The document discusses the redesign and iteration phase of the engineering design cycle. It emphasizes collecting feedback from testing and evaluations to improve the next version of the design. Feedback should be thoroughly documented and considered to refine specifications and redesign solutions. The process involves collecting feedback, filtering and following up, strengthening the team, distilling key insights, taking action to redesign, and getting additional feedback on the new design before another cycle. The goal is to continuously improve the design through this iterative process.

1. The Engineering
Design Cycle
http://labs.ee.washington.edu/community/BasicEngDes/BasicEngDes_RedesignIterate/
Part 8:
Redesign & Iterate

2. A problem has been identified
and researched. The need to
solve it has been proven with
credible sources. A range of
solutions have been identified
and the best of the bunch has
been selected. A prototype has
been constructed, tested,
evaluated, and presented.
Now...
Redesign and Iterate
• A broad range of feedback
should be collected,
documented, and digested by
the design team so that the
next iteration of the design is
the best move forward.
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

3. Redesign & Iterate
What does the Design Say?
Redesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle
Did the team meet the Design Specification?
No
Is design problem
intractable
(not solvable)?
STOP!

4. Redesign & Iterate
What does the Design Say?
Redesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle
Did the team meet the Design Specification?
No
Move on to collecting external feedback.
Can iteration
of the present
design fix it?

5. Redesign & Iterate
What does the Design Say?
Redesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle
Did the team meet the Design Specification?
No
Move on to collecting external feedback.
Are Design
Specifications
too stringent?
Revise
Design
Spec

6. Redesign & Iterate
What does the Design Say?
Redesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle
Did the team meet the Design Specification?
Move on to collecting external feedback.
Yes

7. Collecting Feedback
• Defer Judgment
• Separate the message from the
messenger
• Listen, actively
• Refrain from showing emotion
• Take copious notes
Strategy
In the Moment
Redesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

8. Collecting Feedback
Allow others to speak --
• No matter how harsh,
inappropriate, or lengthy - allow
your audience to speak.
• View all feedback as a gift– to be
sorted, distilled, and evaluated
by your team ... later
Defer Judgment
In the Moment
Redesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

9. Collecting Feedback
Don't take it personally--
• No matter what the delivery, treat
the message as information only –
not a personal attack
• View all feedback as a gift– to be
sorted, distilled, and evaluated by
your team ... later
Separate the Message
In the MomentRedesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

10. Collecting Feedback
Common Active Listening Techniques--
1. Pay Attention: look at the person, put
aside other thoughts, avoid attending to
others or electronic devices, observe
and listen to the other's body language.
2. Express Listening: with nodding,
smiling, attentive posture, and
encouraging the other person to keep
talking.
3. Reflect Listening: using such phrases as
"What I hear you saying is...." to repeat
what you have heard.
4. Avoid interrupting.
Listen, Actively
In the MomentRedesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

11. Collecting Feedback
Leave emotions for later--
• Avoid showing - defensive, frustrated,
angry, sad, demoralized, or other
negative emotions.
• But, make space and time to
experience and deal with emotions
later, before the design team
reconvenes to consider feedback.
• Stuffed emotions can color
engineering decisions and impact
relationships on the design team!
Minimize Emotion
In the Moment
Redesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

12. Collecting Feedback
Record, Describe,
Avoid Interpreting--
• No matter how trivial or off-
base you may consider some
feedback, write it down or
have another member of the
team write it down.
• Take detailed notes on who
said what and what their
emotional state appeared to
be while saying it.
Taking Notes
In the Moment
Redesign and
Iterate
Collecting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

13. Digesting Feedback
Redesign and
Iterate
Digesting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle
• Filter Feedback
• Follow Up
• Build the Team
• Distill Information
• Take Action
• Seek Feedback on Redesign
Strategy
After the Moment

14. Digesting Feedback
Separate types of feedback—
Specific from General
Relevant from Off-topic
Objective from Emotional
Filter Feedback
After the MomentRedesign and
Iterate
Digesting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

15. Digesting Feedback
Ask more questions to individuals
who provided—
General Feedback ("I hate the design")
Apathetic Feedback ("Looks fine to me")
Resistance ("This will never work")
Indecisive Feedback (I'm not sure")
But...
Avoid following up on feedback that seems too personal
("I hate purple")
Don't be afraid to ask a question with an obvious answer
(the answer can help to expose and resolve miscommunication)
Follow Up
After the MomentRedesign and
Iterate
Digesting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

16. Digesting Feedback
Negative Critique/Feedback can change
the team—
• By getting a meandering design, budget,
timeline, or scope back on track.
• Through exposing weaknesses on the team
and providing opportunities to resolve
them.
• By reducing destructive ego, building team
trust, triggering and equalizing
accountability.
• Through becoming an effective teaching
tool for building strength of individuals
and the team.
Build the Team
After the MomentRedesign and
Iterate
Digesting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

17. Digesting Feedback
Evaluating, reducing, crystallizing --
• Eliminating feedback that is too general.
• Separating feedback that is too personal from what is actionable.
• Identifying what is practical and what is unrealistic.
• Using results of testing the design to reinforce some forms of
feedback over others.
• Identifying opportunities to communicate the design better to
avoid miscommunication and misinterpretation.
Distill Information
After the MomentRedesign and
Iterate
Digesting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

18. Digesting Feedback
Redesign--
• Emphasizing distilled (useful)
feedback over other feedback
• Referencing documentation from
previous phases of the design cycle
to support quicker and more
efficient redesign
• With a team which is now stronger
and more cohesive
• When a preliminary strategy for
redesign emerges from the team -
seek additional feedback
Take Action
After the MomentRedesign and
Iterate
Digesting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

19. Digesting Feedback
Go back to others --
• Present the redesign
• Listen to the feedback
• Redesign again if necessary,
before...
Proceeding back into the
engineering design cycle.
Seek Feedback
After the MomentRedesign and
Iterate
Digesting
Feedback
during the
Engineering
Design
Cycle

20. Redesign & Iterate
Once the engineering design cycle
is complete, it's time to collect
feedback:
1. Respond appropriately to
feedback when it is presented.
2. Gather as much feedback as
possible.
3. Document feedback - not only
what was said, but who said it,
and how it was stated.
4. Digest it so that the design team
can make the best decision for
moving forward into the next
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

21. Thanks for joining us as we explored the eighth and last step of
the Engineering Design Cycle: Redesign & Iterate
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