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SECTION 4: design thinking and communication
Before starting this section it is worth knowing that for part of the nea you will be required to communicate your ideas - in depth, detail and using the most appropriate method. although this section looks at the techniques available and introduces some of the a 'level type' software, etc, there is an expectation that you have carried through some of the basic skills from gcse. if you don't have these then you will need to practice.
4.1 how do designers use annotated 2d and 3d sketching and digital tools to graphically communicate ideas?
The obvious place to start when it comes to presenting or communicating an idea is with a quick sketch. getting the basics down can help with discussion (whether its verbal or written) and can lead to development. Although things have changed and there are lots of digital methods available, a pencil and piece of paper still holds it's place, whether you are going to:
design a product
design a system
design a service
This section includes info on a range of useful techniques and links to software that we discuss and use throughout the course. A key thing to consider with this section is, what do you need to upskill in? practice makes perfect.
Starting with the basics:
pencil
biro
graphics tablet
fine liner
There's a time and place for everything...
How do you hold yours?
Getting some help
tutorial links
initial sketches
how do you communicate your ideas?
mathematical modelling
Prototype
sketch model
working drawing
refined drawing
CAD
models
this is a general order of how you might communicate your ideas
Sketching = freehand
Drawing = equipment
once you have mastered the use of a pencil you can look at different ways to create drawings, choosing the appropriate one to represent your idea in the most appropriate way. Think about what you want to show, the component, the detail, or the assembly?
Drawing methods
click on the drawing titles for demos
digital sketching
your first call when trying to share an idea should be a quick sketch on a piece of paper. The thing is, this is becoming a bit old fashioned. digital sketching is a great method for building up detail in a drawing.
oblique drawing
(we don't do this one - it's for primary school)
Lost for an idea. practice with these design challenges:
Brain fart?
Software links
If you're finding isometrick tricky, grab a drawing aid:
exploded views
manufacturing illustration
creating a model
Making models
Sketch models
A quick model made from cheap/ easily available materials - generally to show an initial idea or thought.
Mathematical models
Completed digitally to work out design performance and limitations. referred to sometimes as CAE (computer aided engineering)
Prototypes
This is a model which looks/ feels/ operates as close to the real product as you can possibly get before going into actual production.
User interface
Imagine designing how users navigate their way through a website or electronic product.
A UI designer will carefully consider navigation, colour, font, accessibility, layout etc to ensure this is easy to do.
You may not be designing a physical product... so may need to communicate ideas differently
Other communication methods.
Communicating ideas is not always about the visual form of the product, (especially for Design Engineering) - it is also about HOW a product will work. How you get this across, especially with initial thoughts may be hard, but techniques included below shows you how to approach it.
Option trees
An option tree will help you to formulate 'how' your solution needs to function, the options available to the user in terms of what can be done, and any decisions that need to be made in the programming or electronics design. Although not 'technical' or a programming example the below illustrates how you could use an option tree on a daily basis:
red
green
Cheese
Ham
Chicken
Veggie
Beef
An apple
A banana
A sandwich
A burger
YES
A little
A lot
Am I hungry ?
no
flow diagrams
For programming
Flow charts are used when designing microcontroller tasks. they are used to look at each specific stage of the process, including:
> The start and end
> any inputs or outputs
> processes
> decisions
> connectors
A microcontroller will follow the instructions written and uploaded by the designer, of which they will use a flow chart to plan it out.
the red arrows on the chart to the right represent feedback loops, where a question is asked and a decision has to be made in order for the programme to continue. For example, has an input been activated (button been pressed)?
terminal
(start & end)
Process
input/
output
decision/
question
connector
How a flow chart might look
Schematic diagrams
system diagrams
push switch
microcontroller
D0
D1
D2
driver
driver
white led
red led
in this example, the microcontroller is programmed as follows:
push the button once and the white led comes on, press it again and the red led comes on. press it a 3rd time and they both go off.
electronic circuit diagram
layout diagram
track pattern
Circuit diagrams can be represented in a variety of ways, depending on what you want show. the 3 examples from the textbook (Thanks OCR) are shown below and illustrate the same circuit but in different representations:
Creating your own circuit diagrams can be frustrating, tricky and time consuming, but using software to help can make it easier:
Tinkercad
Fusion 360
At NCB we use Designspark to design our PCB'S
lEARN HOW TO HERE:
4.2 how do industry professionals use digital design tools to support and communicate the exploration, innovation and development of
'A picture paints a thousand words'
and a virtual model paints even more
communicating your thoughts and design intentions are as important as the design idea itself, and even with the smallest of projects there are usually a number of different people you will need to communicate with. These range from the main user, to the direct stakeholders and then the wider stakeholders too.
