design tech -- year 1, sem 2 -- vocabulary

conceptual modeling

the way designers explore ideas and putting it into a form that other’s can understand, it communicates what a proposed design might look like or how it might function

conceptual modeling helping designers

• know and understand ideas, relationships, principles, data, systems, algorithms, or processes

• explain the thinking behind new ideas

• communicate with other members of the design team, manufacturer, or client

• visualize ideas through graphic, physical, and virtual models

system design

process of defining, understanding, and developing systems to meet user’s requirements

service design

process of planning and organizing components of a service (people, infrastructure, communication, and materials) to improve the quality of interaction between service provider and costumer

product design

process of developing ideas into a final product to be sold to costumers

conceptual models advantages

• abstract ideas are in a visual and understandable form

• explore ideas without having to produce a working prototype — quicker and cheaper

• communicates design’s function and/or aesthetics

• client can provide input during idea development

• creates communication between designer, design team, manufacturer, or clients - can get feedback

• reduces development costs by reducing errors in production

• can test materials, production methods, and see other’s reactions to the product

• help with project planning

conceptual models disadvantages

• if it’s simple it can leave out important details

• materials may not give an accurate representation of materials used in final design

• scaled models might distort perceptions/understandings

• might not be durable enough for multiple user trials

• make assumptions that don’t actually work

• might be difficult for some people to understand

graphical modeling

2d representions and communications of an idea

graphical modeling advantages

• quick to create

• no specialized skills/tools (some)

• easy to communicate with others

• allows creative thinking

• accurate and detailed

• necessary information to produce product (some)

• shows multiple dimensions (some)

• realistic looking

• easily understandable to others

graphical modeling disadvantages

• no details (some)

• not accurate (some)

• requires special skills/equipment (some)

• time-consuming (some)

sketching

rough, free-hand drawings used to generate and refine ideas

formal drawing

drawing technique that has fixed rules -- orthogonal, isometric, perspective, and assembly

2d graphical modeling

• represent detail, proportion, measurements, and relationships

• “flat views” of an object

• examples

  • concept sketches

  • orthographic drawings

  • diagrams and flow charts

3d graphical modeling

• show how design might look

• communicate a sense of proportion, scale, and aesthetics

• several forms depending on function -- examples:

  • isometric drawings

  • perspective drawings

  • cad

perspective drawings

3d graphical drawings that show an object as if viewed from a single point. attempt to represent three-dimensional space through vanishing points -- used in early planning stages to more accurately communicate what design might look like

three types of perspective drawings

• 1-point perspective

  • uses one vans

• 2-point perspective

• 3-point perspective

projection drawings

systems of drawings that are accurately drawn

• isometric projection

• orthographic projection

scale drawings

drawings that are bigger or smaller but still proportional to the product

working drawings

drawings used to guide the production of a product

• orthographic projection

• section drawings

• part drawings

• assembly drawings

orthographic projections

series of 2d views of an object -- exact shape and size

• features:

  • show side of a product

  • show all details and dimensions

  • accurate representation of form

  • each view drawn to the same scale

• application:

  • planning drawings to communicate dimensions, form, and shape

  • communicate detailed and accurate information for manufacturing

isometric projection

formal drawing that shows the shape and form of an object

• features:

  • no vanishing points

  • drawn on a 30/90/30 degree grid

  • all dimensions shown equally

• application:

  • communicate overall form of a product

assembly drawing

diagram that shows how components fit together to make a whole - presented in an exploded view -- show how different parts/components go together, each part if identified and includes a parts list (bill of materials)

parts drawing

orthographic drawings of an individual part/component of an assembly -- details about that singular component

scale models

model is a smaller or larger physical copy of an object

• accurate physical representations of objects/features

• allows other to visualize/manipulate the object

• all dimensions that same proportion as real object

aesthetic models

model developed to look and feel like the final product

• not functional

• focus on form, texture, color, style, and how it looks in its visual environment

• ergonomic testing, evaluating visual appeal, allow others to see how the product will look/feel

