Identify Need

In design process, the first step is to clearly identify the need. The needs are driven by marketing or business plan, customer request, cost reduction, and design improvement.

A proper need statement should answer:

• Who are the stakeholders?
• What are the methods of engagement?
• What are the customer's exact language vs. your interpretation?

Example Need Statement

"Through the interviews we had with the college students who attend in person lectures, we realized that 'the seats in the lecture hall are narrow and hard to sit in for long,' which we interpret as a need for improved lecture seating that balances comfort with space efficiency, which prioritizes the mobility and comfort of college students in the seats to support the student learning experience rather than simply maximizing room capacity."

Stakeholders

Stakeholders are the individuals or groups who are directly or indirectly affected by the final product. They may be the users of the product or the clients who make decisions about the product. Identifying stakeholders ensures that the perspectives and priorities of those who are affected are considered.

There are different levels to stakeholders:

• Primary stakeholders: Individuals or groups who are directly affected (ex. College students who attend in person lectures)
• Secondary stakeholders: Individuals or groups who are indirectly affected (ex. Professors and University Facility Managers)

Methods of Engagement

Engagement with stakeholders provides authentic insights into needs and ensures the design reflects the users’ voices. Different methods can be used depending on the situation.

• Interviews: One-on-one or small group conversations with stakeholders to gather personal experiences.
• Surveys: Quasi-quantitative data collection from a large number of stakeholders to understand the scale of the problem and perceptions of it and potential solutions.
• Observation: Observing stakeholders experience the problem.
• Focus Groups: Facilitated discussions with different types of stakeholders to reveal different perspectives, priorities, and trade-offs.

Human-Centered Engineering Design (HCED)

Human-Centered Engineering Design ensures that the solution to the problem prioritizes and stays focused on the individuals or groups who are affected by the product throughout the design process. HCED emphasizes empathy, iteration, and usability.

• Empathy: Look at the problem through the users' perspective to clearly identify what problem needs to be addressed.
• Inclusion: Consider physical, mental, and social diversity in stakeholders when brainstorming solutions
• Iteration: Test prototypes with real stakeholders and refining the design based on feedback, rather than finalizing at first trial.
• Sustainability: Think of solutions that not only addresses the problem but also are cost-efficient, durable, and environmentally sustainable.

Background Research

After identifying the need, the next step is to conduct background research. This step helps to ensure a deeper understanding of the problem and the needs by identifying design constraints and learning existing solutions.

Types of Background Research

1. User Research: Understand user needs through methods of engagement such as interviews and surveys.
2. Market Research: Analyze existing products, market trends, and competitors to identify aspects such as opportunities and pricing strategies.
3. Industry Research: Understand regulations, materials, and technologies that apply to the product industry.
4. Technical Research: Study physical feasibility, manufacturing materials, and manufacturing processes.
5. Sustainability Research: Analyze environmental impact the product creates from the materials' life cycle, recyclability, and production methods.
6. Cultural and Social Research: Understand ethical standards, cultural values, social contexts that influence product use and perception.

Based on the research...

• Identify constraints.
• Set measurable design criteria.
• Apply findings to ideation and future steps.