APS111 Engineering Design Process Glossary (Fall 2025)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering major APS111 design process topics extracted from the notes.

Introduction

Introductory topic covering course goals, structure, and expectations.

Design Process Overview

High-level sequence of steps engineers use to conceive, design, and realize a solution.

Project Phases

Distinct stages in a project lifecycle from concept through completion.

What Engineers Design

Engineering products, systems, processes, or structures to meet specified needs.

Navigating the Engineering Design Process

Guidance on moving through design steps effectively and efficiently.

Introduction to Requirements

Foundations for specifying what a design must do and the constraints it must satisfy.

Documenting the Context

Recording the environment, constraints, and conditions surrounding a design problem.

Information Gathering

Collecting data, facts, and evidence relevant to the problem and design options.

Diagrammatic Elements

Visual components used to represent structures, flows, or relationships in a design.

Using Pictures and Photographs

Employing images as evidence or communication in design documentation.

Describing Stakeholders

Identifying individuals or groups with interest or stake in the project.

Describing Users, Operators, and Clients

Characterizing who will use, operate, or sponsor the product.

Functions

The actions or tasks a design must perform.

Functional Basis

A structured description of functions and constraints guiding design.

Black Box Method

An analysis approach focusing on inputs and outputs without internal details.

Decomposition

Breaking a system into smaller components for study or design.

Hybrid Teaming Handbook - Chapter 3

Chapter in the Hybrid Teaming Handbook about collaboration in mixed-team settings.

Objectives

Specific goals that guide design and evaluation efforts.

Using Metrics

Applying quantitative measures to evaluate performance or progress.

Pairwise Comparison

A decision method comparing options two at a time to rank preferences.

Benchmarking

Comparing performance against best practices or competitors.

Making and Supporting Statements Effectively

Constructing and defending claims with evidence.

Constraints

Limitations or restrictions that influence design decisions.

Codes Standards and Regulations v2

Applicable laws, standards, and guidelines governing design.

Communicating throughout the Process

Ongoing information exchange among stakeholders during design.

Organizing Communication

Structuring how information is shared within a team or project.

Hybrid Teaming Handbook - Working as a Team

Section on teamwork dynamics in the hybrid handbook.

Characteristics of Good Requirements

Clear, testable, verifiable, complete, and feasible requirements.

Summary: Putting Requirements All Together

Overview of integrating all requirements into a cohesive set.

Management Strategies (Teams)

Approaches for coordinating, leading, and optimizing team performance.

Exec. Summary Flood Mitigation

Executive summary describing key points of a flood mitigation project.

Engineering Communication (introduction)

Introductory material on how engineers communicate and document work.

Brainstorming

Creative group process to generate a large number of ideas.

Creativity Methods

Techniques for generating innovative solutions (e.g., brainstorming, TRIZ).

Morph Charts, Analogy, and TRIZ

Tools for creativity: morphing ideas, using analogies, and TRIZ problem-solving.

Design Evaluation and Selection

Process of assessing designs and choosing the best solution.

Selecting a Design Solution

Choosing the final design to implement based on criteria and analysis.

Investigating Ideas through Models and Prototypes

Using models and prototypes to test, learn, and refine concepts.

Feasibility Checking

Assessing technical, economical, and practical viability of ideas.