Understanding Engineering Design: Context, Theory and Practice

Presents a detailed, up-to-date introduction to the most important issues of engineering design, for both practitioners and students.This book covers the context, theory and practice of engineering design. The first section presents detailed descriptions of the working environment of designers, and wide-ranging discussions of their role and responsibilities in the commercial and professional context. The second section contains a survey of the development of design theory, and current debates among design methodologists. The final section examines the practice of engineering design, the nature of design problems, and a summary of the tools available to assist. Throughout, the book emphasizes the constraints in which designers must work, the links between design and innovation, the importance of information, and the care with which new ideas must be handled to ensure their successful introduction.This book will be useful to any design engineer, design manager, technical manager, project manager/engineer, or student of engineering.