Design_Principles

Design principles AN AWARENESS OF FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES ENABLES ENGINEERS TO ENGAGE IN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF DECISION-MAKING – TO WHICH THEY CAN THEN BRING THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILL AND TRAINING Design principles have in the past focused on the technical and scientific rules underpinning the delivery process. Indeed, good engineering design involves many parameters upon which the success of the project depends, each of which has its own subset of laws, standards, practices, codes and regulations. However, underlying all these more specialised constraints and directives are even more fundamental principles – related to the original decision- making process – which provide the total context for good design. These principles may be well known to experienced designers, but may not have been communicated to students, yet understanding them is essential if design decisions are to produce desirable results. They are not the purely scientific, axiomatic principles, such as the laws of statics or thermodynamics, which are already part of the engineering curriculum, but derive more from experience, practice or pragmatism. They are the very substance of professional engineering judgement. Statements of principle Engineering design encompasses three key stages of realisation. NEED – all design begins with a clearly defined need VISION – all designs arise from a creative response to a need DELIVERY – all designs result in a system, product or project that meets the need Need All design begins with a clearly defined need This first principle requires recognising and understanding the nature of society, economics and humanity’s needs. Reason, compassion, service and curiosity all contribute to the definition of need. Defining the need is a multidisciplinary task – carried out by either a selected team of experts, or by an experienced and multi-skilled individual. The skills required are not exclusively engineering, but include economic and political skills, and knowledge of marketing and industrial management. It is important that a clear definition of the need is formulated, with the reasons for the decisions given. There must be commitment at the highest level, and maximum feedback from earlier developments.