Activity 3.4.1: Writing a Design Brief Answer Key



[pic]

|Activity 3.4.1 – Writing a Design Brief Answer Key |

Introduction

What problem does a toaster solve? What was the need that drove the design of the first plastic bottle? Did these objects begin with a design brief, or was the creation the product of less formal circumstances?

Engineers use design briefs to clearly define a problem, provide solution expectations, and identify project constraints. Writing a design brief occurs early in a design process, and well before a product is actually fabricated.

Equipment

• Reverse engineering study product

• Computer

• Microsoft( Word

• Printer

• Digital Camera

• Activity 3.4.1b Design Brief Template

• Activity 3.4.1a Child Toy Design Brief

Procedure

In this activity you and your partner will work backwards by analyzing an existing object to create a design brief that an engineer could have used to start the creation of your reverse engineering study product. Use the Activity 3.4.1a Child Toy Design Brief as a guide to the completion of this activity. Answer the following questions, and use the information to craft your design brief.

1. List at least five of the product’s physical features.

|a. | |

|b. | |

|c. | |

|d. | |

|e. | |

2. What purpose does the product serve?

3. List at least five issues or problems that the product appears to address.

|a. | |

|b. | |

|c. | |

|d. | |

|e. | |

4. What company marketed the product?

5. Who was the target consumer?

6. Write an example Problem Statement for your product.

7. Write an example Design Statement for your product.

8. List at least five constraints that the designer could have had to work within.

|a. | |

|b. | |

|c. | |

|d. | |

|e. | |

Take a digital photograph of your product and use it as the main graphic for your report title page. The title page must be created in Microsoft( Word, and will include the class title, class period, date, your name, and your instructor’s name.

Fill in the Activity 3.4.1b Design Brief Template using the information from the activity questions. When you have finished the design brief, place it behind the title page, and add the documents to your design portfolio.

Submit your updated design portfolio to your instructor for evaluation.

Conclusion

1. Why are design briefs used in a design process?

Design briefs serve to clarify a client’s problem. They challenge the designer and detail the degree to which the designer’s actions must be carried out. Design briefs also tell the designer what the limitations are (budget, time, etc.). They not only serve as a contract between client and designer, but they also function as a gage against which the designer will check the validity of the work throughout the design process.

2. What is the difference between a design statement and a problem statement?

A problem statement must only identify what the problem is. It must not imply or state a solution. A design statement is a challenge to the designer that identifies the degree to which the designer must solve the problem and the general expectations of the solution. Neither statement should unintentionally bias the designer’s creativity by offering terminology that suggests an already existing solution.

3. Identify at least five constraints that are common to most design problems.

Some constraints that are common to most design problems are time, budget, safety, size, and weight.

[pic]

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download