Design Teams and Design Project Management
Learning Objectives
In this chapter we will discuss how to identify and define a project opportunity and how to put together and manage a team to be effective in a product design project. Readers will be able to:
- Apply tools to define the risks and potential gains for a design opportunity.
- Describe the process of decision-making at the individual and team level.
- Use tools to manage project deliverable times and responsibilities.
- Understand and practice being an effective design team member.
A product design project is a complex and dynamic process that requires a clear understanding of the problem, the context, and the goals. One of the first steps in any product design project is to identify and define a project opportunity, which is a gap or a need that can be addressed by a new or improved product. A project opportunity can arise from various sources, such as customer feedback, market research, technological innovation, or social trends. To define a project opportunity, we need to answer questions such as: Who are the potential users and customers of the product? What are their needs, wants, and preferences? What are the existing solutions and competitors in the market? What are the technical, economic, environmental, and ethical constraints and criteria for the product? How can we measure the success of the product?
Another important step in a product design project is to put together and manage a team that can work effectively and efficiently to achieve the project goals. A product design team typically consists of people with different skills, backgrounds, and perspectives, such as engineers, designers, marketers, managers, and customers. A product design team needs to have a clear vision, mission, and strategy for the project, as well as a well-defined division of roles and responsibilities. A product design team also needs to communicate frequently and openly, to share information, ideas, feedback, and decisions. A product design team should also foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, and innovation, where team members respect each other’s opinions, support each other’s efforts, and learn from each other’s experiences.
