DTI IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

 UNIT-1:

UNIT–I: Introduction to Design Thinking – Important Questions

1. Explain the basic elements of design such as dot, line, shape, and form.
   How do these elements act as fundamental building blocks in design?

2. What are the principles of design?
   Explain principles such as balance, contrast, emphasis, proportion, rhythm, and unity with suitable examples.

3. Define Design Thinking.
   Explain its importance and how it differs from traditional problem-solving approaches.

4. Explain the history and evolution of Design Thinking.
   Mention key contributors and how Design Thinking has evolved in modern engineering and product design.

5. Discuss the role of new materials in industry.
   How have advanced materials influenced modern design, innovation, and sustainability?

6. Explain the relationship between design elements and design principles.
   How do they work together to create effective and user-centered designs?

UNIT-2:

UNIT–II: Design Thinking Process – Important Questions

1. Explain the Design Thinking Process with neat flow diagram, describing each stage:
   Empathize, Analyze (Define), Ideate, Prototype, and Test.
   How does this process help in problem-solving?

2. Discuss the role of Empathize and Analyze stages in Design Thinking.
   Why are user needs and problem definition critical before ideation?

3. What is Ideation in Design Thinking?
   Explain different ideation techniques such as Brainstorming and how ideas are converted into Prototypes.

4. Explain how the Design Thinking process is implemented in driving inventions.
   Illustrate with a suitable example of a real-world product or innovation.

5. Describe the application of Design Thinking in Social Innovations.
   How does Design Thinking help in solving social problems related to health, education, or sustainability?

6. Explain the tools of Design Thinking:

   • Persona

   • Customer Journey Map

   • Brainstorming

   • Product Development

UNIT-I INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN THINKING

 

UNIT 1  INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN THINKING

Syllabus: Introduction to elements and principles of Design, basics of design-dot, line, shape, form as fundamental design components. Principles of design.  Introduction to design thinking,  history of Design Thinking, New materials in Industry.

Meaning of Design Thinking :

Design Thinking is not just the property of designers — all the great inventors of engineering, science, literature, art, music, and business have used it. Design thinking supports in developing, teaching, learning, and applying strategies to solve complications in a creative manner in the projects and processes of the business.

Definition of Design Thinking:

Design thinking is a term used to denote a set of strategic, conceptual, and practical processes in which design concepts are developed (product proposals, structures, equipment, communications, etc.). Many key concepts and aspects of design thinking have been identified through studies, across all different design fields, design concepts and design work in both laboratory and environmental contexts.

Design considerations are also linked to the establishment of products and services within the business and social environment. Some of these guidelines have been criticized for simplifying the design process and undermining the role of technical knowledge and skills.

 

History or Origins of Design Thinking

The methods and concepts of design thinking, although promoted by developing companies and design consultants, ranging from a wide range of fields including software development, engineering, anthropology, psychology, art, and business.

Design ideas as they exist today have evolved collaboratively in various fields and industries. Over 50 years, and even more have emerged and merged into the quasi-Darwin system of natural selection. These have been integrated, documented, and promoted by leading design firms (such as IDEO and Frog) and educational institutions (such as Stanford's d.school, and Rotman School of Management), and have been increasingly accepted by the industry.

While these evolutionary and experimental design experiments have led to methods process in the form of design thinking tools and methods.

1963: The idea of using Design as a way of solving complex problems in a simplified manner in sciences originated in the book ‘The science of the Artificial’ authored by Herbert A. Simon

1973: The idea of design was achieved for Design Engineering by the book ‘experiences in visual thinking’ authored by Robert McKim

1982: Design methodology is defined by “cross” the study of the principles, practices and procedures of design are developed .and includes the study of how designers work and think

1987: Peter Rowes Book Titled “design thinking” describes methods and approaches that planners, designers and architects use

1980s to 1990s: The work of Robert Mckim was consolidated by Rolf Faste at Stanford university during this period 1991 David M Kelly Founded IDEO and adapt Design thinking to business interests

2009: The design thinking process itself is human centered, offering methods for inspiration, ideation and learning to designers –Brown

2012: Apply the study of design thinking principles in engineering.

