Generating Design Concepts

≈ 38 min

Generating Design Concepts

Concept generation deliberately produces several physically plausible alternatives before any of them is selected. A morphological chart lists two or more options for each sub-function from a function tree, then combines one option per row into complete, comparable concepts.

Worked example. For a food cooler, the sub-functions might be insulate, move air and supply power. Insulation could use foam or straw bales; airflow could be passive or fan-driven; power could be solar or hand-crank. Combining one choice per row already produces eight distinct concepts — evidence to compare, instead of a single early guess.

Core checkpoint: Diverge before converging; the first idea is a candidate, not a conclusion.

Which statement best captures the core checkpoint for generating design concepts?

Diverge before converging; the first idea is a candidate, not a conclusion.

Converge on the first workable idea immediately to save time.

Skip comparison between concepts once one of them technically works.

A morphological chart is optional paperwork with no effect on the final choice.

What is the name for a chart that lists options for each sub-function, then combines them into complete concepts?

A team lists foam and straw bale as two options for 'insulate' on a food cooler. What should they do next?

List options for the remaining sub-functions too, then combine one option per row into several full concepts.

Pick foam immediately, since it is the more common material.

Stop, since one sub-function's options are already enough evidence.

Remove straw bale, since only one option per sub-function is allowed.

A designer produces one workable concept for a rainwater filter, feels satisfied, and moves straight to building it. What is missing from their process?

Divergence — no alternative concepts were generated or compared, so there is no evidence this one is a good choice, only a working one.

Nothing — moving quickly to a working prototype is always the correct next step.

A patent search, which should happen before any concept is generated.

A component supplier, which should be chosen before the function tree.