Tools & Tactics of Design (WSE)

This book is about the process of design and the skills that individuals should develop in order to execute that process. Its focus is on explaining the engineering design process but the authors have also tried to provide an experiential resource.

This text uses an integrated and interactive set of materials to teach students about the process of engineering design. Using a very strong engineering context and providing an experiential resource, this material exposes students to the cognitive and interpersonal skills required to execute the design process and introduces them to some of the productivity tools used by engineers. Phases of the design process are covered, which reflect the new ABET accreditation criteria. These areas include Defining the Problem, Formulating Solutions, Developing Models and Prototypes and Presenting the Design. Topics on Decision-Making, Communication, Collaboration and Self-Management are also presented, in order for students to learn how these various skills are best applied to each phase of the design process. Suitable for a freshman/sophomore Introductory Design course, Dominick's book can also be used for some upper-level design courses. The text is meant to support student work on a variety of design projects regardless of engineering discipline.