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The Engineering Design Process

Key Info

  • The engineering design process is the set of steps that a designer takes to go from first, identifying a problem or need to, at the end, creating and developing a solution that solves the problem or meets the need.
  • The steps of the engineering design process are to:
    • Define the Problem
    • Do Background Research
    • Specify Requirements
    • Create Alternative Solutions
    • Choose the Best Solution
    • Do Development Work
    • Build a Prototype
    • Test and Redesign
  • During the engineering design process, designers frequently jump back and forth between steps. Going back to earlier steps is common. This way of working is called iteration, and it is likely that your process will do the same!
  • While engineers create new things, such as products, websites, environments, and experiences, scientists study how nature works.

The Engineering Design Process

Engineers and designers use the engineering design process, shown in the diagram and table below, to solve a problem by creating new products, systems, or environments.

The process rarely moves in a linear fashion. Instead designers jump back and forth between the steps as they move toward the final solution.



Steps of the Engineering Design Process Detailed Help for Each Step

Define the Problem. The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe:

  • What is the problem or need?
  • Who has the problem or need?
  • Why is it important to solve?

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why].

Do Background Research: Learn from the experience of others rather than blunder around and repeat their mistakes. So, for an engineering design project, do background research in two major areas:

  • Users or customers
  • Existing solutions

Specify Requirements: Design requirements state the important characteristics that your solution must meet to succeed. One of the best ways to identify the design requirements for your solution is to analyze the concrete example of a similar, existing product, noting each of its key features.

Create Alternative Solutions: There are always many good possibilities for solving design problems. If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives, it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution. Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can.

Choose the Best Solution: Look at whether each possible solution meets your design requirements. Some solutions probably meet more requirements than others. Reject solutions that do not meet the requirements.

Develop the Solution: Development involves the refinement and improvement of a solution, and it continues throughout the design process, often even after a product ships to customers.

Build a Prototype: A prototype is an operating version of a solution. Often it is made with different materials than the final version, and generally it is not as polished. Prototypes are a key step in the development of a final solution, allowing the designer to test how the solution will work.

Test and Redesign: The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution. You will likely test your solution -- find problems and make changes -- test your new solution -- find new problems and make changes -- and so on, before settling on a final design.

Communicate Results: To complete your project, communicate your results to others in a final report and/or a display board. Professional engineers always do the same, thoroughly documenting their solutions so that they can be manufactured and supported.