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design ideas
This is where you start your creative journey and set out to solve the problems outlined in your brief.
You need a minimum of 10 design ideas for your context. they should:
> Be of 'a level standard'
> be varied and creative
> match the points set out on your list of master requirements
> be informed and supported with research
> be explained through annotation & supportive sketches/ modelling/ cad
> Not be fixated
>include appropriate communication methods (sketching, modelling, cad, etc)
THEY MUST INCLUDE ONGOING USER AND STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK
Assessment criteria says - initial design ideas
Informal graphical and modelling skills are exceptional and are highly effective and convincing in appropriately communicating initial thinking
Assessment criteria says - Critical thinking
Clear, systematic and highly effective responses to all identified problems. Exceptional evidence of innovation throughout the design process.
Assessment criteria says - Chronological progression
Design iterations are highly professional, systematic and chronological, fully supported by exceptional real-time evidence.
Assessment criteria says - Quality of initial ideas
Informal graphical and modelling skills are exceptional and are highly effective and convincing in appropriately communicating initial thinking.
Take note; the assessment is more complicated here. you are being assessed across a number of different criteria:
> Initial design ideas
> Critical thinking
> Chronological progression
> Quality of initial ideas
To begin the design section you should start with 10 'quick ideas' - this is you getting down your initial thoughts about how you could create a solution. Think mainly form (shapes) at this stage - what will your solution look like (PD) and what will it need to do (DE)?
This is where, if you have used one, your sketchbook will come in useful - you may already have a few ideas/ thoughts sketched down.
whilst they don't need to all be sketched ideas (you can use other appropriate communication methods), Your initial (quick ideas) design pages can be basic and may look something like this:
Critical thinking
you must continue to be critical throughout the next few stages, showing you are able to act on your findings. you must refer to the who/ what/ why/ how of the brief and research what is required to answer it - asking questions and completing research to find out the positives and negatives of each aspect is crucial.
you need to demonstrate making up your own mind about all aspects of the project - it is yours after all.
Chronological progression
Be sure to evidence your design and development as it happens - its key to evidence it as it happens - if you need to include a table to show what you did 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc then this is fine - see the guidance document.
Quality of design ideas
In short this is about how well you communicate your ideas - the clarity, the detail and the technique/ method used.
Your communications need to be clear enough for all users and stakeholders to understand.
Before you start drawing your ideas, make a list of things about them. This will help you to visualise what it might look like. Consider the following to get you started:
> Shape
> Size
> Components
> Features
> Material
Once you have a description and are able to visualise your idea, get it down on paper...
How could you present it?
10 quick ideas - pt1
Main things my solutions need to consider:
summary / next steps
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10 quick ideas - pt2
The Main things my solutions need to consider:
summary / next steps
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ongoing research
ongoing research
Items from your list of master requirements
Items from your list of master requirements
Design
Engineering =
See the bottom of the page for more info on communicating ideas about funcion
Once you have your quick ideas down you need to look at each of them individually, in significantly more detail. This is where you now need to show you are thinking about function as well as form, especially of you are studying Design engineering - your ideas may have more of a focus on what the solution does, not what it looks like.
Your ideas may be communicated using a range of techniques - this is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to choose the most appropriate method of communication. think about what you are trying to communicate. Possible methods can be found here:
Design engineering students - please read the
paragraph at the bottom of the page. your ideas are likely to include details about form, but more specifically, function.
Remember, these are not final ideas and you will be developing the best ones at a later stage.
What could a design page look like?
Details to consider:
List of master requirements
Overall appearance
Individual components
Assembly
Ergonomics
Methods to communicate:
Sketches
Models
CAD 3d
Annotations
user feedback
audio & video annotation
Avoid design fixation
Consider blue-sky thinking
Product Design =
Perfect balance of form and function
Design
Engineering =
perfect balance of function and form
design idea 1
user feedback
summary / next steps
Ongoing research/ inspiration
Annotation
Annotation
Annotation
Annotation
Annotation
Annotation
Annotation
* the page does not need to be presented like this - but the content must be there:
> Multiple views of the idea (think about the components)
> use of sketching and modelling (including CAD) - what is the most
Appropriate way to communicate your idea?
> From the washer up
> Information about the idea (annotations, supporting research, user
feedback, etc) *Annotate the details of the idea - not just the overall object
More specifically for DE (but also appropriate for PD in places), you may use methods of communication such as flow diagrams, option trees, programming ideas and initial circuit diagrams - again, use what ever is the most appropriate method for communicating your idea.
Drawover method
Drawovers are a fantastic way to show your idea in its location. It can help with designing round other objects.
Here is an example I did when designing a support bracket for a HDMI cable for the computer.
Take a photo, reduce its transparency/ lighten it, and then draw over the photo.
Key measurements taken and recorded
Look for inspiration
Remember, you are not an inventor - you are a designer and can do what many designers before you have done before you. Look at some key designers, design movements or areas of inspiration to help.
Making the most of AI
AI can be a great tool to help come up with some ideas - remember, you are not an inventor, you are a designer.
What if you are struggling for ideas?
coming up with 10 ideas will probably be difficult, however there are things that you can do to help you with the process:
Go blue-sky
be wild with your creativity. at this stage you don't have to be overly realistic. the idea is the important thing. reality and refinement can come later.
Speak to experts
If your project has a particular focus, and you are not an expert in it, that's fine. speak to someone who knows more and may be able to give you some pointers or ideas of how to tackle the problem.
Go back to the user
User centred design (UCD), very closely works with the designer - get them to help you come up with an idea.
Use scamper
Scamper is an acronym which is used by designers to help think about areas of design. what approach could you take?
What if you are struggling with presentation & communication?
Make sure you jump back to section 4 to look at different drawing & communicating methods. If you need to practice your drawing first - do it.
N.B.
Don't expect to draw an idea once and it be the final version - you will find you need to redaraw ideas a number of times to get them looking representative of your idea. If you change anything about the idea, be sure to show it as development. Why did you change it?
Design Technology @ NCB
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