Reflection – Visualisation

Challenge & Selection

The challenge is to design an extraction system for the City FMCG (De Crown). The De Crown system to detect diamonds in kimberlite rocks by  locating a cluster of Carbon 14 present in the rocks which would signify the presence of a  diamond in that particular rock. The extraction system is coupled to the system to efficient  extract liberated (i.e. diamond containing) kimberlite rocks and thus preventing the crushing  of larger diamonds during the crushing process. The tool that I have utilised is Visualisation,  to achieve a broad understanding of how to develop a suitable and more efficient solution to  the development of various solutions for the specific problem. I have applied the tool along  with the Pugh model and extrapolation for the design concept solution selected based on the  given customer requirements for the product to identify qualities and flaws in each idea to  improve each of the solutions.

Application

For the process, I mainly focus on the steps as well as the outcome of the final design to  create a more efficient and durable concept idea for the final product by utilising visual  concept design. I will use the technique of freehand sketching of the different concepts on a  blank paper and use other forms of representation of the drawings such as Computer-Aided  Design (CAD) renderings to explore, analyse and create a visual communication of the  concept.

Using sketches to visualise the concept solutions to the problem, I can extrapolate and also  find errors and be able to fix and or improve those problem areas of the solutions to create a  better and viable one. By creating sketches of possible solutions with a focus on the process  of operation of the product as well as the outcome of how the design of the final product is  required, I can thus apply the Pugh model (matrix) which allows the for the comparison of  different individual concept designs based on the set of criteria which the product must meet.  The criteria's can be arranged in terms of the rank of importance, and each sketch is then  ranked accordingly based on the criteria. The criteria can be such as, 1) Performance, 2) Cost  of manufacturing, 3) Ease of manufacturing, 4) Safety, 5) Reliability and this can be ranked  from 0-10 with 0 as criteria not met and 10 as criteria highly met.

From the criteria ranks, the solution which is created and can be visualised from sketches is  then selected based on the highest score obtained for each solution. The selected solution for  the problem can now be drawn with the use of a CAD visualisation tool and then refined and  any proposed minor changes, it be for aesthetics or otherwise added to create a final 2-D  working/design drawing that can then be used to manufacture the actual product that best  meets the design requirements as per the request of the customer or company.

Insight & Approach

What I have learned from this exercise is that visualisation creates a variety of visible  scenarios that apply to solve a problem and creates animation in the mind on how the concept

idea would function if its prototype is created. The tool allowed me to generate different ideas  whilst applying visual animation rather than just the direct assumption of the idea of  functioning without creating a visual prototype. I was able to develop numerous solutions to  the problem and this has increased how I view design thinking and concept generation for a  specific problem. By applying different tools such as sketching and CAD I was able to create  a viable solution to the problem that is functional and efficient.

A visualisation tool is indeed a valuable tool that I have learned allows innovative thinking  that is not only enjoyable to go through, but the outcome of the process produces ideas that  are just as good. I will be applying this insight to all my design concept development and  selection for all future design work.

