56 Engineering Fundamentals
Once engineers have brainstormed potential
ideas, they begin the process of sketching and
researching the potential design solutions. Once
the initial brainstorming is complete, design teams
narrow the potential list of ideas to a manageable
list to research. Narrowing the list of ideas allows
the engineers to look at realistic ideas that may
solve the problem. Engineers typically begin to
look at how practical the potential solutions are
to design and manufacture in order to remove
ideas that are not possible to create. Research is
a scientifi c way to discover facts about a certain
topic or situation. Most professionals use research
techniques to help them solve problems. Lawyers
research court cases to advise their clients, police
offi cers research a crime scene to fi nd informa-
tion, and teachers research topics so they have
accurate information to share with their students.
Engineers use research to develop the best solu-
tion to solve a problem.
After the brainstorming stage of the idea
generation step of the engineering design
process, engineers sketch and research different
potential solutions. Design teams may have engi-
neers focus on a variety of designs to determine
the most effective solution. The parts of the idea
generation step, including sketches and research,
may be completed on many different designs to
select the best approach. See Figure 4-1.
Sketches
Engineers must have an idea they can
communicate to begin researching the potential
solutions. Engineers can share their ideas of what
the design may look like and explain the func-
tionality of the solution by putting their ideas
on paper. See Figure 4-2. To communicate these
ideas, engineers fi rst develop sketches. Sketches
are any drawings that can communicate the engi-
neer’s idea to others. There are several types of
sketches.
Rough sketches are the fi rst drawings
completed by engineers. Rough sketches are
normally developed during or immediately
following the brainstorming session. Rough
sketches are drawings of solutions that are in
the early stages of development. “Rough” does
not mean they are bad or inaccurate drawings.
Rough sketches just need further development
through research and analysis. Engineers are
not concerned with the quality of the sketch;
they just want to make sure they have a record
of their ideas in their engineering notebook.
Engineering Design Process
6. Design Improvement
5. Final Solution or Output
4. Testing/Analysis
3. Solution Creation
• Analyze Designs
• Choose Solution
2. Idea Generation
• Sketch
• Research
1. Problem Defi nition
Figure 4-1.
After brainstorming, the idea generation step includes sketching and researching.
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