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The Engineering Design Process
The Engineering Design Process
The engineering design process is a series of steps that engineers follow to come up with a solution to a problem. Many times the solution involves designing a product
(like a machine or computer code) that meets certain criteria and/or accomplishes a certain task. This process is different from the Steps of the Scientific Method
(http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-fair/steps-of-the-scientific-method), which you may be more familiar with. If your project involves making observations and doing
experiments, you should probably follow the Scientific Method. If your project involves designing, building, and testing something, you should probably follow the
Engineering Design Process. If you still are not sure which process to follow, you should read Comparing the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method
(http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/engineering-design-process/engineering-design-compare-scientific-method). This diagram shows the steps of the engineering design process, and the table
Engineers do not always follow the engineering design process steps in order, one after another. It is very common to design something, test it, find a problem, and then
go back to an earlier step to make a modification or change to your design. This way of working is called iteration, and it is likely that your process will do the same!
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8/14/2019 The Engineering Design Process
Steps of the Engineering Design Process Detailed Help for Each Step
process/engineering-project-proposal-form.pdf)
process/background-research-plan-worksheet.pdf)
process/design-brief-worksheet.pdf)
process/design-requirements-examples)
process/product-analysis-environment)
process/product-analysis-experience)
process/how-many-requirements)
Brainstorm Solutions: There are always many good possibilities for solving design problems. If
Brainstorm Multiple Solutions
you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives, it is almost certain that you are
(http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/engineering-design-
overlooking a better solution. Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they
process/alternative-solutions)
can.
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8/14/2019 The Engineering Design Process
Steps of the Engineering Design Process Detailed Help for Each Step
requirements. Some solutions probably meet more requirements than others. Reject solutions Decision Matrix Worksheet
that do not meet the requirements. (https://d1ca4yhhe0xc0x.cloudfront.net/science-fair-projects/engineering-design-
process/decision-matrix-worksheet.pdf)
Develop the Solution: Development involves the refinement and improvement of a solution, and Drawing (http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/engineering-
it continues throughout the design process, often even after a product ships to customers. design-process/engineering-design-drawing)
Storyboards (http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-
projects/engineering-design-process/storyboards)
work.
Test and Redesign: The design process involves multiple iterations and redesigns of your final
Test and Redesign (http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-
solution. You will likely test your solution, find new problems, make changes, and test new
projects/engineering-design-process/testing-redesign)
solutions before settling on a final design.
Abstract (http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-
Communicate Results: To complete your project, communicate your results to others in a final
fair/how-to-write-a-science-fair-project-abstract)
report and/or a display board. Professional engineers always do the same, thoroughly
Display Board (http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-
documenting their solutions so that they can be manufactured and supported.
projects/science-fair/science-fair-project-display-boards)
5 Science Experiments You Can Do With Peeps DIY Glitter Surprise Package with a Simple Circuit Make a Slushy! Yummy STEM Project
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8/14/2019 The Engineering Design Process
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