The information that needs sharing with these groups will vary and communication with them can be carried out in a range of ways, for example:
> face-to-face conversations
> phone calls
> Hand drawn communication
> emails
> videos
> 3D sketch modelling
> Digital modelling
> Virtual Reality
> Augmented Reality
> circuit simulation
video conferencing and CAD (especially cloud based) allows information to be shared quicker and between more people. This can speed up development and the launch of a product.
CAD - Computer Aided Design
CAE - computer aided engineering
FEA - Finite element analysis
Methods of showing development and product function can be carried out through the use of:
No matter what the subject or category, there are always 'the best', The ones who are recognised for doing their thing really well - Louis hamilton, Mo Salah, Deepika Padukone or James Dyson. Sticking with the latter, when it comes to the world of product design, industrial design, or similar, some do it really, really well.
4.3 how do designers use different approaches to design thinking in order to support the development of design ideas?
Spend some time looking at the following example/ case studies.
This is where the term 'iterative design' comes into discussion, reviewing the design of a solution over and over until the outcome is the very best it can be.
Eat
Sleep
rave
repeat
this is the iterative process for life, as long as you eat healthier, tastier food, sleep better and then rave harder (more enjoyable) every time you do it then you are constantly improving your life, you are being iterative. It is the same with design...
After every possible design/ development/ refinement, you analyse it's success, review its qualities and build on its weaknesses or opportunities, you come up with a better idea. This is iterative design.
When we look at your nea we will look at the idea of creating 10 ideas, reducing it to 4 and then finally refining it into one final idea/ solution. This will be completed through the process of iterative design. You will recognise it as this illustration.
*if you were james dyson, you would have done this 5126 times
create
evaluate
research
refine
create
evaluate
research
refine
create
evaluate
research
refine
prject managemet tools
Once you move on from completing your A levels and start at university, on an apprenticeship or in work, you will need to know how to manage projects appropriately. This is known as project management and there are a number of recognised ways to approach it.
User centred design
Systems thinking
Systems Design (DE)
The importance of collaboration
Collaboration
Project Management tools
Gantt Charts
A GANTT chart (invented by Henry Gantt) is a simple table which plans out activities within a project against a time line. A simple example can be seen in the NEA investigation section or in the planning section.
Project management, as the title suggests is all about managing a project, ensuring that the correct stages happen at the right time - to ensure efficient design, manufacture and distribution. There are a number of different approaches outlined below:
Critical path analysis (CPA)
This is a technique used in industry when large projects/ orders are being processed. In CPA, each stage of manufacture is analysed, along with the time and range of tasks needed to complete them. There is A focus on the most critical parts of the process and a diagram is created to calculate the longest duration needed for each task. This is used to calculate the overall time required for manufacture.
The basic method:
A list of all activities
The time that each activity takes
the stages between each process
key completion points and the end point
Each activity within the list is then detailed as follows:
-
Start - the earliest time an activity can start
-
duration - how long an activity will take
-
early finish - the earliest time an activity can finish
-
Late start - the latest time an activity can start
-
float - how long an activity can be delayed without affecting overall production
-
late finish - the latest time an activity can finish
1
8
11
A
13
2
Although this video shows a slightly different example (in terms of layout), it is a very clear and well explained version of how to complete a CPA and why it's important.
Scrum
Mainly used for software development, it is when a team (SCRUM) get together to ensure the project is moving in the right direction. Things like the iterative design process, stakeholder needs and progress are discussed.
There is A focus on ensuring each stage of the project is complete before moving onto the next stage.
Six Sigma
This is where a set of tools is used to ensure and improved and consistent output of manufacturing.
It has a focus on removing issues that contribute to defects in products.
Data is used by specific employees at specific stages of manufacturing to ensure there are 'zero defects' in products.
The focuses are:
-
Reduce process time
-
reduce pollution
-
reduce costs
-
increase customer satisfaction
-
Increase profits
Companies that conduct this process
well can be awarded a six-sigma
certificate, helping to advertise
their ability to work with quality
and efficiency.
Six
Sigma
CERTIFICATE
define
SIX
SIGMA
measure
Analyse
improve
Control
Indentify the project goals and consumer deliverables
understand current performance
Explore the causes of any defects
Eliminate defects and correct the process
Manage future process performance
Time to test your knowledge. Click on the link below and enter the room ncbdtfour
Access exemplar exam questions for this section here
log into memrise and then click below
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test your section 4 key terms understanding here
Design Technology @ NCB
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