2015: Verbal protocol analysis, cognitive ethnography, controlled laboratory experiments, and other formal methods from cognitive science have been rigorously applied in engineering

2017: Design thinking reflected in many applications like prototyping, solution-based method is often useful way to encourage inspiration, ideation and organization learning and human centered methods

Design Thinker in the organizations

Any individual who has the following traits can be design thinker in the organizations, namely

1. Individual who has the concern for the individuals and who know the working challenges in at workplace

2. Knowledge of multi -functionality of the organization

3. Vision for developing right process in the organization

4. Capability to understand the problems on the job and ability to work on the problems related to the jobs of the organization.

 

Principles of Design Thinking

At this point, it seems to the reader that design thinking is about how to think and act as it is about process. The process is obviously important, and there are certain, tested tools that need to be considered within each mode, each with its own set of inputs, outputs, and well-defined functions. Aside from the process, design thinking is also about thinking, where the concept can be thought of as an integrated set of beliefs and attitudes.

Human Focused Design Thinking: The process that understands from the perspective of the human including the employees and customers. While doing so design thinker needs to consider the individuals, beliefs, values and attitudes.

Diversity to work in a team: Design thinking needs to consider individuals from different background and train to work in a team. While group membership should be balanced throughout the project, it may be wise to occasionally include outside-organization participants — such as clients, suppliers, and other topic professionals — in specific modes or activities.

Comprehensive: Although details are important, design experts are also able to identify and consider relationships, collaborations, and communication between seemingly different ideas.

Flexibility and unconventional comfort: Design thinking is best suited to deal with problems and opportunities described in an incomprehensible way, and requires great flexibility in terms of both content and methodology (e.g., with the required repetition of modes and categories).

Communication Skills: Willingness to communicate and work in a variety of ways, including speaking, visual, and touch. Design experts design and build prototypes, without the perceived lack of skill or competence.

Application across Professions

In the wake of such support and encouragement for design thinking by big entities, it is easy to understand the significance and influence that design thinking will assume in the near future for all sorts of professions. Design thinking is a methodology for finding simplicity in complexity, improving quality of experience with the designed products and serving the needs of customers by addressing the target problem faced by them. Design thinking is at the core of the development of efficient and effective strategies for organizational change.

Design thinking is a five-step process, where each step focuses on a specific goal. Each of the steps is independent of the next step but is borne out of the previous step. Design thinkers are expected not to think of the following steps when working on one step.

For example, it is not recommended to think of solutions, when the problem is being defined. The problem definition must be written in detail without missing any point, even if it makes finding a solution difficult. In this tutorial, we will understand the importance of design thinking, its impact of strategy development and we will then explore each of the steps of design thinking.

For a better understanding of the project, its requirements, and schedule we can use the methodology called Design Thinking.

It helps in the discovery phase of the product. That means How and What will make a great product. This creative approach is very important in creating things with systematic design.

Design Thinking is also known as Out of the Box thinking. Designers are trying to find more and more ways for solving the most common problems. Design Thinking is a way to

develop the products by the complete study of how customers interact with products and the conditions in which they implement.

Design thinking helps us to research the right topic and create exact prototype according to the customer’s needs. It helps to go in-depth for better understanding and powerful research.

It discovers new ways to upgrade the product with its design. Design Thinking is an iterative process. It is non-linear too. It means that the previous results are continuously examined and reviewed by the development team for better understanding. It also helps to add an alternative solution that replaces the previous model or design.

Features of Design Thinking

The features of design thinking are as under

1. Design thinking understands from the perspective of the customers and provides solution for improving the product and service quality in the organization.

2. The role of design thinking is to collect feedback from the customers and employees by iteration of prototyping

3. Expanding the range of solutions to the problems identified in the organization and employee better customer and employee satisfaction

4. Enable the design thinkers to develop new products, features or services to customer and process satisfaction.

5. Providing and eco-system through the interaction with the employees, technical capabilities and customers.

Such problems require multidimensional solutions. Design thinking helps in this regard. It  not only assists a professional to come up with a solution, but it also helps the organization to gain a competitive edge over its rivals. Following are the benefits conferred by design thinking.

Benefits by design Thinking :

a)      Finding simplicity in complexities.

b)      Having a beautiful and aesthetically appealing product.

c)       Improving clients’ and end user’s quality of experience.

d)      Creating innovative, feasible, and viable solutions to real world problems.

e)      Addressing the actual requirements of the end users.

  

Below are the distinguishing features of design thinking, shown in  Figure 1.12.

