`Engineering Design Methods: Strategies for Product Design, 4th Edition' Presents A New Chapter on the User Scenarios Method

Business Wire, Feb 18, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c83130) has announced the addition of Engineering Design Methods: Strategies for Product Design, 4th Edition to their offering.

This new edition has been updated throughout with new examples, and problems broadening the appeal and relevance of the book from engineering design into product design. A new chapter on the User Scenarios Method fills the gap in the current 'symmetrical problem/solution' model of the design process linking 'Overall problem' and 'Overall solution'. It presents a procedure and examples for investigating potential product user wants and needs, including the development of user 'profiles', 'personae' and 'scenarios', and culminating in a clear statement (a design brief) that identifies an opportunity for developing a new product concept. There is also a companion website providing power-point slides of figures for instructors.

About the Author

Nigel Cross, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK Nigel Cross is Professor of Design Studies and Head of the Department of Design and Innovation at the Faculty of Technology, The Open University, UK. The Department was awarded Grade 5 ratings in the two most recent UK Government research quality assessment exercises. Nigel Cross has been a member of the academic staff of the UK's pioneering, multi-media distance-learning Open University since 1970, where he has been responsible for, or instrumental in, a wide range of courses in design and technology. He has an international reputation in design research, especially in fields of design methodology and the study of design cognition. Professor Cross is Editor-in-Chief of the international research journal, Design Studies, published quarterly by Elsevier Science in cooperation with the Design Research Society

Content Outline:

About the Author

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part One: Understanding Design

1 The Nature of Design

Design Activities

Design Problems

Problem Structures

2 Design Ability

What Designers Say

How Designers Think

Learning to Design

3 The Design Process

Descriptive Models

Prescriptive Models

An Integrative Model

Part Two: Doing Design

4 New Design Procedures

Systematic Procedures

Design Methods

Creative Methods

Rational Methods

5 Identifying Opportunities

The User Scenarios Method

6 Clarifying Objectives

The Objectives Tree Method

7 Establishing Functions

The Function Analysis Method

8 Setting Requirements

The Performance Specification Method

9 Determining Characteristics

The Quality Function Deployment Method

10 Generating Alternatives

The Morphological Chart Method

11 Evaluating Alternatives

The Weighted Objectives Method

12 Improving Details

The Value Engineering Method

Part Three: Managing Design

13 Design Strategies

What is a Design Strategy?

Frameworks for Action

Strategy Control

Setting Strategies and Choosing Tactics

14 Product Development

Product Design

Product Planning

Product Innovation

References

Index

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c83130