IB+Design+process

 =Core. Topic 1. Design process. =  This is the graphic model the IB use to show the desgn cycle. Note that it is a cycle and is not a linear process.



When a problem has been identified the formal starting point for the design process is the DESIGN BRIEF. the brief will define exactly what has to be done to solve the problem, it can include elements of a specification, note constraints, target users etc.

Key terms linked with the design process.

 Test yourself [|here.]
 * **__Key word or term.__** || **__Meaning.__** ||
 * Incremental design. ||  Small changes to the design of a product that seem trivial but the cumulative effect of which over a longer period can be very significant. ||
 * Radical design. || Where a completely new product is devised by going back to the roots of a problem and thinking about a solution in a different way. ||
 * Convergent thinking. || When we use our ability to look at a range of possible solutions, anaylse them in order to choose the best possible outcome. ||
 * Divergent thinking. || When we use our creativity to produce a wide range of possible solutions to a problem. ||
 * Constructive discontent. || Analysing a situation (or product) which could benifit from re-design, then working out how this could be done ||
 * Adaption. || A solution to a problem in one field used to provide a new idea or solution to a design problem in another field. (Dysons bagless vacuum cleaner and the extraction systems of woodmills). ||
 * Analogy. || The transfer of an idea (solution to a problem) from one context to another. (Sonar, aircraft carrier take off ramps) ||
 * Brainstorming. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> When a group of people generate as many ideas as possible, this ideas may well be completely random but they are all taken seriously later. The group will take a more measured look at all the ideas and evaluate their potential ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Attribute listing. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Identifies the major attributes of a product or process and then enable designers to think of ways to change, modify or improve each attribute ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Morphological synthesis. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> An elaboration of attribute listing. After completing the list of attributes; list them along two sides of a 2D grid. Think creatively about how the attributes can be developped through new ideas in each of the cells to improve a design. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Freehand drawing. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> The spontaneous representation of ideas on paper without the use of technical aids ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Orthographic drawing. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> A series of flat views of an object showing it exactly as it is in shape and size. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Isometric drawing. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> A 3D representation of an object drawn with the horizontal plane at 30 degrees to the vertical plane. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Exploded Isometric drawing. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> An isometric drawing of an object with more than one component that depicts how the parts of the assemblies fit together. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Perspective drawing. || A 3D drawing that realistically represents an object by utilising foreshortening and vanishing points (usually imaginary ones). ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Computer Aided Design. || The use of computers to aid the design process. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Computer Modelling || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> A Computer program that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Algorithm. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> A finite set of well-defined instructions for accomplishing some task which, given an initial state, will terminate in a defined end-state. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Flow chart || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> A graphical representation for the definition, analysis, or solution of a problem, in which symbols are used to represent operations. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mathematical Model. || A mathematical model uses mathematical symbols that can be manipulated numerically. ||