 Most of the challenges in the world do not get solved because people trying to address those problems focus too much on the problem statement. At other times, the problem statement is overlooked and there is too much stress to find a solution.

Design thinking helps to gain a balance between the problem   statement   and   the solution developed. A design-oriented mindset is not problem focused, but solution focused

and action oriented. It has to involve both analysis and imagination. Design thinking is the way of resolving issues and dissolving problematic situations by the help of design.

Strategy of Innovation

Design thinking is also considered to be a strategy for innovation. It leads to dramatic improvements in innovation. This is why design thinking forms the core of effective strategy development and seamless organizational change. Anything that involves human interaction, from products, services, processes etc., can be improved through design thinking. It all depends on the designer’s way to create, manage, lead, and innovate.

Use of Design Thinking

The basic principle of design thinking is that innovation can be disciplined. Innovation is not an elusive entity that only a few genius people can experience. It is, rather, a practice that can be systematically approached by a set of practical and meticulous tools, methodologies, and frameworks.

Design thinking helps you learn the following.

How to optimize the ability to innovate?

How to develop a variety of concepts, products, services, processes, etc. for endusers?

• How to leverage the diverse ideas of innovation?
• How to convert useful data, individual insights and vague ideas into feasible reality?
• How to connect with the customers and end-users by targeting their actual requirements?
• How to use the different tools used by designers in their profession for solving your customers’ problems?

Fig 1.13 Design Thinking Help

Design thinking helps, Figure 1.13 people of every profession to arrive at solutions in a planned, organized, and systematic manner. The step-by-step process helps to create solutions with both the problem statement and the required solution in mind.

The Elements and Principles of Design:

Elements :

The elements of design, are the building blocks used by the designers to create the designs. They are the parts, the components that can be isolated and defined in any visual design, they are the structure of the work, the objects to be arranged and used as part of any composition. Although without referring to a specific design (editorial, web, etc.) we can say that the general Design Elements are composed by:

 Point

A point is the smallest and most basic element of design and it can be used alone or as a unit in a group (forming a line or a shape). It has position, but no extension, it is a single mark in a space with a precise and limited location and it provides a powerful relation between positive and negative space.

Line

If we place many points one next to the other we obtain a line, which can have length and direction, but no depth. Lines, besides to be used to create a shape, can be used to create perspective and dominant directional lines (which create a sense of continuance in a composition). Also, they can be grouped to create a sense of value, density or texture.

Shape

Shape is an element defined by its perimeter, a closed contour. It is the area that is contained within implied line and it has have two dimensions: height and width. A shape can be geometric (triangle, square, circle, etc.), realistic (animal, human, etc.) or abstract (icons, stylizations, etc.).

Form

The Form is derived from the combination of point, line and shape. A form describe volume, the 3D aspect of an object that take up space and it can be viewed from any angle (a cube, a sphere, etc.), it has width, height and depth.

Color

The color is the response of the eye to differing wavelengths of radiation within the visible spectrum. Colors are used to generate emotions, define hierarchy, create interest, etc. There are many different kinds of color systems and theories but we will focus on the

3 properties: Hue, Value and Saturation.

Hue: is the color name.

Value: it refers to the lightness or darkness, to how close to black or white the Hue is.

Saturation: It refers to the intensity of a hue, the less gray a color has in it, the more Chroma it has.

Value

Is defined as the relative lightness or darkness, which suggests the depth or volume of a particular object or area, it is the degree of light and dark in a design, the contrast between black and white and all the tones in between.

Texture

Texture is the surface quality (simulated and/or actual) that can be seen and felt, can be rough or smooth, soft or hard, etc. It exists as a surface we can feel, but also as a surface we can see and imagine the sensation we might have if we touch it, is both a tactile and a visual phenomenon.

Space

Is the area between and around objects (negative space) but it also refers to variations in the perspective and proportions of objects, lines or shapes and it is used for the comparative relation between different objects or areas. The real space is three dimensional, but in Design when we create the feeling of depth we call it space.

Principles of Design:

The principles of design combine the elements to create a composition, they are the guidelines used to arrange the elements. Each principle is a concept used to organize or arrange the structural elements of a design and it applies to each element of a composition and to the composition as a whole. Again, without turning to a specific discipline, we can say that the basic Design Principles are composed by:

 

Balance

Balance is the concept of visual equilibrium of similar, opposing, or contrasting elements that together create a unified whole. It refers to the appropriate arrangement of the objects in a design to create the impression of equality in weight or importance. It comes in 2 forms: Symmetrical (when the weight of a composition is evenly distributed around a central vertical or horizontal axis) and Asymmetrical (when the weight of a composition is not evenly distributed around a central axis).

