designer Reccomendations

This page regards how we could have improved our design to have been safer and more efficient. We have listed some possible recommendations for any groups recreating our project, or those that have similar goals. 

Detailed guidelines on solving the same problem.  Consider:

• Time management

  1. When working with very limited build time, try to prepare yourself as best as possible (prep materials, learn the basics of whatever construction process you are attempting, have thorough designs). When you are able to build, setting yourself up to be able to start as quickly as possible will help you to utilize your time and build the best products.

• Documentation

  1. Documenting your process, ideas, and experiences or observations can help you greatly in the future. In situations where you're undecided on designs or willing to change elements of your design based on what works best, having multiple backup designs and solutions can be helpful.

• Market

  1. Make sure to check in often with your client and make your product visually appealing. Ask for feedback from the client and take it into account.

  2. Make sure the product is efficient and aesthetic when in use for best marketability.

• Process

  1. Allotting certain work to individuals so that many jobs are getting done at once moves the building process along much quicker and more efficiently.

  2. Doing planning outside of class is harder than building outside of class because communication during planning is incredibly important whereas during the building step the plans are already decided on by the group and can be followed accordingly.

• Teamwork/Communication

  1. Always make sure all teammates are on the same page about designs, materials, jobs, etc. Making lists or tables where certain people can claim certain items is useful to make sure everyone has a job, and no job is getting done twice.

  2. Clear communication is important, especially when it comes down to designs. If not everyone is on the same page about what you are building it can lead to confusing blueprints and dysfunctional prototypes.

• Detailed plans for improving existing design.

  1. Research and purchase higher quality wood for the legs and supports so it will not splinter.

  2. Research the correct uses for nails and screws and where and when each is called for.

  3. Find a better way to keep trellises attached (hot glue falls apart often and duct tape is not visually appealing).

• Materials

  1. Learning about different kinds of wood and their uses is important to make sure you get a proper grain for the structure. Spending more on higher quality wood is worth it in the end if the wood doesn't splinter out of shape when nails or screws are used.

  2. When using wood glue it is important to allow proper time to dry and to acquire clamps of the correct size for your wood.

  3. Buying small amounts of items can be helpful to test on to make sure they are of proper quality and substance for the task at hand.

• Designs

  1. Consider the size of a bench compared to five teens sitting in a line.

  2. Use designs with common wood sizes instead of strange ones that lead to compromises. 

• Testing

  1.  Use more quantitative means of testing the prototypes for more specific results (weigh amount of force that will be applied then apply that force, measure amount of weight to be held then hold that weight, etc).

  2. Compare to similar items off the market.

  3. Get a professional to review the product and testing procedures.

• Informative Poster

  1. Use subheadings to direct flow of knowledge

  2. Clearly state research

  3. Make testing research and results easily visible 

This page talks about both major and minor changes we would make to the project, being a helpful place to write down our thoughts and lay out improvement recommendations to future students.