THE DESIGN AND
PROBLEM SOLVING
PROCESS
INTRO TO DESIGN PROCESS – AVON HIGH SCHOOL
WHAT IS A PROBLEM?
• Problem - any question or matter involving doubt,
uncertainty, or difficulty. (dictionary.com)
WHAT IS DESIGN?
• Design - to prepare the preliminary sketch or the
plans for (a work to be executed), esp. to plan the
form and structure of.
HOW ARE THESE RELATED?
• In order for a problem to be solved one must first utilize
the design process.
• The design process enables one to:
• Identify the Problem
• Research the Problem
• Generate Solutions
• Chose a solution
• Go through Feedback
THE DESIGN PROCESS
Redesigning
and
Improving
Identifying
problem and
Opportunities
Testing and
Evaluating
Modeling
and
Prototyping
Document the
Problem
Investigation
and Research
Developmental
Work
Choosing A
Solution
Generating
Alternative
Solutions
THE DESIGN PROCESS
• Design describes the process of developing solutions to
problems
• Design is not a linear process
• Two modes of design
• Active
• Reflective
• The design process is constantly moving between the two.
BRAINSTORMING GROUP
• Group work Dynamics
• Difficulties?
• Group members
• All the same?
• Differing backgrounds?
STEP 1. IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS AND
OPPORTUNITIES
• Can be obvious or very complex
• The identification of a problem typically requires an
observation or investigation of the actual problem.
• How do you identify the real root of the problem?
• Be very open minded
• Do not identify results of the problem, find the actual
problem.
STEP 2. DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM
• You will need to document the problem.
• Manners in which you can document the problem
include:
• Written Observations
• Pictures
• Interviews
STEP 3. RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION
• The importance of
investigation and research
cannot be
overemphasized.
• Very few solutions are
new.
• Most inventions involve
previously know principles
of concepts.
STEP 4. GENERATION OF
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS.
• Brainstorming, Brainstorming, Brainstorming,
Brainstorming
• The more solutions you can come up with the better your
final design will be.
• It is human nature to latch onto your first idea and try and
make it work.
• In two minutes write down as many possible ways to
transport a person across a river.
STEP 5. CHOOSING THE BEST SOLUTION
• Many ideas generated from brainstorming may not be viable due to cost,
construction, or technology.
• Once you have a list of possible working solutions, create a plus minus system
to evaluate each one and narrow your list to three.
STEP 6. DEVELOPMENTAL WORK
• This is where communicating an idea by voice
meets communicating an idea by eyes.
• Size and shape have to be defined in this section
• Requires a very detailed drawing of design
STEP 7. MODELING AND PROTOTYPING
• Can be non-working or working,
scale or full size, 2D or 3D
• Appearance models-show what the
design will look like
• Functional model- operate like the
intended design, but may not look
like it.
• Prototype- Works and looks like the
intended design.
STEP 8. TESTING AND EVALUATING
• May be as simple as
applying the specifications
to the end product to see if
it does all the things it is
supposed to do.
• Can involve extensive testing
and data analysis that can be
used to redesign the product
later.
STEP 9. REDESIGN AND IMPROVE
One of the more important and often overlooked steps
THE DESIGN PROCESS
Redesigning
and
Improving
Identifying
problem and
Opportunities
Testing and
Evaluating
Modeling
and
Prototyping
Document the
Problem
Investigation
and Research
Developmental
Work
Choosing A
Solution
Generating
Alternative
Solutions