Emphasis

It marks the location in a composition which most strongly draw the viewer attention, it is also referred as the focal point. It is the most important area or object when compared to the other objects or areas in a composition. There are three stages of emphasis, related to the weight of a particular object within a composition: Dominant (the object with the most visual weight), Sub-dominant (the object or element of secondary emphasis) and Subordinate (the object with the least visual weight, which is usually the background).

Movement

Is the visual flow through the composition, where (depending on the elements placement) the designer can direct the viewer´s eye over the surface of the design. The movement can be directed along edges, shapes, lines, color, etc and the purpose of movement is to create unity with eye travel. By arranging the composition elements in a certain way, a designer can control and force the movement of the viewer's eyes in and around the composition.

Pattern

An object or symbol that repeats in the design is a pattern. It can be a pattern with a precise and regular repetition or an alternate pattern, which uses more than a single object or form of repetition. We can say that is simply keeping your design in a certain format.

Repetition

Repetition creates unity and consistency in the composition; it is the reuse of the same, similar or different objects throughout the design. The repetition can be irregular, regular, uneven or even and can be in the form of Radiation (where the repeated elements spread out from a central point) or Gradation (where the repeated elements become smaller or larger). It often works with a pattern to make it seem active and along with the Rhythm helps to create different types of it.

Proportion

Proportion is the comparative relationship in between two or more elements in a composition with respect to size, color, quantity, degree, etc, or between a whole object and one of its parts. The purpose of the proportion principle is to create a sense that has order between the elements used and to have a visual construction; and it can occur in two ways: Harmonious (when the elements are in proportion) or Unbalanced (when the disproportion is forced).

Rhythm

Rhythm is the alternation or repetition of elements with defined intervals between them, it creates a sense of movement and it is used to establish a pattern and/or a texture. There can be 3 different types of rhythm: Regular, Flowing or Progressive. The Regular rhythm occurs when the intervals between elements are similar, the Flowing rhythm gives a sense of movement while the Progressive rhythm shows a sequence of forms through a progression of steps.

Variety

Variety is the principle that refers to the combination of elements in an intricate and complex relationship using different values, lines, textures, shapes, hues, etc. It is complementary to unity and often needed to create visual interest or to call the attention to a specific area in the composition.

Unity

Unity it is used to describe the relationship between the individual elements and the whole of a composition (which creates a sense of completeness, that all of the parts belong together) and it is a concept that comes from the Gestalt theory of visual perception and psychology. Three of the most well-known concepts of this theory are the Closure (is the idea that the brain tends to fill in missing information when it perceives an object is missing some of its pieces), Continuance (is the idea that once you begin looking in one direction, you will continue to do so until something more significant catches your attention) and Similarity, Proximity and Alignment (is the idea that elements of similar size, shape and color tend to be grouped together by the brain).

Examples

In the following quick examples, you may notice how the Elements and Principles of Design are combined. The following examples do not pretend to be a complex explanation of the multiple possible combinations, but to serve as an easy visual example of how the elements and principles work together.

New materials in Industry

Products & Services Made Using Design Thinking:

From health to technology, design thinking has inspired human-centered products across a wide range of fields and industries. Now more than ever, startups, nonprofits, and large corporations are going out into the real world to understand their users’ needs and uncover insights that lead to innovative ideas. Here are some of our favorite examples of products and services created using design thinking.

 

1.      PillPack, a prescription home-delivery system :

 For many older adults, keeping track of when to take medications can be challenging and time-consuming. PillPack, an online pharmacy and a former startup-in-residence at IDEO that was acquired by Amazon, has sought to make the experience easier. The company created a prescription home-delivery system that organizes medications into presorted, easy-to-open packets labeled by date and time—and sends them straight to your door.

 

Instead of having medications in five different prescription bottles (in addition to vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter medicine) and having to remember when and how often to take them, you receive them all in packets with clearly marked time stamps that you tear open at specific times. By understanding customers’ needs and pain points, PillPack was able to design a more seamless and convenient prescription experience.

