Section 4 Problem Solving and Design in Technology
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Product
Design
Problem
Definition
Developing
Design
Solutions
Process
Output
Input
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the job alone. The task would be too large
and require too much knowledge. For the
team, however, the job is manageable. See
Figure 10-5.
Steps for Developing
Design Solutions
System and product designs start
with a clear definition of the situation or
opportunity. We learned the procedures for
developing the definition in the previous
chapter. This problem definition leads to the
next step in product design—developing
design solutions. These solutions often
evolve through three steps:
1. Developing preliminary solutions.
2. Isolating and refining the best
solution.
3. Detailing the best solution.
As these three steps are completed,
often, the problem is redefined or refined.
The steps can then be repeated until a final
design is developed. This circular system is
shown in Figure 10-6.
This process can be described as “imag-
ineering.” First, the designers use their
imagination to develop a number of unique
solutions or designs. These solutions are
then engineered back to reality through
design-refinement and detailing activities.
The first step starts with broad thinking.
This kind of thinking is called divergent
thinking. Divergent thinking seeks to think
of as many different (divergent) solutions
as possible. The most promising solutions
are then refined and reduced until one
“best” answer is found. The refinement of
ideas requires convergent thinking. The
goal is to narrow and focus (converge) the
ideas until the most feasible solution is
found.
The best solution might not be the one
that works best or is the least expensive. As
we noted earlier, criteria and constraints
can compete with one another. Trade-offs
often occur among appearance, function,
Figure 10-6. The process of developing
design solutions has three major steps,
plus a problem-redefinition phase.
Figure 10-5. Members of an architectural
design team look over a model of the
building they are designing.
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