Activity 3.4.1 – Writing a Design Brief

Purpose

What problem does a toaster solve? What was the need that drove the design of the first plastic bottle? Did these objects begin with a design brief, or was the creation the product of less formal circumstances?

Engineers use design briefs to clearly define a problem, provide solution expectations, and identify project constraints. Writing a design brief occurs early in a design process, and well before a product is actually fabricated.

Equipment

·  Reverse engineering study product

·  Computer

·  MicrosoftÒ Word

·  Printer

·  Digital Camera

·  Activity 3.4.1b Design Brief Template

·  Activity 3.4.1a Child Toy Design Brief

Procedure

In this activity, you and your partner will work backwards by analyzing an existing object to create a design brief that an engineer could have used to start the creation of your reverse engineering study product. Use the Activity 3.4.1a Child Toy Design Brief as guides to the completion of this activity. Answer the following questions, and use the information to craft your design brief.

1.  List at least five of the product’s physical features.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

2.  What purpose does the product serve?

3.  List at least five issues or problems that the product appears to address.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

4.  What company marketed the product?

5.  Who was the target consumer?

6.  Write an example Problem Statement for your product.

7.  Write an example Design Statement for your product.

8.  List at least five constraints that the designer could have had to work within.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Take a digital photograph of your product and use it as the main graphic for your report title page. The title page must be created in MicrosoftÒ Word, and will include the class title, class period, date, your name, and your instructor’s name.

Fill in the Activity 3.4.1b Design Brief Template using the information from the activity questions. When you have finished the design brief, place it behind the title page, and add the documents to your design portfolio.

Submit your updated design portfolio to your instructor for evaluation.

Conclusion

1.  Why is a design brief used in a design process?

2.  What is the difference between a design statement and a problem statement?

3.  Identify at least five constraints that are common to most design problems.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2007

IED – Unit 3 – Lesson 3.4 – Activity 3.4.1 – Writing a Design Brief – Page 1