Lesson Four: The Design Process and Principles of Design
Essential Questions
- What are the essential elements of a Good Design?
- What are the essential elements of a Bad Design?
- How does a Good of Bad Design effect the objects we create with 3D Printing?
Objectives:
- Identify the elements of Good and Bad Designs
- Identify how Good and Bad Design elements can effect 3D objects
- Draw examples of Good versus Bad Design
Teacher Background Concepts
- A Good Design with regards to 3D printing is an object that functions as intended (e.g. rain boots that remain waterproof), and does not break easily.
- A Bad Design with regards to 3D printing is an object that does not function as intended (e.g. a leaky pot), or breaks easily due to design flaws (e.g. is not thick enough, or cracks when it should bend).
- In this lesson, students will play a 'Breaking Game' with 3D printed object strips created from different filaments and comprised of different thicknesses. The purpose of this game is for students to think about the weak points on 3D printed objects, and how they break depending on what material is used (i.e. PLA or a flexible plastic like NinjaFlex), or where the point of contact is thinnest.
- In this lesson you will bring in a box of 3D Prints gone wrong to show students the design process is always a work-in progress, and mistakes always occur. It is essential to emphasize to students the importance of learning from failures, and how failures make one try a different design/strategy for the next attempt until success is achieved. This process is essential in working in CAD and with 3D objects, as well as generally in school and life.