Design ExercisesDesign ExercisesInformatics 121Informatics 121

Oct 28, 2008Oct 28, 2008

Design Exercise IIDesign Exercise IIEach team should create a design for a Each team should create a design for a bridge using a single set of Geomag bridge using a single set of Geomag magnetic sticks and balls.magnetic sticks and balls.

The bridge must span an 8 inch gap.The bridge must span an 8 inch gap.

The bridge must be able to suspend a The bridge must be able to suspend a large can of Play-Doh at an arbitrary spot large can of Play-Doh at an arbitrary spot on the bridge.on the bridge.

The cost of the bridge should be The cost of the bridge should be minimized. Each stick and each ball cost minimized. Each stick and each ball cost 1000 dollars.1000 dollars.

Exercise II, Exercise II, cont’d.cont’d.

On Tuesday, bring a description of your design to On Tuesday, bring a description of your design to class.class.

This description must be This description must be text onlytext only. This is . This is important. The description must be important. The description must be text only.text only.

Another team will build the bridge according to Another team will build the bridge according to this design, and will have 20 minutes to do so.this design, and will have 20 minutes to do so.

The design team and build team will not be able The design team and build team will not be able to communicate or clarify anything with each to communicate or clarify anything with each other.other.

The designers and builders of the lowest cost The designers and builders of the lowest cost bridge that spans 8 inches and supports the can bridge that spans 8 inches and supports the can of Play-Doh will win.of Play-Doh will win.

Exercise II, Exercise II, cont’d.cont’d.

Now it’s time to BUILD your bridge …Now it’s time to BUILD your bridge …

Again, NO communications between Again, NO communications between design team and build team !design team and build team !

… … 20 minutes … 20 minutes …

Exercise II, cont’dExercise II, cont’dThe cost structure of sticks and balls has The cost structure of sticks and balls has changedchanged

blue and green sticks cost 2000 dollarsblue and green sticks cost 2000 dollarsyellow sticks still cost 1000 dollars, but no ball yellow sticks still cost 1000 dollars, but no ball can have more than one yellow stick attached to can have more than one yellow stick attached to ititred sticks still cost 1000 dollars, but no ball can red sticks still cost 1000 dollars, but no ball can have any red sticks attached to it have any red sticks attached to it for each ball that violates these restrictions, a for each ball that violates these restrictions, a 5000 dollar "reinforcement" penalty will be 5000 dollar "reinforcement" penalty will be incurred incurred

The The build build team will need to improvise to team will need to improvise to address this changeaddress this change

You have 10 extra minutesYou have 10 extra minutes

ReflectionReflectionAs a builderAs a builder

was the design understandable?was the design understandable?

was the design complete?was the design complete?

was the design modifiable?was the design modifiable?

how much did you have to deviate from how much did you have to deviate from the original design?the original design?

what do you think of text as the what do you think of text as the representation for the design you built?representation for the design you built?

did you feel you were designing?did you feel you were designing?

ReflectionReflectionAs a designer:As a designer:

what do you think of text as the what do you think of text as the representation for your design?representation for your design?

how much could you draw upon your how much could you draw upon your existing knowledge of bridges?existing knowledge of bridges?

how much did the limited amount of how much did the limited amount of materials (e.g., number of sticks and materials (e.g., number of sticks and balls) influence your design?balls) influence your design?

Designer: how did the caveat that “some Designer: how did the caveat that “some things may change” influence your things may change” influence your design and design process?design and design process?