Teachable fundamentals of engineering design

Abstract

Engineering design as a generic term covers a wide range of topics, knowledge, and time- and context-dependent activities. These aspects have been collected into a comprehensive descriptive theory of engineering design which relates the elements of designing into various recognizable structures. The theory is briefly surveyed, and shown to provide guidance for a suitable sequence of procedures, from which the most appropriate for the problem can be selected. Attention is then given to the augmentation of this theory by suitable exercises and problems, which should, in the final stages of learning, reach as close to industrial levels as possible. It is noted that much of this phenomenology contains teachable aspects that can help to clarify engineering design for students, novices, experienced designers, team leaders, etc. The author outlines the available range of scientific and experimental generic knowledge about engineering design (the process) and about the future product. Brief examples are discussed that show how this generic knowledge is applicable to real design problems, to the teaching/learning situation for students of engineering, and to curriculum planning and development.<>