The Importance of Mapping 1st Principle Physical Constraints with Non-physical Constraints

Abstract

This paper will discuss issues surrounding technological change and pedagogical strategies/techniques which may assist industrial design/design engineering students in exploring and coping with the often conflicting constraints found within advancing technological changes. When dealing with complex issues surrounding technological change, often industrial design and design engineering students have difficulty in identifying and making evident the relationships between physical constraints and nonphysical constraints. These two key constraint typologies are seen as being central to the development of appropriate products systems and environments which form part of the technological change environment. This paper will propose a linking/mapping strategy and set of exercises, based on aspects of the first principles found within the literature relating to TRIZ [Theory of Inventive Problem Solving]. It is argued that if students are presented with a methodology for linking and mapping the relationships between conflicting constraint typologies, they are forced to externalize this relationship as part of their ongoing design process. This in turn will allow them to reshape their design decisions. Moreover, it will permit them to practice coping with complex interrelated constraints. This will serve to enhance their design thinking process