Testing an Engineering Design Iteration Model in an Experimental Setting

In this paper, we compare two alternative design strategies for the Delta Design Game, an engineering design exercise. We first analyze these strategies using the Work Transformation Matrix, a design iteration model which shows that one of the strategies is expected to display a faster solution time. We then demonstrate experimentally the difference in development time by observing eight design teams working on the problem using the two strategies. We found that the "decoupling strategy" suggested by the model reduced solution time while maintaining quality of the technical solutions.