Design Engineering Canvas Pdf Download
Aubrie Haataja
How to Use Design Engineering Canvas for Your Projects
Design engineering is a process of creating innovative solutions for complex problems. It involves generating, evaluating and specifying concepts for devices, systems or processes that meet the client's objectives or user's needs while satisfying a set of constraints. Design engineering canvas is a tool that helps design engineers to visualize and document their ideas in a structured way. It consists of four elements: learning need matrix, product development canvas, AEIOU framework and working model.
In this article, we will explain what each element of the design engineering canvas is and how to use it for your projects. We will also provide some examples of design engineering canvas from different sources.
Learning Need Matrix
The learning need matrix is a table that helps you to define your project topic and identify the skills and knowledge you need to acquire during your project. It has four columns: purpose/product concept, during BE II, during BE III and during BE IV. The purpose/product concept column describes the main goal or idea of your project. The other columns list the learning outcomes you want to achieve in each year of your engineering course.
To use the learning need matrix, you need to write your project topic on the top row of the table. Then, you need to fill out the other rows with sticky notes that indicate what you want to learn or do in each year. For example, if you are working on a project about designing a machine that reduces human efforts and confusions in hospitals, your learning need matrix might look like this[^1^]:
| Purpose/Product Concept | Designing a machine that reduces human efforts and confusions in hospitals | ||
| During BE II | Learn about hospital processes and problems | Learn about existing solutions and technologies | Learn about design thinking and methods |
| During BE III | Identify user needs and requirements | Generate and evaluate alternative concepts | Develop a prototype and test it |
| During BE IV | Refine and improve the prototype | Validate the solution with users and stakeholders | Present and document the final product |
Product Development Canvas
The product development canvas is a diagram that helps you to describe and communicate your product idea in a concise way. It has nine sections: purpose, people, product experience, product functions, product features, components, customer revalidation, reject/retain/redesign and questions for further study.
To use the product development canvas, you need to fill out each section with sticky notes that correspond to the subheadings. For example, if you are working on a project about designing a machine that reduces human efforts and confusions in hospitals, your product development canvas might look like this[^1^]:
AEIOU Framework
The AEIOU framework is a tool that helps you to conduct user research and understand the context of your problem. It stands for activities, environment, interactions, objects and users. It helps you to observe and record what people do, where they do it, how they interact with others and objects, and who they are.
To use the AEIOU framework, you need to visit the place where your problem occurs or where your potential users are. You need to take notes and sketches of what you see and hear using the following categories:
- A - Activities: What are the tasks or actions that people perform? For example, stop vehicle, run vehicle, etc.
- E - Environment: What are the physical and social aspects of the setting? For example, warm, cloudy, soundly atmosphere, etc.
- I - Interactions: How do people communicate or collaborate with each other or with objects? For example, a young man calling his friend.
- O - Objects: What are the tools or artifacts that people use or encounter? For example, mobile phone, vehicle, etc d8cbe59d7d