Design Process
The first step in the PLTW 6-Step Engineering Design Process where the client and problem are identified.
What is Define Problem?
The individual, company, or organization that requests, manages, and funds the engineering project.
Who is the Client?
Desirable performance metrics that state what a design must DO to be successful.
What are Criteria?
The primary quantitative evaluation tool engineers use to compare candidate concepts against criteria.
What is a Decision Matrix?
This occurs when an engineer subjectively inflates scores for their own sketch because they personally like the design or spent hours drawing it.
What is Designer Bias?
During this step, engineers build a functional model to test performance under realistic operational conditions.
What is Construct and Test Prototype?
The person or population who directly uses or benefits from the end product.
Who is the Target Consumer?
Strict limitations placed on a project, such as budget, allowed assembly tools, or completion deadlines.
What are Constraints?
The mathematical formula used to calculate a single criterion's weighted score row contribution.
What is Raw Rating times Weight Factor (R X W)?
To prevent subjective scoring (e.g., "looks strong"), engineers establish this tool with exact quantitative benchmarks before evaluating concepts.
What is a Rating Scale Key?
This term describes the repeating, looping nature of the design process where engineers refine solutions based on test data.
What is Iteration / Iterative Design?
This brief section states what action the engineering team will take to solve a problem without stating a specific predetermined mechanism.
What is the Design Statement?
A non-negotiable boundary condition (like door width limits) that immediately disqualifies a non-compliant concept during initial screening.
What is a Binary Constraint (Pass/Fail Gate)?
If a design concept earns a Raw Rating of R = 4 for Durability and Durability has a Weight Factor of W = 5, its weighted score contribution for that row is this.
What is 20?
True or False: A concept sketch that violates a binary constraint should still be scored in the decision matrix.
What is False? (It must be disqualified immediately).
Brainstorming multiple ideas, creating concept sketches, and using a decision matrix occur during this specific step.
What is Generate Concepts?
This section explicitly outlines who is affected, what the specific issue is, and why it is a problem.
What is the Problem Statement?
Classify this requirement: "The platform must elevate two drinking bowls 12 inches off the ground."
What is a Criterion?
In an unweighted decision matrix, every criterion carries this default mathematical weight multiplier.
What is 1?
This factor in a decision matrix assigns higher mathematical priority to critical criteria (like Safety) over lower-priority criteria (like Aesthetics).
What is the Weight Factor (W)?
Researching existing solutions to identify why current options are inadequate occurs during this primary step.
What is Define Problem?
In the Urban Bike Share scenario, this specific group served as the target consumer.
Who are Commuter Cyclists / Bike Share Riders?
Classify this requirement: "The project budget must stay under $20 in raw materials and be built using only hand tools."
What are Constraints?[
Calculate the Total Weighted Score for Concept X: Cost (R=3, W=3) and Safety (R=4, W=5).
What is 29? (Calculation: (3 X 3) + (4 X 5) = 9 + 20 = 29)
Explain mathematically how a durable/safe concept that lost in an unweighted matrix can overtake a cheap/fragile concept in a weighted matrix.
What is because assigning a high Weight Factor (W = 5) to Safety multiplies the durable design's raw points, mathematically overcoming the cheap design's cost score advantage?