    

2.     Airbnb, the online platform that lets you stay anywhere:

When Airbnb was founded in 2008, homestays weren’t as common as they are today. In the company’s early days, people weren’t booking rooms, and revenue wasn’t increasing beyond $200 per week. Airbnb is now a multibillion dollar online platform for lodging and accomodations, but it was a moment of learning about their users that the founders saw as a turning point in getting the company to where it is today.

 

The early Airbnb team believed that people were hesitant to book through the platform because photos of listings were low resolution and didn’t effectively show users where they would be staying. As a result, they traveled to New York to spend time with hosts and help them take high quality photos, and revenue doubled. According to Joe Gebbia, the designer of the group, that instance of meeting their users changed the trajectory of the business. Today, Airbnb continues to encourage its employees to test ideas and understand the people who use their platform.

 

3.      Uber Eats, an app that’s redefining food delivery:

 Food delivery apps have changed how we eat. Uber Eats connects people to restaurants in cities all over the world, and each place has its own individual food culture and ecosystem. Uber realized that to create a product that would address the unique needs of each city, it needed to immerse and learn about the varied experiences of restaurant workers, delivery partners, and customers.

 

While developing Uber Eats, the team’s designers regularly traveled to different markets to interview users and observe their product out in the world, from shadowing delivery drivers to visiting local restaurant owners. Based on their insights, the team has run experiments and built prototypes to create features—such as the “Most Popular Items” category. Through research and iteration, the app has continued to evolve and transform the experience of food delivery.

 

4.      Pay It Plan It from American Express, a feature to manage your money:

 Unexpected health issues, car repairs, and other larger credit card purchases can lead to interest when not paid off on time. As a result, American Express worked with IDEO to start Pay It Plan It, a feature that gives cardmembers more flexibility and control over their money. Pay It allows you to make payments on small purchases that are less than $100 throughout the month while still earning rewards. While Plan It makes it possible to split large purchases of more than $100 into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee and no interest.

 

The research team found that many young adults were anxious about larger purchases, and they missed out on rewards when using debit cards or cash for small purchases. The two options of Pay It and Plan It were started in conjunction with each other to respond to both of these insights, and give people the tools to anticipate upcoming payments and take control of their spending. Today, almost all American Express consumer card members have access to Pay It Plan It.

 

5.      Project Bloks, a Google project that helps kids learn to code:

 Learning to code empowers kids to build new things, interact with their environment, and use their imaginations. Project Bloks is an interactive learning experience that teaches children how to experiment with code through physical blocks. It makes computer science educational, fun, and perhaps most importantly, tangible.

 

To create Project Bloks, Google Creative Lab collaborated with IDEO to discover how kids physically play and learn. They used materials like foam core, paper, Play-Doh, and 3D-printed models to find out what made children engaged and curious. The team’s kid-centered approach led them to realize that many kids gain skills through physical building. As a result, they ultimately decided to create a set of blocks with various functions and shapes, which kids could combine and arrange into different commands and patterns.

 

6.      Braun / Oral-B electric toothbrush, a better brushing experience:

 As Braun and Oral-B were designing their new electric toothbrush, they originally wanted to create a high-tech device that could provide in-depth data on people’s brushing performance. After consulting with designers Kim Colin and Sam Hecht of Future Facility, the team instead decided to include different features that better met their customers’ needs—and developed a toothbrush that can both charge through a USB port and connect with an app to easily order new brush heads.

 

The team’s research with their users allowed them to discover that people were typically already nervous about not brushing properly, and that such detailed data on hygiene habits would increase their anxiety. A key insight was that people were looking for ways to make brushing less stressful—for example, making it simple to charge their toothbrushes and get brush head replacements. The result is a product that removes barriers rather than adding additional ones.

 

7.      Moonrise, a platform that connects people with on-demand work:

 In the US, more than half of people don’t have cash to cover emergency expenses. Moonrise is a digital platform that matches workers looking for extra shifts with potential employers. It allows people to easily sign up for short-term, on-demand work with a partner organization via phone and get paid as soon as they finish, so they can earn extra money to pay for unexpected bills and other expenses. Additionally, they are labeled as W-2 employees of Moonrise rather than contractors, which means that they don’t pay self-employment taxes.