• often made from clay, foam, rubber, plastic, or wood

• can be expensive to produce

mock-ups

model is a scale or full-size representation of product meant for user feedback

• some, but not full, functionality

• test ideas by showing how something works or feels

prototypes

sample or model built to test a concept, process, or act as an object to be replicated/learned from

• can be a real working product, meeting real specifications

• functional

• testing before production beings

• help design team discover issues in manufacturing

• gain user feedback by having user interact with final prototype

prototype fidelity

degree to which the prototype is like the final product -- low fidelity, mid fidelity (aspects), high fidelity (most accurate)

instrumented models

prototypes that can take measurements and provide accurate quantitative feedback for analysis -- sensors can evalute performance, mechanism, or material

physical modeling advantages

• can easily explore and test ideas

• allows clear communication

• tangible and testable (can be put in somone’s hands)

physical modeling disadvantages

• not necessarily an accurate rep (especially for scale or aesthetic models)

• time-consuming

• can be expensive/pricey

• material isn’t accurate, distorting data about performance or aesthetic qualities

• produce waste/use raw materials that harm the environment

• requires skill, familiarity with the materials and technology

computer aided design (cad)

used in various stages of the design process to create, modify, evaluate, and communicate design ideas

2D software

2d image of a design

• examples:

  • adobe illustrator

  • adobe photoshop

• uses:

  • create digital drawings that communicate concepts and information

  • serve as a foundation of refining a design

  • design shapes and graphics to be used by cad equipment such as laster cutters and cnc routers

  • presentation of schematic drawings such as circuit boards and floor plans

3D software

3d model that contains information about the dimensions and materials of the design

• examples:

  • shaper3d

  • autodesk fusion 360

  • solidworks

• uses:

  • create parametric models that can be used by cam equipment to produce final product

  • present and explore concepts before production/prototyping

  • calculate material properties of design through fea

rendering

software that creates a realistic, virtual, representation of a design

• examples:

  • blender

  • maya

  • 3d studio max

• uses:

  • present design to clients

  • preparation advertising and promotional materials

cad advantages

• high accuracy

• quick changes/iterations

• clear communication

• electronically stored and transferred files are safe, secure, and easily shared

• reduce costs and risks by identifying errors before productions

• reduce cost and waste by using fewer physical models and using fea

• more efficient and less time and resources needed

cad disadvantages

• expensive software

• specialized training needed - time consuming/expensive

• hard to master

surface modeling

realistic picture of the final model, no interior data

• sometimes called rendering

• communicates information about surface only

• data about surface qualities, material, and lighting

solid modeling

clear representation of final product that has a complete set of data for product to be made

• accurate digital models of the whole part/object

• information used by cam hardware to produce part/object

• produce a 3d model through cnc or rapid prototyping technologies

bottom-up strategy

creates models of individual parts/components first then brought together in final design, adjustments made to ensure they all fit together -- each part can be used for different designs/projects

• detailed and precise design specifications previously established

• few/limited expected changes

• large, complex systems (buildings, vehicles)

• products made from standard parts

top-down strategy

creates model of the whole product first then design individual parts/components to fit the design idea -- final is a collection of interrelated parts that have unique designs

• begins as a concept, only some design specifications

• expected to evolve and experience numerous changes

• unique consumer products, not expected to be used for other designs

hybrid “middle out” strategy

combination of top-down and bottom-up where some parts are designed individually (bottom-up) and others designed for whole part (top-down)

virtual prototyping

creating and testing ideas by using cad to develop realistic, interactive models that simulate the design

• reduces development costs by identifying errors without using physical prototypes

