The Engineering Design Process

What You'll Learn

Engineers use the design process to solve problems: identify the problem, research, brainstorm solutions, build a prototype, test it, evaluate results, and improve the design.

Key Words

control
data

Materials Needed

cardboard
tape
scissors
straws

Safety First

Dispose of materials properly after the experiment.
Handle glass items carefully to avoid breakage.
Do not mix unknown chemicals together.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read and learn: Engineers use the design process to solve problems: identify the problem, research, brainstorm solutions, build a prototype, test it, evaluate results, and improve the design.

Step 2 — Do

Create a labeled diagram of what you built or observed.

Step 3 — Observe

Draw a picture of what you observe.

Step 4 — Record

Answer the questions based on your data.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is the first step of the engineering design process?