 

Before starting Moonrise as a new business venture, American Family Insurance worked with IDEO to uncover the needs of working families. Initially, they thought that people needed a budgeting tool, but their research began to show that people instead wanted a way to create a financial cushion from extra income. The team then tested a pilot with 11 Moonrisers, 6 employers, and a group of designers and programmers to create an efficient service. Since Moonrise launched in 2018, more than 7,000 people have applied to become Moonrisers, and they have earned more than $500,000.

 

 

8.      LA County Voting System, an intuitive and accessible voting device:

 

Los Angeles County, with a diverse population of almost 5 million registered voters, is the largest voting jurisdiction in the US. When its voting system, designed in the 1960s, started to become outdated and not serve the needs of the present, the county collaborated with Digital Foundry, Cambridge Consultants, and IDEO to prototype a new voting device that would be intuitive and accessible to residents of all backgrounds, including people who are low vision or hard of hearing, use wheelchairs, have learning disabilities, or speak different languages.

 

The team focused on creating a voting system that would be customizable for different user experiences. Touch screens navigate voters through the process, then provide a printed paper ballot that is placed into an integrated ballot box. There are 11 languages supported, and for those who are low vision, audio provides clear instructions. The result is a voting experience that supports equal access, meets the needs of today’s voters, and can be adaptable over time.

 

9.      Bendable, a community learning program for South Bend:

 

In today’s economy, people without higher-level degrees often have a difficult time accessing education and career support. The city of South Bend, Indiana partnered with The Drucker Institute and IDEO to build a lifelong learning program that helps communities stay resilient through change. Managed by South Bend’s St. Joseph County Public Library, Bendable serves as a community-powered platform that gives residents opportunities to learn from one another.

 

Before designing Bendable, the team interviewed more than 75 residents, librarians, and business owners to understand the needs of South Bend. Their on-the-ground research led them to realize that many South Bend residents wanted to learn from community members, yet at the same time were under-connected. The team created a repository of learning based on the skills of residents, and coordinated community connectors to share prototypes throughout South Bend. The result was a learning program centered around local knowledge and human connection.

 

QUESTIONS:

1.      Define & Briefly Explain Design Thinking?

2.      Explain History & Features of Design Thinking?

3.      Explain Principles of Design Thinking?

4.      Explain Basic Elements of Fundamental Design Components?

5.      Explain Principles of Design of Basic Elements?

6.      Briefly Discuss on New Materials in Industry 

Introduction to Design

Depending on the industry we are talking about, design can have many different definitions. Most generally, “design” is a process for deliberately creating a product to meet a set of needs. Mobile app development requires both engineering design and product design. Engineering design focuses on physics, such as speed, mass and other performance measures while product design also considers user and consumers by asking what the user wants in a product. Thus, Design is a realization of a concept or idea into a configuration, drawing or a product.

Characteristics of successful product development

A product is something sold by an enterprise to itscustomers oraproduct is a set of attributes offered to customers to fulfill their needs or requirements. It is obtainedbyconversionofrawmaterial.Theproductisanentityforwhichclear ideaofitsdesignanddevelopment isknown.Thepurposeoftheproduct shouldbe clearly visible.

 

 

Product Design & Development (PDD)

·         Basic need of everymanufacturingcompany

·         Consumerswantandexpectnewandbetter products

·         Nottoinnovateapproachisbecomingincreasinglyrisky

·         Innovatingnewproductisexpensiveandrisky

 

Whatisproductdevelopment?

Product Development is the set ofactivities, beginning with the perception of a market opportunity and ending in the production, sales and delivery of a product.The goal of the subject is to present a clear and detailed way a set of product development methods while focusing together the marketing, Design and manufacturing functions of the organization.

 

Product Development Process

 

 

 

 

Productdevelopmentisaninterdisciplinaryactivityrequiringcontribution from the following three functions.

Marketing

Design

 

 

 

Manufacturing

 

Marketing:Themarketing function mediates the interactions between the firm and its customers. Marketing also typically arranges for communication betweenthe firm and its customers, sets target prices and oversees the launch and promotion of the product.

Design: The design function playsthe lead rolein defining the physical formof the product to best meet customer needs. In this context, the design function includes engineering design (mechanical, electrical, software etc.) and industrial design (aesthetics, ergonomics, user interfaces).

Manufacturing: The manufacturing function is primarily responsible for designing and operating the production system in order to produce the product. Broadly defined, the manufacturing function also often includes purchasing, distribution and installation. This collection of activities is sometimes called the supply chain.