Revised Project

With the exception of the product area being established, each team is starting over. Throw out any ideas you had as to the design of the product. Customer input will drive the design of your product. Take a step back from any "solutions" you may have already come up with and consider the "function or functions " of the proposed product.

From Engineering by Design by Gerard Voland:

"Do not define the problem in terms of an existing product: otherwise, you may simply generate variations of this product and fail to recognize a valuable new approach. Instead focus upon those functions that are desired in a solution to the problem and formulate the problem statement in terms of these functions."

Designing a Better Ink Pen

"A problem statement can be incorrect, leading to a misdirected search for solutions ... ."

Reentry of Space Capsules

Revised Project Details:

(1) What is the function of your proposed product? Refer to your product as a mechanism, device, tool, means, ... to perform a certain function or number of functions. Do not offer solutions and try to avoid the words that competitors use to describe their products.

(2) Give the proposed product a name that reflects the product's function(s) and not the names currently being used by competing products. Provide a brief explanation of your choice.

(3) Determine specifically the positioning of your proposed product. What specific products compete in this market? (i.e. If a customer does not purchase your product what will they buy instead?)

(4) Identify customers for your product (minimum of 5, include names, contact information, and familiarity/expertise with/in your product area) You will be contacting these customers for input during the design process (i.e. developing the design concerns and evaluating the preliminary design concepts).