Engineering Design Cycle

Define The Problem: Writing a Problem Statement

A problem statement should describe an undesirable gap between the current-state level of performance and the desired future-state level of performance. A problem statement should include absolute or relative measures of the problem that quantify that gap, but should not include possible causes or solution

Brainstorm Possible Solutions

Good designers brainstorm possible solutions before opting to start a design, building a list of as many solutions as possible. It is best to avoid judging the designs and instead just let the ideas flow.

Research Ideas / Explore Possibilities for your Engineering Design Project

Use the experience of others to explore possibilities. By researching past projects you can avoid the problems faced by others. You should speak to people from various backgrounds, including users or customers. You may find some solutions that you had not considered.

Establish Criteria and Constraints

Having listed potential solutions and determined the needs of the project alongside your research, the next step is to establish any factors that may constrain your work. This can be done by revisiting the requirements and bringing together your findings and ideas from previous steps.

Develop A Design Proposal

Having chosen your approach, the next step is to refine and improve the solution to create a design proposal. This stage can be ongoing through the length of your project and even after a product has been delivered to customers.

Make A Model Or Prototype

Evaluate the materials, tools, and processes available to you. Review the timeline of steps you will need and move forward with your design prototype.

Test And Evaluate

If the desired result is not achieved, conduct more research or create sketches of possible solutions to the new problem. Then repeat the cycle.

Create The Solution

Considering "off the shelf products, processes, and other materials available to you put your plan into action to create a mock up or prototype.

Communicate The Results

Pulling many different types of media and information together to tell a complete story of the entire process is imperative to the design cycle.

New achievements are build on the shoulders of past failures.

There will be many unanswered questions when you decided it is "enough" and those should be shared in your documentation for others to explore.

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