• improves quality of final product before production

• reduces development time as they can be quickly created and modified

finite element analysis (fea)

computer simulation to test materials and products, gives an analysis on structures and materials looking for weakness and potential places for material to fail, can also show how heat transfers or how fluids flow through a component

digital humans

computer simulations of a variety of mechanical and biological aspects of the human body, can interact with a virtual prototype

digital humans in manufacturing

plant layouts, ensuring equipment placement enhances productivity and reduces fatigue, refine manual workflows, reduce inefficiencies, simulate human movments

motion capture

recording of human and animal movement by video, magnetic, or electromechanical devices -- person wears a set acoustic, inertial, led, magnetic, or reflective markers at each joint -- sensors track position of the markers as person moves to develop a digital model that moves naturally

how human capture can be used in product design

• ergonomic analysis

• human-centered design

• workplace and manufacturing optimization

• virtual prototyping

• sports, and wearable technology

haptic technology

technology that interfaces user via sense of touch, also called force feedback technology -- uses mechanical actuators to apply forces to the user, simulating physicals in virtual world -- allows user to interact with virtual prototype, and can better observe user’s performance

virtual reality

ability to simulate a real situation on screen and interact with it in a near-natural way

animation

ability to link graphic screens together to simulate motion or process

data modeling

determines the structure of data, includes databases and information systems -- developments in information and communication technology (ict) make it important to applications that use and exchange data

renewability

a resource’s ability to replenish itself after being used - all resources renew at different speeds (instantaneous to millions of years)

renewable resources

materials/energy that regenerates at a faster than or equal to the rate than it’s being used — essentially an unlimited quantity

non-renewable resources

materials/energy that regenerate at a slower rate than it’s being used

reserves

known quantity of a resource that is unused and can be economically and technically extracted in the future

questions government should ask when extracting natural resources

• set-up cost → costs involved (typically expensive)

• efficiency of conversion → from extraction to turning it into a useful form

• sustainable & constant supply → how long the supply will last for

• social impact → impact on local populations (can bring in jobs but also can create wealth gaps and are only temporary

• environmental impact

• decommissioning → thinking ahead, when the resources are finished, hard/expensive to clean-up, and what will happen to the environment when the company leaves

waste mitigation strategies

• reuse

• recycle

• repair

• recondition / refurbish

• re-engineer / upgrade

reuse

using a product more than once

conventional reuse

product is used for the same purpose

new-life reuse

product is used for a new/innovative purpose

recycle

making a new product out of the raw materials from an obsolete one

repair

recontructing/renewing any part of an existing product

recondition / refurbish

rebuilding/making a product and making it “like-new” (repating, cleaning, replacing parts)

re-engineer / upgrade

redesigning materials/parts of a product to improve its performance (upgrading the design)

dematerialization

reducing a product’s total amount of material and energy used, and has to be considered at each stage of its lifecycle — can make it smaller, eliminate packaging, renewable energy

product’s lifecycle

• material extraction

• design

• production

• consumption

• end of life

linear economy

natural resources → take → make → dispose + *waste

circular economy

all resources used in manufacturing a product are put back into production

• resources stay in use as long as possible

• materials recovered at the end of a product’s life

• closed-loop economic model - materials in constant use

• material waste is a resource and isn’t thrown away

make → consume/use → enrich/return (biological materials vs technical materials)

embodied energy

total amount of energy to produce a product

• materials

• transport

• assembly

• storage

does not include using or disposing of the product

electrical grid

network that delivers electricity from producers (power plants) to consumers (factories/homes) — backbone of modern power systems

smart grid

an upgraded electrical grid that uses digital technology, sensors, and automation, allowing for energy to be transferred more efficiently, reliably, and sustainability, matches the demand of electricity in real time, and designed to incorporate micro-generation into the distribution system

national and international grid systems

electrical grid used either in a country’s borders (national) or shared across countries (international) - meant for big companies/factories, not small-scale renewable energy producers - efficient at a large scale

mico-generation

systems for individual energy generation: tech used for individuals to produce small amounts of energy for local, low-energy products

• small-scale generation of heat and electric power by homes/small businesses and communities, for their own needs

• alternative/aid to electrical grid

• lowered negative environmental impact

• lower costs for consumer

• initial capital cost is high/expensive

renewable energy sources

• water

• wind

• solar

• biomass

• geothermal

combined heat and power / co-generation

system that generates heat and electricity, at the same time, from combustion of fuel or a solar heat collector

