Thinking Methods & Engineering Processes

Design Thinking


Universal Design

The Disability Act 2005 defines Universal Design, or UD, as:

  1. The design and composition of an environment so that it may be accessed, understood and used
    1. To the greatest possible extent
    2. In the most independent and natural manner possible
    3. In the widest possible range of situations
    4. Without the need for adaptation, modification, assistive devices or specialized solutions, by any persons of any age or size or having any particular physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual ability or disability, and
  2. Means, in relation to electronic systems, any electronics-based process of creating products, services or systems so that they may be used by any person.

Click HERE to see ideas for Adaptive & Universal Design

What Makes a Great Authentic Problem for Design Thinking and Problem-Solving (with a 3D printer) ?

Urgency and Authenticity

- meets a real need but is not urgent

- can be easily categorized as a completely new invention, an upgrade on something that already exists, or a personalized version of something that already exists

Time Constraints

- does not have to be solved immediately

- requires a short print time so that many iterations can be created and tested

Physical Constraints (materials, size, etc.)

- is solvable using a device made of plastic, or plastic attached to some other material

- is solvable using a device that is smaller (and preferably much smaller) than 8" x 8" x 8"

- can be ultimately solved with a solution that requires small amounts of materials and energy

Knowledge

- has a solution that can be designed using Tinkercad or 123Design

- provides students with practice in many elements of 3D designing

People

- involves deep collaborations in order to "find the problem"

- provides clear opportunities for others (problem poster, fellow designers) to provide feedback

- provides a usable solution for self or other

Difficulty

- provokes a solution that is relatively simple to design

- has true potential for success

Cycle of Improvement

- lends itself well to original prototyping with conventional materials (cardboard, duct tape, modeling clay, etc.)

- lends itself well to simply printing a "slice" or the footprint of the item to check specs

- allows "cycle of improvement" to play itself out many times

- lends itself well to many improvements, refinements, iterations

Adaptive Design & Devices