Technologies and Varieties of Design

Abstract

Chapter 3 of this book has outlined the general design process in an industrial environment. This process seems to be generally applicable to most technologies, and even finds some parallels in the design of research apparatus and experiments. Mostly, the pressure of the environment forces the engineering designer to work in the way that has been seen to give quick results, and allows him little time to experiment with other methodologies. The methodologies outlined in Chapter 3 were:

• (1) Experience — developed by the individual in his own way, during his working life, to deliver new solutions.

• (2) Modification — redesign after experience to take new circumstances into account.

• (3) Check-lists — an attempt to list all possible influences, in order to channel and free the designer’s mind.

• (4) Design tree — a method of recording the steps in a decision process, in such a way that the designer can review his progress and recall the reasons behind his decisions.

• (5) Fully systematic methods — a form of data processing to free the designer’s mind still further, and allow him to tackle more complex problems with better records of previous work.

• (6) System search methods — useful when a system must be found, and the components or elements are already in existence or can be made with existing technology.