Project 10.1 Design Challenge

Introduction Design challenges provide opportunities to apply skills and knowledge in unique and creative ways. Designers are often asked to come up with solutions to problems that exist. Their supervisor or board of directors may give them a few constraints to adhere to and then ask the designers to solve the problem.

Designers are sometimes put together to form a team and asked to collaborate to create the solution. When you are a one-person design team, the task of effective communication is rather simple. However, what happens when you must communicate your ideas to others, or when the responsibility of a team’s solution falls on the shoulders of the entire team? This increases the level of responsibility significantly and requires the development of effective team working skills.

This project will provide you with the opportunity to work together in teams of two. The team will need to come up with a solution to a stated problem. The design process introduced and used in Unit 1 will be applied to this project.

Equipment  Engineering notebook Isometric grid paper Computer with 3D CAD solid modeling software Decision matrix

Procedure 1. Divide into teams under the direction of your teacher. 2. Read the five design briefs below. 3. Decide within the team on a design brief that you will complete. 4. Use the design process to generate solutions to the problem. 5. Use isometric grid paper to sketch ideas and at least three possible solutions. 6. Create three possible solutions. Determine the final solution using the decision matrix. 7. Create a CAD model and complete set of working drawings using specifications given by your teacher. 8. As a team create a three-fold brochure marketing the solution to the design problem.

Client Company: A Button Maker Manufacturer

Target Consumer: All Ages

Designer:

Problem Statement: A Button Maker Manufacturer received increased number of requests for the button maker to produce higher volumes of buttons in a short amount of time. You were contracted to modify the existing product to achieve this goal while meeting the constraints below.

Design Statement: Modify the button maker modeled in Project 8.1a Model Button Maker to allow users to produce buttons at a faster rate.

Constraints: 9. Must have a minimum of three different parts once assembled. 10.Visual design must be consistent with visual design principles and elements used in the design of the existing button maker. 11.Must increase speed of button production by 50%. 12.Must remain a safe operation for the user.

Client Company: A Miniature Train Manufacturer

Target Consumer: All Ages

Designer:

Problem Statement: A miniature train manufacturer has asked your design team to create a train car that can be hooked to the train engine car. The train car must be the same relative scale as the engine car.

Design Statement: Design and model a train car that can hook on the engine car created in Project 8.1c Model Miniature Train.

Constraints: 1. Must have a minimum of seven different parts once assembled. 13.Must be the same relative scale as the engine car. 14.Must be able to attach to the engine car.

Client Company: Office Supply Chain

Target Consumer: Teachers, Corporate Executives, and home office workers

Designer:

Problem Statement: Keeping an office desk from becoming cluttered with papers, devices such as pens, pencils, staplers, paper clips, Post-It Notes, and writing pads is a never-ending task. This hinders work space and organization.

Design Statement: Design and model a product that will reduce the clutter that accumulates on office desks and free up space.

Constraints: 1. Must not attach to the desk. 15.Must fit into a box with interior dimensions of 6 in. depth x 12 in. width x 10 in. height. 16.Must include a recessed area, a bent plastic part, and must have a base ¾ in. thick. 17.Must have a minimum of five different parts once assembled. 18.Must hold a minimum of six items.

Target Consumer: Owners of automobiles with trunks

Designer:

Problem Statement: Even when placed carefully in the trunk of a car, emergency supplies and other items slide around and shift positions. Many times these products are damaged or fall into the crevices of the spare tire compartment.

Design Statement: Design a low cost organization system that will neatly contain emergency supplies that are commonly carried in an automobile trunk.

Constraints: 1. Must not attach to any part of the car. 1. Must fit within a box with interior dimensions of 14 in. wide x 12 in. deep x 10 in. high. 19.Must be an assembly of a minimum of six different parts. 20.Must hold a minimum of seven items. 21.Must be made of a durable material.

Client Company: A Leading Candy Company

Target Consumer: Children ages 5 to 12

Designer:

Problem Statement: The Candy Company is celebrating its 50th year anniversary and would like to provide consumers with a candy dispenser that will house the four existing bite-size candies that they currently produce. They also want new shapes created for each candy.

Design Statement: Design and model a new hand-held dispensing system.

Constraints: 1. Must be durable. 22.Must fit into a box with interior dimensions of 8 in. wide x 4 in. deep x 4 in. high. 23.Must be an assembly of a minimum of four different parts. 24.Must hold the four new candy shapes. 25.The new candy shapes cannot exceed ½ in. width, depth, height, or diameter.

2. Based on your experiences during the completion of the Design Challenges, what was the hardest thing about working as a team?

3. What is a design brief?

4. Besides a three-fold brochure, how else can you market your design?