What is the Engineering Design Process?
The engineering design process is a series of steps that engineers follow to come up with a solution to a
problem. Many times the solution involves designing a product (like a machine or computer code) that
meets certain criteria and/or accomplishes a certain task. This process is different from the Steps of the
Scientific Method, which you may be more familiar with. If your project involves making observations and
doing experiments, you should probably follow the Scientific Method. If your project involves designing,
building, and testing something, you should probably follow the Engineering Design Process. If you still
are not sure which process to follow, you should read Comparing the Engineering Design Process and
the Scientific Method. This diagram shows the steps of the engineering design process, and the table
below describes each step in more detail:
Engineers do not always follow the engineering design process steps in order, one after another. It is very
common to design something, test it, find a problem, and then go back to an earlier step to make a
modification or change to your design. This way of working is called iteration, and it is likely that your
process will do the same!
Teacher Tool Box
Try our lesson plans:
Defining an Engineering Design Problem with Paper Airplanes (Elementary School)
Teaching Engineering Design with an Egg Drop (Middle School)
Assign a student quiz with Google Classroom:
Engineering Design Process Quiz (Beginner)
Engineering Design Process Quiz (Intermediate)
Steps of the Engineering Design Process
Google Classroom
1. Define the Problem
The engineering design process starts when you ask the following questions about problems that you
observe:
What is the problem or need?
Who has the problem or need?
Why is it important to solve?
[Who] need(s) [what] because [why].
For detailed help with this step, use these resources:
Define the Problem
Design Notebook
Mind Mapping
2. Do Background Research
Learn from the experiences of others — this can help you find out about existing solutions to similar
problems, and avoid mistakes that were made in the past. So, for an engineering design project, do
background research in two major areas:
Users or customers
Existing solutions
For detailed help with this step, use these resources:
Background Research Plan for an Engineering Design Project
Finding Information
Bibliography
Research Paper
3. Specify Requirements
Design requirements state the important characteristics that your solution must meet to succeed. One of
the best ways to identify the design requirements for your solution is to analyze the concrete example of a
similar, existing product, noting each of its key features.
For detailed help with this step, use these resources:
Specify Requirements
Design Requirement Examples
How to Analyze a Physical Product
How to Analyze a Software Product or Website
How to Analyze an Environment
How to Analyze an Experience
How Many Design Requirements?
4. Brainstorm Solutions
There are always many good possibilities for solving design problems. If you focus on just one before
looking at the alternatives, it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution. Good designers
try to generate as many possible solutions as they can.
For detailed help with this step, use these resources:
Brainstorm Multiple Solutions
5. Choose the Best Solution
Look at whether each possible solution meets your design requirements. Some solutions probably meet
more requirements than others. Reject solutions that do not meet the requirements.
For detailed help with this step, use these resources:
Choose the Best Solution
6. Develop the Solution
Development involves the refinement and improvement of a solution, and it continues throughout the
design process, often even after a product ships to customers.
For detailed help with this step, use these resources:
Development Work
Drawing
Storyboards
7. Build a Prototype
A prototype is an operating version of a solution. Often it is made with different materials than the final
version, and generally it is not as polished. Prototypes are a key step in the development of a final
solution, allowing the designer to test how the solution will work.
For detailed help with this step, use these resources:
Prototyping
8. Test and Redesign
The design process involves multiple iterations and redesigns of your final solution. You will likely test
your solution, find new problems, make changes, and test new solutions before settling on a final design.
For detailed help with this step, use these resources:
Test and Redesign
9. Communicate Results
To complete your project, communicate your results to others in a final report and/or a display board.
Professional engineers always do the same, thoroughly documenting their solutions so that they can be
manufactured and supported.
