6. Design strategy

What I have leaned in the class

From this class, I have gain insights in engineering design process. The first thing is to start with a need. without a need, there is no market. This step is aided by analysis on customer requirements, engineering specifications and house of quality. Then it is to conceptualize the functions for satisfying the need. I have learned several ways to generate more concepts both individually and in groups. After plenty of ideas are generated, it is to evaluate them against the requirements and select the best concepts. I have learned the screening matrix that helps to eliminates bad designs and the use of decision matrix in aiding concept selection. During the embodiment design phases, designer should analyze the product in terms of economics, optimization, material selection, reliability, safety, environmental considerations, and ethics. The class taught me many different factors  and interaction should be considered when designing a product.

I have also learned the importance of utilizing both convergent and divergent thinking in developing innovative designs.The final take-away from this class is this phrase - "form follows function". In designing a system or a product, the first thing is to do is to think about what the exact thing that it must do. After that,  I should evaluate how the system execute functions in terms of practical solution. The function should be not constrained by the form.

My General Design Philosophy

My design philosophy is to design a product that is simple, friendly, efficient: The product should be simple, in which the usage is convenient; the operation is easy and clear; and maintenance is effortless. By friendly it means that there should be enough considerations on human-artifact interactions. The product should be user-friendly, in which the user here is not only limited to customer, but it includes operator, maintenance staff and production personnel. Also, the artifact-artifact interaction can't be ignored: the product must be able to cooperate smoothly with other product or system. The product should also be efficient in terms of performance, adaptation to fast-paced life and ability to work in well-organized way. It should achieve its maximum productivity with minimum amount of expense (money or energy). Considering more resources would go depleted as human population spikes in the next 50 years, the amount of energy to product or to use the product should be kept at minimum.

Good Design would satisfy the following: criteria

• perform as expected and may exceed expectation
• efficient
• convenient
• easy and clear operation 
• reliable
• easy to maintain and distribute
• cost is
• optimized 
• minimal harm to the environment
• pleasant aesthetics
• does not violate any of the ethic codes during production, distribution, usage or after end-life

Bad Design may have the following criteria:

• does not function as expected
• fail frequently
• poses danger to any of the customer groups and the environment
• irritate users
• difficult and hard to operate
• higher cost than fellow competitors, yet worst in performance
• not reliable 
• low resistance to fatigue, deformation and chemicals

My background in engineering helps me to design product in a systematic way. Being a customer and user myself helps me to realize the importance of simpler interface and lighter operations. One of my best strength is to adapt and integrate. The discipline of engineering can be applied to biology, chemistry, art, architecture and many other fields that hugely impacting the society. My interest in biological system aids my understanding of biomechanics and integration of physical law in physiological function. Also, my appreciation of art and music benefits me for raising the level of aesthetics in my design. Design is tightly warped around life itself, and i hope my experience can aid in development of my future designs.