What

Breakdown of part 1:

Design process step	Assignment output	Due	Points
Understand market, client, constraints	Part 1: Generate ideas. Choose one and clearly state the problem to be solved. Make plan for user observation. Turn in idea list, problem statement, and observation plan.	Oct 8, 2007	10 points

1. Turn in the idea list including a one sentence explanation for each. 25%
2. Pick one of these, as the object you will design. Clearly state which object you have chosen, and describe in not more than 3-4 sentences why you choose this object over the other ideas. Give the problem statement for the chosen design. 25%
3. Turn in a user observation plan. This plan tells how you will observe people in your effort to understand how to design your chosen object. Give some concrete strategies you will employ. You will actually do this observation next week between Mon-Wed, so be sure your plan fits with this time frame. This section has considerable worth 50%. Put some effort into this.

Some Guidance on Idea generation

• Pay attention to the objects that you and the others around you use.
• Make note of any object that causes frustration, doesn’t work well, or is difficult to use. Do NOT assume that the source of the difficulty might be the person.
• Note any object that you would like to have, that is not currently available.
• Feel free to talk to others for ideas or feedback.
• Keep this idea list or bug list in your journal as well as any sketches.
• Turn in a list of five to ten objects that need improvement or need to be designed. Or, if the object doesn’t exist just state the problem.
  1. For each object explain the problem in the most general form possible. Example “I want to get fresh air into my bedroom without letting pollen in because it causes allergies.” NOT “I want to design a window screen.”
  2. You may need to explain the problem with existing solutions.

When

You must hand in a hard-copy in class, and you must upload a copy in webCT as well.