Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Open University

An introduction to design engineering

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

This free course, An introduction to design engineering, looks at the way in which engineers use ideas and approaches from the discipline of design thinking to inform their work. The complexity that people bring to design problems is introduced, along with some basic methods of dealing with such complexity.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Design beginnings
  • 1 Design beginnings
  • 1.1 Design is more than aesthetics and appearance
  • 1.2 Design is more than products and objects
  • 1.3 Design is not just for designers
  • 1.4 Design is much more than just solving a single problem
  • 1.5 Design is about thinking around the object
  • 1.6 Design is …
  • 2 Inspiring design engineering
  • 2 Inspiring design engineering
  • 2.1 My definition of design
  • 2.2 Summary of Section 2
  • 3 Design drivers
  • 3 Design drivers
  • 3.1 Common design drivers
  • 3.2 Design driver examples
  • 3.3 Summary of Section 3
  • 4 Designing for people
  • 4 Designing for people
  • 4.1 People and variation
  • 4.2 Practical variation
  • 4.3 Numerical variation
  • 4.4 Using numbers to design
  • 4.5 Visualising numbers
  • Histograms and bar charts
  • 4.6 Designing for people using numbers
  • 4.7 Summary of Section 4
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

Reviews

4.7 rating at OpenLearn based on 7 ratings

Start your review of An introduction to design engineering

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.