Design Brief

Introduction to Engineering Design

Why do you need a DB?

A Design Brief is essentially the specification by which one designs…

It creates a hook that tells the reader what should be found in the rest of the document

What do you base the DB on?

The Design Brief is based on the Problem Statement

The PS can be given to the designer or it can come from their own needs The PS tells you what it is you are setting

out to do. What the problem is that you will be trying to solve in your design effort

Elements of a Design Brief

There are 6 required sections and 1 optional section in a Design Brief

Required Sections

Problem ID Problem Statement Client/Customer ID Marketing Research Constraints Deliverables

Optional Requirement

MISC. Anything you want to add to your

specification not specifically called out elsewhere

Details

On each of the slides to follow the Required Sections of a DB are detailed

Problem ID

What is the problem you are going to solve Usually all you need to do is reword the

given problem statement in your own words

Problem Statement

How is the problem going to be solved?

Client/Customer

Who is your prospective customer…

Marketing Piece

What is available in the marketplace to solve your problem

How will your design be different from what is already available

Constraints What are the limits put on your design?

By the given problem statement By yourself They could include:

Cost Size Weight Safety Materials

These are just a few of the items that you can constrain your design. Many more can be found.

Deliverables What is it that you will be providing with

this report Deliverables can include:

Sketches I8 drawings Prototypes Working models Test results Market Analyzes Etc.

Anything that you might include in your submission

Don’t forget your conclusions!

Misc

Anything that you feel needs to be included in your design specification but doesn’t fit in one of the other categories

Example Product Client: Office workers that utilize books or manuals in the regular course of their

day’s work Problem: Books or manuals take up a considerable amount of desk top space when open

and in use on one’s desk. Design a stand that will prop the book or manual up at an angle for easy viewing while freeing up desk space for other materials

Constraints: Design must be: Relatively inexpensive to make It must be priced so consumers can afford one It must easily manufactured It must easily set up and stored when not in use. The holder must be easily moved if necessary The holder should be lightweight and safe to use The stand should be aesthetically pleasing and fit into modern office decor

Items to be included in submission Cover page Table of Contents Design Brief Decision matrix Sketches Detail drawings of parts and final assembly using AutoCAD Inventor 8 Summary Views (Assembly view with Balloons and Parts List included)

Example Product Client: Big Gulp users who want a dry desk. Problem: Big Gulp cups filled with soda and ice drip all over anything they

are placed on. The effort here is to come up with a holder that can direct the condensate away from areas that need to be kept dry such as one’s desk work area.

Constraints: Design must be: Relatively inexpensive to make It must be priced so consumers can afford one It must easily manufactured It must divert any condensate from the outside of the cup onto the floor or into a

collection device of some sort that is readily available in and office The holder must be easily set up and moved if necessary The holder should be lightweight and safe to use when installed

Items to be included in submission Cover page Table of Contents Design Brief Decision matrix Sketches Detail drawings of parts and final assembly using AutoCAD Inventor 8 Summary Views (Exploded)

Example Product Client: None = Practice Reverse Engineering Problem ID: Convert a classmates sketch without

seeing the original part into working drawings. Constraints:

Copy design exactly as it was given to classmate. Add a spring pin through one hole. Add a bushing to main hole and add a set screw to

hold bushing in place. Items to be included in submission:

Sketches given me by classmate to work from AutoCAD Inventor 8 drawings detailing design as

received and as changed once given new design changes

Conclusions

If you follow these directions you will assuredly earn a majority of your credit for this section of each portfolio