This is a diagram of one method to utilize solar energy: solar panels. 

Diagram of hydropower plant

Sketches of solar panels

Side, front, and top sketches of a impound hydro-power facility

Use this Presentation rubric as a guide when presenting your project 

Use this as a guide to do your activities and projects and to present

Prompt

Now that we've brainstormed and sketched and prototyped and FINALLY landed on a solid idea, it's time to delve into the realm of iterative design.

Iterative design is when you take your initial idea, get feedback, and improve upon that idea and your prototype in a cycle that can happen an infinite number of times (until you hit your deadline, of course!)

For this project, we will be doing two iterations that focus on FORM and FUNCTION. 

Part One: Form

Discuss the following questions with your partner:

How can you improve the FORM of your design?

• Can you add another level of elegance, refinement, or more creativity to your design?
• Does the shape of each component of your design have anything to do with its function or use?
• If your object is interactive, how can you invite users in using only the visual nature of your design?

In design, there should be a clear progression from one set of prototypes to the next as you make design decisions. 

Important: Make sure you really examine the full range of materials available to you in this studio and make thoughtful choices about which materials you're using and why.

Part 2: Function 

Discuss the following questions with your partner: 

How can you improve the FUNCTION of your design?

• Does it move in the way you want it to?
• Does your prototype work the way you want it to? What are some mechanical kinks that you need to work out?
• Can you find additional precedents* for the type of mechanisms and functionality that you are incorporating into your design? Do a quick search to see if there is a project like yours out there. What inspiration can you gather from it? 

Note: It is okay if your project does not feature interactive elements. However, if you're skipping this step, you must invest more energy in the visual design. 

About interactivity...

The key element of interactivity is taking an input and converting it to an output. Luckily, there are a lot of simple ways to add interactivity to projects. Now that you've learned some Arduino basics, think about how the inputs and outputs of the Arduino could be added to your project, if applicable.

Deliverable

Create a post in the Responses tab that includes the following:

1. 3 photographs of your final prototype 
2. 3 close-up photographs of your final prototype that show the quality of the design 
3. 3 photographs of your final prototype that clearly communicate how people engage with it 
4. If you added interactivity, write 1-2 sentences describing the interactive elements you added to your project

Purpose: In this activity, students will be introduced to best practices of initial sketching and ideation within their final groups.

Description: Students will work in their project groups to generate initial ideas about their concept in the form of sketches.

Instructions

Part 1: In your group, begin discussing your possible concepts. Each group member should participate to get their ideas heard. Settle on an overall concept that encompasses the project criteria.

Part 2: Next, students should begin to develop initial sketches. Each group member should do their own sketch to communicate how they picture the concept. These initial sketches should be used to record initial ideas, gain consensus within your group, and demonstrate specific aspects of an idea. 

Part 3: Once each sketch is complete, share your sketches with your instructor.

DELIVERABLES:

Upload your sketches to the Responses tab above.