What is 'UTE'= "station before Chua Chu Kang MRT". That is how I tried this year to get my D&T Sec 3NA group and Sec 4NA group to remember about areas of consideration for "Investigating the Problem" or some may call this section "Research/ Research into the Problem". The pupils has shortlisted a few from their many problem situations and selected the problem they each wants to solve.
The usual step that last time which we used to do after selecting the problem is zoom into Design Brief and quickly list out Design Specifications. The result from this is a list of cursory Design Specification eg. It must not have sharp edges; It should be corrosion resistanct; It should not be heavy; It must be strong.
I had tried this "Investigating the Problem" section several years already so as to get the pupils to come up with more meaningful Design Specifications. But for this year, after some thoughts and reorg, the idea of giving easy way of remembering What to investigate? give rise to UTE!
U: Users , T: Things, E: Environment
U: Users > The pupils need to investigate about who is using the product, collect relevant anthropometric data, consider the number of users: these will affect the size, the colours of the product etc.
T: Things > The pupils need to consider the size, weight, quantity of things/ items that is stored, used together with the porposed product. This will affect the size of the product or overall spacing required etc.
E: Environement > The pupils need to consider the place that it is placed or used. This may affect the materials that is to be used (eg if place outdoor, it needs to be corrosion resistant), the overall size and its design depending on where it is to be placed.
If the investigation of the problem is done properly, it will help the designer to come up with clear and comprehensive design specifications, which in turn will give rise to artefact that SOLVE the problem than merely realised along the way.
So, after UTE station is......... Chua Chu Kang MRT Station: Critical ChecKup list. The list of Design Specifications.
Whoah! You can really make a book on acronyms. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a very focused approach to deconstructing the actions necessary for design. Having a thorough understanding of the 3 areas of focus brings about authenticity in design solutions. It provides a basic and important framework to also reassess one's proposed solution to design problems.
It will be wonderful if you can show pupils examples of real world solutions in context to the UTE method. Wallpaper magazine launched its famous design annual awards 2 months back. Lots of good resource there. Can get unit fund to buy.