Design Workshop Objective:
The workshop focuses on stimulating creative design skills, which necessitate various problem solving techniques that iterate between synthesis and analysis. The workshop will attempt to bridge the design theory and practice through undertaking a design project from start to end in a collaborative team work environment. The design project will be oriented to a few key aspects including human factors engineering, sustainability, and material engineering.
Workshop Content Outline:
In the workshop, the participants will be guided and supervised closely throughout the design project processes including:
- Stage 1: Initiation of the design process
o Identifying, exploring, and analyzing problems and user needs from multiple-dimensional perspectives. (Design Method : Persona, User scenario method)
o Clarifying the tasks. (Design Method: objective tree)
o Developing a design brief
- Stage 2: Specification
o Analysis of the requirements of a design. (Design Method: Quality Function Deployment)
o Problem (statement) formulation: design specification development
- Stage 3: Ideation
o Generation of ideas
§ Methodical alternatives generation. (Design Method: morphological chart)
o Analysis and selection of ideas. The (Design Method: Decision Matrix)
- Stage 4: Implementation
o Detail analysis and design including component design. The analysis criteria involve material selection and the relevant manufacturing processes.
o Communication of designs and graphical representations
§ Sketches, relevant drawings
§ Rapid prototyping in 3d models (digital/physical)
- Stage 5: Evaluation and Iteration
o Assessment of design against the Design Specification.
A wide range of design methods applicable to the corresponding design stage will be introduced in the workshop. Both creative and rational design methods will be incorporated in an attempt to deepen the student’s creative thinking skill and design project handling capability. These design methods may include:
1. Brain storming
2. Persona/User scenario method
3. Objective tree
4. Quality Function Deployment
5. Morphological Chart
6. Decision Matrix
7. Rapid Prototyping
8. Etc.
Workshop Time Plan
5 September 2011 – 23 September 2011
