| A | B |
|---|
| Aesthetics | How something looks, especially when considered in terms of how pleasing it is |
| Analysis | The detailed examination of something in order to understand it better or draw conclusions from it |
| Annotated Sketch | A detailed sketch that is labeled with critical dimensions, notes and symbols |
| Brainstorming | A method of generating creative ideas spontaneously, usually for problem-solving, and especially in an intensive group discussion that does not allow time for reflection |
| Closed Loop System | A control system that uses feedback to maintain a desired output |
| Constraints | Rules that govern the position and relationships among sketch geometry or the relationships between parts in an assembly |
| Design | The intentional, planned process or creating a product that is function, attractive, and competitively priced |
| Ideation Sketching | A rapid technique of sketching to capture and develop ideas. A way to record ideas from the “mind’s eye” to a graphic form of communication |
| Innovation | An improvement or addition to a product or idea that already exists; New and unique application of a product |
| Invention | The creation of something completely new or unique, such as the invention of a tool |
| Mock-up | A physical model constructed from inexpensive materials intended to represent a design and analyze a design concept, commonly called appearance models. This model is constructed proportionally, correct but not normally to scale |
| Open Loop System | A control process which operates without knowledge of the actual output (i.e., the output is dependent only on the input) |
| Prototype | A full size, functional, working model of a design that is completed before a part is manufactured, which allows the object to be tested and analyzed before production begins |
| Serendipity | An accidental, but fortuitous discovery of something while attempting to solve an unrelated problem; The faculty of finding valuable or agreeable things |
| Thumbnail Sketch | Small developmental sketches to communicate design ideas |
| Trade-Off | A compromise to get from the best solution to the optimum solution |
| Jink's Method | A form of modeling, which uses square dowels connected by gluing reinforcing gussets of index card stock |
| Physical Modeling | ex: mock-up, prototype, Jink’s method |
| Mathematical Modeling | ex: using formulas like area to determine how much paint to buy, or calculating the mean (average) of data |
| Graphical Modeling | ex: constructing a graph to represent data (ex: MS Excel) |
| Computer Modeling | CAD (like Inventor), stress analysis (like finite element analysis) |
