DESIGNING THE DESIGN PROCESS

ASSIGNMENT 2 DESIGN METHODOLOGY Carlos Jimnez Irene Gallego Enara Parra 2011 - 11 - 15

ASSIGMENT 2 Irene Gallego, Carlos Jimnez and Enara Parra. For this assignment we have to make a generic plan for a design project. We have three different conditions: -An extensive project spanning a semester in which we have to describe how we would ideally carry out the project in a proper way. -A 5 week project (or 10 weeks at half speed) in which we have to prioritise what problems you address and how you address them. -A 1-2 day miniproject in which we really need to get our priorities right. We also have to think that there is an industrial client that wants to see results and also an academic client who may be more interested in our process and the extent to which we relate our work to theory. We have thought about a generic plan in which we consider all aspects of a project, so we are going to use it to write the extensive project (for a semester). The first step would be creating a planning to organize the different tasks on time. This can be done with a normal calendar, with an Excel table or with a Gantt chart. A Gantt chart is a type of diagram that illustrates a project schedule. It helps the user with time divisions to create the project.

Image 1: Gantt chart example. Next step would be doing an analysis. We could have three cases: -Having a problem and then analyse it. -Having some specifications and then analyse them. The specifications would be niche market, the brand, the characteristics, the budget... -Having an environment or situation to analyse to find the problem and then analyse it. Every analysis would consist on a study of the problem's environment, and in this case we consider it as the user, the problem itself, the reasons, the prices, the materials, the costs, the companies, the market and also the competitors. For the analysis we can use some tools as: brainstorming, SWOT, surveys A brainstorming is a creative group technique that is used to generate ideas. Everybody give ideas to solve the problem and these are written in paper sheets. Finally, the group chooses the best ones.

A SWOT is a method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats for a project or a company.

Considering all the analysis results we would define the problem in order to reduce the solutions field. To do this we would work with a brainstorming, some sketches, etc. With all of this we could get the final objective and be able to explain the entire project in only a phrase. For example, if the problem we have is to expand a company creating a new special food for dogs: A quality product that gives nutritional solutions and the best hydration before, during and after a physical activity, for those dogs who execute it with their owners, independently of their level. Before starting with the concept design we would define some values with CUT (communication, use and technique). A CUT is a way to specify some values related to Communication, Use and Techniques using some pictures and some words.

Image 2: CUT example.

Next step would be the concept design. Each member of the group could work creating some sketches or working all together in a 6-3-5 Method or a PMI (Plus, minus and interesting) in which you can do a table with each concept and analyse it this way.

6-3-5 Method is a creative technique that can be used in order to generate concepts. 6 members, which are usually the hole group, draw 3 concepts in 5 minutes and then they give the draws to the next group mate to continue developing concepts. After this, we would have to do a filter in order to get one or two final ideas. For this we could use a QFD (Quality Function Deployment) A QFD is a matrix used to compare different specifications (one to the other) and how they are fulfilled in each product. Also, you can see the value that users give to each specification.

Image 3: QFD example After the concept design we should start with a design with details. In this step we should think about different concepts as: materials, measurements/dimensions (engineer drawings), budgets, process, production, environmental issues, marketing... That part is the longest one because you have to define everything. After that we have to make a prototype, a model and think about all materials to test the product. When we test the product we would have to make changes in the design if its necessary, and finally, we would have to finish the report and prepare the material for the presentation.

This is a sample of a schedule for a 6 months project. It is divided in weeks and has a total of 27 weeks. Each colour represents a period on the project and the approximate weeks that you would have to be working in each phase. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Analysis. Definition of the problem. Concept design. Design with details. Prototype. Test and changes. Material for presentation and finish the report.

The following one is a schedule of a medium project. It would last about five weeks, so it is divided in weeks to see each period in a clear way. 1 2 3 4 5

This is an example of a schedule for a 2 days project .The numbers indicate the hours of the day and the colours indicate each period. Due to the lack of time, the analysis would be only a brainstorming. The problem definition would consist in some sketches or in a brainstorming. The concept design would be just two or three sketches by all group members. In the design with details we wouldnt have enough time to do engineers drawings or considerate all details either, so we would talk only about the materials. We wouldnt have time for testing the product. In the end, we would create little report and a presentation. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

PROCESS PLANNING CALENDAR EXCEL GANTT CHART ANALYSIS BRAINSTORMING SWOT

6 MONTHS

5 WEEKS

2 DAYS

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SURVEYS DEFINE THE PROBLEM SKETCHES BRAINSTORMING Explain the problem in only one phrase CUT CONCEPT DESIGN SKETCHES 6-3-5 PMI QFD DESIGN WITH DETAILS MATERIALS MEASSUREMENTS Engineer Drawings BUDGETS PROCESS PRODUCTION Environmental Issues TEST PROTOTYPE CHANGES FINISH REPORT PRESENTATION

X X X X

X X X X

X X

X X X X X X X

X X X

X X

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