Identify what criteria need to be met for the problem to be solved. (Criteria are measurable attributes of an engineering design, such as how far a rocket must fly.) Determine the constraints or restrictions that impact the design, such as the cost of materials for engineers or the materials available to students. This step usually involves conducting research about similar problems and exploring how they were addressed in the past.

Talk with team members to brainstorm as many solutions as possible. Most problems have multiple feasible solutions and coming up with many possibilities at this stage allows for optimization during the design phase. 

Evaluate which of the brainstormed idea(s) best fit the constraints of the problem. Create a drawing or diagram on paper.

Actualize the design using the materials available.

Test how well the design meets the criteria and stays within the constraints.

Redesign to better meet the criteria while fitting within the constraints or redesign to improve beyond the original scope of the problem. Build and test again.

Present your work (verbally, in writing, etc.) at any point in the iterative process. Note: This step provides students with an opportunity to reflect upon the process and affirm the importance of their work. Sharing solutions can help inspire redesign work or help students meaningfully summarize their work. Engineers publish their work to make the research steps at the beginning of the process easier and more productive for other engineers facing similar problems.