8.1: Design Basics

8.1 Design Basics

Woodworking begins before you turn on a machine.

A good project starts with an idea, but that idea must eventually become something that can actually be built.

Design is the process of deciding what an object should do, how it should look, how it will be made, and what materials and processes will be used.

Good design is not simply making something look interesting. It brings together function, appearance, materials, construction, and craftsmanship.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this section, you should be able to:

• Identify several questions that should be considered before beginning a project.
• Explain the relationship between function, appearance, and construction.
• Develop several possible solutions before committing to one design.
• Recognize how materials, tools, time, and skill affect design decisions.
• Explain why planning before cutting wood can save time and material.

Begin With the Purpose

Before designing an object, ask:

What is this supposed to do?

Consider:

• Who will use it?
• Where will it be used?
• What does it need to hold, support, protect, or display?
• How large should it be?
• Does it need to move, open, close, fold, or carry something?
• How strong does it need to be?

A project that does not perform its intended function is not successful simply because it looks good.

Function

Function describes how well the object performs its intended job.

A functional design should consider:

• size;
• strength;
• stability;
• comfort;
• access;
• durability; and
• how the user interacts with it.

For example, the handle on a tool tote must do more than look good. It must provide enough clearance for a hand, remain comfortable under load, and be connected strongly enough to carry the tote.

Appearance

Appearance includes:

• proportion;
• balance;
• line;
• shape;
• grain;
• color;
• texture; and
• visual relationships between parts.

Wood adds another design element because the material itself has grain and figure.

The direction and appearance of the grain can become part of the design.

Construction and Craftsmanship

A design must also be buildable.

Consider:

• What joinery is appropriate?
• Will the wood be able to move with changes in moisture?
• Can the parts be machined safely?
• Are the required tools available?
• Can the project be assembled?
• Can surfaces be sanded and finished after assembly?
• Can you complete the project with the time and skills available?

A beautiful idea that cannot reasonably be constructed is not yet a complete design.

Design Within Constraints

Every project has constraints.

These may include:

• maximum dimensions;
• available lumber;
• required joinery;
• available machines;
• cost;
• available class time; and
• your current level of experience.

Constraints are not necessarily limitations on creativity.

They give the design a problem to solve.

The cutting-board project, for example, allowed considerable freedom within specific requirements. The challenge was to make individual design decisions while still producing a functional object.

Develop More Than One Idea

Do not become attached to the first idea you draw.

A useful design process is:

1. Identify the requirements.
2. Make several quick sketches.
3. Compare the ideas.
4. Select one or two promising directions.
5. Refine proportions and details.
6. Consider materials and joinery.
7. Identify possible construction problems.
8. Develop enough information to begin planning the build.

Early sketches do not need to be beautiful.

Their purpose is to help you think.

Changes Are Cheaper Before You Cut

Changing a pencil line is easy.

Changing a board after you have cut it too short is more difficult.

Planning allows you to find problems before they become expensive mistakes.

Before beginning a project, try to answer:

• What are the major parts?
• How do they connect?
• What dimensions matter most?
• Which dimensions can be determined later from the actual project?
• What operations must happen before others?
• Where are the difficult or risky steps?

You do not need to predict everything.

You do need to think far enough ahead that the next few steps make sense.

Prototype When It Helps

Sometimes a quick model or test piece communicates more than another drawing.

Useful prototypes may include:

• a cardboard model;
• a full-size paper shape;
• a scrap-wood joint;
• a test curve;
• a router setup on scrap material; or
• an extra project part made before the final one.

A prototype gives you a low-cost opportunity to learn before working on the finished material.

Check Yourself

1. What is the first question to ask when beginning a design?
2. What are three factors that contribute to the appearance of a woodworking project?
3. Why must construction be considered during design?
4. How can constraints help a design?
5. Why should you develop more than one initial idea?
6. When might a prototype be useful?