This chapter proposes and demonstrates a particular approach to observing technology as a means of enhancing the conceptual design abilities of engineers. Designers can improve their skills by continuously understanding the underlying concepts in existing designs. For this process to be beneficial, however, it must be carried out at the appropriate level. The designer who does that will be able to develop a “bag of tricks” for future use.

Improving Design Abilities

Parameter analysis is not only a framework for carrying out innovative design, but also a method of developing skills in designers. In the conceptual design process, nothing can replace that spark of creativity which ignites good ideas. Some people are naturally blessed with more creative capabilities than others, but all designers need to practice the skill of conceptual design in order to develop it to its full potential. This is analogous to a naturally able athlete persevering through many hours of practice to attain a competitively high level of performance or to a famous actor who keeps attending drama classes throughout his professional life. In other words, a good designer must “practice” continuously to develop his or her skills. Every coach has a method by which he trains his athletes, and every drama teacher uses a particular technique of drama instruction. In a similar way, parameter analysis forms a coaching method that can sharpen the designer's inventive talents and ignite the spark of creativity more regularly.