The document describes the engineering design cycle, which involves identifying a problem, researching the need, designing solutions, selecting the best solution, constructing a prototype, testing and evaluating the prototype, and presenting the solution. It notes that while there are many versions of the design cycle, they all follow the same basic iterative process of moving between steps as needed to refine a solution and ensure it adequately addresses the original problem.

1. The Engineering
Design Cycle
Overview
http://labs.ee.washington.edu/community/BasicEngDes/

2. There are almost as many
versions of the engineering
design cycle as there are types
of smartphones in the world.
BUT....
The Engineering Design Cycle
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
They all present the same
basic cycle and they all
reserve the right to move
• Forward
• Backward
• and Forward again
...iteratively, as many times as
needed, to ensure the solution
presented at the end of the
cycle is a GOOD one.

3. There are almost as many
versions of the engineering
design cycle as there are types
of smartphones in the world.
BUT....
The Engineering Design Cycle
They all present the same
basic cycle and they all
reserve the right to move
• Forward
• Backward
• and Forward again
...iteratively, as many times as
needed, to ensure the solution
presented at the end of the
cycle is a GOOD one.

4. There are almost as many
versions of the engineering
design cycle as there are types
of smartphones in the world.
BUT....
The Engineering Design Cycle
They all present the same
basic cycle and they all
reserve the right to move
• Forward
• Backward
• and Forward again
...iteratively, as many times as
needed, to ensure the solution
presented at the end of the
cycle is a GOOD one.

5. The Engineering Design Cycle
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Identify
the
Problem:
Who
NEEDS
What
BECAUSE
WHY?
Successful completion of this part of the cycle, whether
designing a new product or improving on an existing product,
is indicated by a clear, concise, unambiguous statement:
_____________ needs _________ because ________.
where the blanks are filled with believable specifics.

6. The Engineering Design Cycle
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Identify
the
Problem:
Who
NEEDS
What
BECAUSE
WHY?
Successful completion of this part of the cycle, whether
designing a new product or improving on an existing product,
is indicated by a clear, concise, unambiguous statement:
_____________ needs _________ because ________.
where the blanks are filled with believable specifics.

7. The Engineering Design Cycle
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Identify
the
Problem:
Who
NEEDS
What
BECAUSE
WHY?
Successful completion of this part of the cycle, whether
designing a new product or improving on an existing product,
is indicated by a clear, concise, unambiguous statement:
_____________ needs _________ because ________.
where the blanks are filled with believable specifics.
Without believable specifics,
products can and do fail!

8. The Engineering Design Cycle
Common sense or logic alone cannot be used to define the
need for a new product or design. Rather, multiple and
credible sources of information can be used to justify the need
in a way that convinces the primary investors/stakeholders in
the product/design that the customer will buy/use it.
Research
the
Need:
Apart from
you, who
says this
product or
design is
needed? Do
these others
matter?
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution

9. The Engineering Design Cycle
Common sense or logic alone cannot be used to define the
need for a new product or design. Rather, multiple and
credible sources of information can be used to justify the need
in a way that convinces the primary investors/stakeholders in
the product/design that the customer will buy/use it.
Research
the
Need:
Apart from
you, who
says this
product or
design is
needed? Do
these others
matter?
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Projected Revenue (Millions of Dollars)
YearsfromPresent
Technology X
Technology Y

10. The Engineering Design Cycle
Before any design solutions are suggested, the constraints of
the application and the specifications of the design must be
clearly defined. This reduces the time spent on considering
solutions that are not well matched to the application and the
temptation to get attached to a "cool" design that doesn't meet
the “need".
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Design
Solutions
What are the
possible ways
that the design
specifications
can be met
within the
constraints of
the application?

11. The Engineering Design Cycle
Before any design solutions are suggested, the constraints of
the application and the specifications of the design must be
clearly defined. This reduces the time spent on considering
solutions that are not well matched to the application and the
temptation to get attached to a "cool" design that doesn't meet
the “need".
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/Iter
ate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Design
Solutions
What are the
possible ways
that the design
specifications
can be met
within the
constraints of
the application?