• one source of energy for both heat and electricity rather than two

• increased efficiency and decreased waste → lowered costs and environmental impact

• common in large, industrial/commercial buildings in cold climates

carbon footprint

the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere when burning energy during production

ways to mitigate carbon emissions

• using organic, plant-based materials

• using recycled material

• using locally-sourced resources/materials → lower transportation emissions

• using carbon-free renewable energy in production

• creating products that are durable, long-lasting, and easy to repair, replace parts, and recycle

carbon offsetting

compensating for the carbon released when producing products can be done by increasing carbon sinks to absorb CO2 produced and creating clean energy projects to replace carbon-based energy

energy storage + challenges

batteries and capacitors allow for the portability of electrical product, they have become smaller and more efficient with time but can create environmental impacts if not disposed of properly due to the heavy metals

factors to consider when selecting a battery

• how much power design needs

• how much physical space the battery can take up in the design

• whether the design requires rechargeability

• the environmental impacts when the battery is disposed

battery

device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy through a chemical reaction to create a flow of electrions around a circuit

capacitor

small device often found in circuit bourds that temporarily store electricity

capacity

amount of electric charge (measured in amp hours) that can be delivered by a battery

battery type examples

• lead acid → low relative cost + low efficiency + high environmental impact → wheelchairs, scooters, golf carts, boats → low maintenance + rechargeable

• nickel cadmium (nicad) → medium relative cost + medium efficiency + high environmental impact → power tools, medical equipment, older cellphones → simple and safe transportation + fast charging and long shelf life

• lithium → medium relative cost + high efficiency + lower environmental impact → watches, cameras, alarms, handheld electronics → small size + safe

• lithium ion (li-ion) → high relative cost + high efficiency + low environmental impact → cellphones, tablets, computers, power tools, video cameras → rechargeable + lightweight + low-maintenance

• lithium polymer (lipo) → high relative cost + high efficiency + low environmental impact → mobile devices, some electric vehicles → low-maintenace + ideal for slim form factors

clean energy

products, services, or processes that reduce waste and require minimum amount of energy & non-renewable resources

why manufacturers might implement clean technology

• social pressure → consumer groups/public perception

• economic pressure → financial benefits, or taxes/penalties

• political pressure → government legislation

end-of-pipe technologies

reactive solutions at the end of a process to mitigate pollution after it has been created

end-of-pipe technologies examples

• wastewater treatment

• filters (air/water)

system level solutions

proactive strategies that address the root causes or transform the whole system

system level solutions examples

• transitioning to renewable energy sources

• designing circular economy models

incremental solutions advantages and disadvantages

• advantages:

  • lower risk

  • cost-efficient short-term

  • easier to implement

• disadvantages:

  • limited impact

  • slower pace of change

  • can delay transformation (keep outdated systems)

radical solutions advantages and disadvantages

• advantages:

  • long-term sustainability

  • competitive edge

  • drives innovation culture

• disadvantages:

  • high risk

  • expensive

  • resistance to change

governments promoting clean technology

• regulation

• taxation

• subsidies

• pollution permits

regulation

place limits of bans on releasing certain pollutants into environment -- manufacturers adopt clean technology to follow the law

taxation

manufacturers have to pay the government based on the amount of pollution emitted ex. “carbon tax” - financial penalty -- manufacturers want to reduce amount of taxes they pay, so they will reduce pollution to reduce costs

subsidies

government pays manufacturers to install clean technology in their production processes (e.g. instal solar panels) -- often have an expiration date so companies are incentivised to install clean tech as to not give up a great deal

pollution permits

government gives manufacturers the right to pollute a certain amount through permits -- only set amount of permits given out in total and can be bought and sold by other companies depending if they want to pollute more or less (market has control) -- permits reduce in value over time, gradually reducing pollution overall

green design

redesign of existing products to have a reduced impact on the environment -- making small, incremental changes to a product using 1-2 green design strategies

three general areas of green design

• materials

• energy

• pollution and waste