Design+Specifications

Some people find that the early stages of design are often the most difficult. There are a lot of different techniques to help you, but there doesn’t seem to be any simple method of creating new design ideas. You can easily start worrying and asking negative questions. Some of the questions that I was asking on my first design projects were: Some of these questions were a reflection on my past experience. I was from an engineering background where I had developed some good skills that focus mainly on science and cost. I didn’t practice any skills that were dedicated to making products look good, even though I knew I would enjoy it. People from backgrounds in other areas will probably have different questions and concerns.
 * __Introduction__**
 * People have been trying to better this design for years, why should I be any better?
 * Isn’t there some big science equations behind this?
 * Surely everyone's got a different opinion on what looks good?
 * I don’t really know what looks good?
 * How will I make such a complicated device?
 * How can any one person have the expertise in all these processes and sciences?
 * Hasn't that object been designed poorly so that it is cheap? That’s what everyone wants isn’t it?

The worrying will get less, once you start collecting the right information. The odds are that you will probably generate more successful ideas if you can consider all the design factors and not just the ones that are within your comfort zone. If your project warrants this, you cannot afford to spend time worrying and dwelling on negative questions. This workspace as been created to give guidance on how to start your design project and create a specification that will help you generate ideas in the later stages.

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