Designing and Making Principles

Iterative design

A cyclical process involving repeated stages of design, testing, and refinement.

Destructive testing

Pushing a product to its limits to identify optimal materials and construction methods.

Non-destructive testing

Evaluating product function and identifying design flaws without damaging the model.

Market testing

Gathering feedback on product performance and design from the target market.

User-Centered Design (UCD)

Prioritizing user needs over iterative refinement.

Freehand sketches

Quick, informal drawings to capture initial design ideas.

Formal drawings

Precise, organized drawings created by hand or CAD software.

Isometric drawings

Technical drawings focusing on clarity and accurate measurements, without depth illusion.

Perspective drawings

Creating a realistic illusion of depth with objects shrinking in the distance.

Single-point perspective

Showing an object from the front with one vanishing point on the horizon.

Two-point perspective

Showing an object from the side with two vanishing points for a more realistic view.

Working drawings

Detailed instructions for product construction sent to manufacturers.

Exploded diagrams

Illustrating product assembly by showing components separated and assembled.

First angle projection

Depicting views as if looking through an X-ray.

Third angle projection

View from the right drawn on the right side (most common).

Tessellation

Arranging shapes to minimize wasted space on material sheets.

Nesting software

Automatically placing irregular shapes for cutting with minimal gaps.

Lay plans

Manual layout for fabrics considering nap and limiting nesting effectiveness.

Marking out

Using measurements and reference points to prepare materials for production.

Datum references

Reference points for measurements, chosen by the manufacturer for accuracy.

Datum surface

A straight edge of the design.

Datum point

A single point, often at a corner.

Circular datum

Around the edge or from the center of a circle.

Paper & board

Common materials with various finishes like printing, coating, and laminating.

Textiles

Fabrics requiring treatments like stain resistance, antimicrobial, and flame retardants.

Wood

Material often finished with paints, varnishes, stains, and preservatives.

Metals

Commonly finished with powder coating, dipping, galvanizing, and electroplating.

Surface finishing

Applying coatings or treatments to enhance product appearance and performance.

Plastics

Often finished with polishing, decals, and printing.

Electronics

Requiring protective insulation, lacquering, and lubrication.