TABLE OF CONTENTS The basic design process is finding means for ends : it is finding designs that match the requirements.
What is the difference between design and design engineering? They are both essentially the same generic, and basic, process of finding satisfactory designs. However, engineering disciplines are characterized, in my opinion, by the following distinctive traits:
quantification of variable ideas (not high , but 42 )
concern for all necessary factors (all stakeholders, all requirements and all known design options)
concern for more than mere satisfaction ; concern for competitive optimization being the best , rather than just getting along
rational and systematic argument (for example, the use of Impact Estimation tables to discuss or present design quantitatively with respect to facts, not less formal design or emotional design.
Design asks, "Is this a good design?"
Design Engineering asks, "What are the totality of performance and cost attributes expected from this design in relation to the multiple, quantified, performance and cost requirements? What are the risks, priorities, uncertainties, issues, relationships, dependencies and long-term lifecycle considerations, that we should responsibly consider about this design?"
Design ideas emerge, and are refined, throughout the lifetime of a system. Iteration is necessary in order to improve both the design ideas and the related requirements. Requirements and design ideas cannot be determined well in one single pass. Feedback from initial design engineering processes is necessary to get a realistic