12. The Engineering Design Cycle
This step rejects any solution that does not meet design
specifications or the application constraints. It also draws on
the experience of others (similar products, opinions of experts,
other research & development efforts in the literature, etc.) to
determine which solutions are more likely to fail and which
are more likely to succeed.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Select the
Best Solution:
What best
meets the
design
specifications
and
application
constraints?

13. The Engineering Design Cycle
This step rejects any solution that does not meet design
specifications or the application constraints. It also draws on
the experience of others (similar products, opinions of experts,
other research & development efforts in the literature, etc.) to
determine which solutions are more likely to fail and which
are more likely to succeed.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/Iter
ate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Select the
Best Solution:
What best
meets the
design
specifications
and
application
constraints?

14. The Engineering Design Cycle
While a prototype may not contain the same materials, parts,
or format as the final product, it should look similar enough
and function well enough to convince the target customer, the
stakeholders, and even the designer(s) to move forward with
the design and do so successfully.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
SolutionConstruct
Prototype:
Build
to
Convince!

15. The Engineering Design Cycle
While a prototype may not contain the same materials, parts,
or format as the final product, it should look similar enough
and function well enough to convince the target customer, the
stakeholders, and even the designer(s) to move forward with
the design and do so successfully.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/Iter
ate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
SolutionConstruct
Prototype:
Build
to
Convince!

16. The Engineering Design Cycle
Testing and evaluation should be done with proper design of
experiments and data gathering so that the experimental results
prove the functionality of the device. Testing and evaluation usually
involves multiple phases of data gathering to convince different
audiences of the proper functioning of the prototype and may involve
backtracking to the "Construct Prototype" or "Select the Best
Solution" phase of the cycle.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Test
and
Evaluate
Does
It
Work?

17. The Engineering Design Cycle
Testing and evaluation should be done with proper design of
experiments and data gathering so that the experimental results
prove the functionality of the device. Testing and evaluation usually
involves multiple phases of data gathering to convince different
audiences of the proper functioning of the prototype and may involve
backtracking to the "Construct Prototype" or "Select the Best
Solution" phase of the cycle.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/Iter
ate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Test
and
Evaluate
Does
It
Work?

18. The Engineering Design Cycle
Presenting the Solution must convince the stakeholders in the
design that what was built works, that it works reliably, and
that it works in a way that will sell to the customer. The
solution must relate to the original need, stand out as the best
solution among alternatives, and be communicated (via
prototype and test data), as a reliable, functioning design.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Present
the
Solution
Does
It
Convince?

19. The Engineering Design Cycle
Presenting the Solution must convince the stakeholders in the
design that what was built works, that it works reliably, and
that it works in a way that will sell to the customer. The
solution must relate to the original need, stand out as the best
solution among alternatives, and be communicated (via
prototype and test data), as a reliable, functioning design.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/Iter
ate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Present
the
Solution
Does
It
Convince?

20. The Engineering Design Cycle
Rarely (almost never) does the first or second iteration of the
design cycle produce a finished product. Rather the design
engineer should expect specific input, advice,
recommendations, and guidance from stakeholders to whom
the solution was presented. This guidance is essential for
embarking on the redesign process, and entering the
engineering design cycle all over again.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Redesign/
Iterate
What
Happens
Next?

21. The Engineering Design Cycle
Rarely (almost never) does the first or second iteration of the
design cycle produce a finished product. Rather the design
engineer should expect specific input, advice,
recommendations, and guidance from stakeholders to whom
the solution was presented. This guidance is essential for
embarking on the redesign process, and entering the
engineering design cycle all over again.
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
Redesign/
Iterate
What
Happens
Next?
Again,
Again,
Again...

22. The engineering design cycle
is iterative and often, not
linear. The design engineer
may skip from one part of the
cycle to another and back
again, repeating all or part of
the cycle during a redesign.
The Engineering Design Cycle
Identify the
Problem
Construct
Prototype
Research the
Need
Select the
Best Solution
Design
Solutions
Redesign/
Iterate
Test and
Evaluate
Present the
Solution
The non-linearity and lack of
predictability in the cycle,
though, does not mean that
any one or more of the steps
can be skipped altogether.

23. Complete Educational Materials (including assignments,
quizzes, and recorded lectures) on the topic of Basic
Engineering Design can be found at:
http://labs.ee.washington.edu/community/BasicEngDes/
The Engineering Design Cycle