word description

Artifact Product due to extraneous (as human) agency (Webster).
In design the product is considered in a generalized sense, e.g. a physical object, a plan, a concept, etc.
Analysis analysis n, pl -yses [NL,fr. Gk, fr. analyein to break up, fr. ana- + lyein to loosen] 1: separation of a whole into its component parts 2 a: an examination of a complex, its elements, and their relations b: a statement of such an analysis (Webster)
Baseline An initial starting point for a design using an existing artifact (for example a modification to a device to be used for a new purpose).
Brainstorming A group process for generating ideas with no evaluation process.
Constraint imposed limitation
Fixed
These are fixed values assigned to a state variable. They may be performance requirements either specified as in an RFQ or some other form of problem statement such as the design requirements established in the conceptual stage, or may be chosen by the designer as typical values in order to reduce the number of degrees of freedom of the design.
Functional
These are the relations between the state variables, including the objective. They represent mathematical relations such as are embodied in the laws of physics; empirical relations obtained from experimental observations; and data bases compiled from previous designs.
Inequality
These place bounds on the allowable design space, and once a gain may either be specified in the problem statement as performance requirements or may be limits imposed by the designer
Criterion Test for acceptability of a synthesis
Criterion Function State (dependent) variable whose value is used as a criterion; normally to be optimized.
Degrees of freedom Number of design variables which must be specified to give a solution for the objective
Design design \di-z in\ vb [MF designer, fr. L designare, fr. de- + signare to mark, mark out] vt 1a: to conceive and plan out in the mind 3a: to make a drawing, pattern, or sketch of b: to draw plans for c: to create. fashion, execute, or construct according to plan ~ vi 1: to conceive or execute a plan 2: to draw, lay out, or prepare a design (Webster)
Engineering design is the repeated use of analysis or synthesis to determine the system that will provide an optimal performance characteristic, given a knowledge of the operating environment and other specified operating and performance characteristics.
Design Space Totality of all values of state variables satisfying equality and fixed constraints
Design Variable State variable chosen as independent variable
Feasible Region Design space where inequality constraints are also satisfied
Nominal solution Synonymous with baseline solution
Objective Function State (dependent) variable to be optimized
Payoff Function Synonymous with design objective
State Variable Variable determining the state of system under study.
Synthesis synthesis n, pl -theses [Gk, fr. syntithenai to put together, fr. syn- + tithenai to put, place] 1a: the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole 2a: a deductive reasoning

Artifact	Product due to extraneous (as human) agency (Webster). In design the product is considered in a generalized sense, e.g. a physical object, a plan, a concept, etc.
Analysis	analysis n, pl -yses [NL,fr. Gk, fr. analyein to break up, fr. ana- + lyein to loosen] 1: separation of a whole into its component parts 2 a: an examination of a complex, its elements, and their relations b: a statement of such an analysis (Webster)
Baseline	An initial starting point for a design using an existing artifact (for example a modification to a device to be used for a new purpose).
Brainstorming	A group process for generating ideas with no evaluation process.
Constraint	imposed limitation
Fixed	These are fixed values assigned to a state variable. They may be performance requirements either specified as in an RFQ or some other form of problem statement such as the design requirements established in the conceptual stage, or may be chosen by the designer as typical values in order to reduce the number of degrees of freedom of the design.
Functional	These are the relations between the state variables, including the objective. They represent mathematical relations such as are embodied in the laws of physics; empirical relations obtained from experimental observations; and data bases compiled from previous designs.
Inequality	These place bounds on the allowable design space, and once a gain may either be specified in the problem statement as performance requirements or may be limits imposed by the designer
Criterion	Test for acceptability of a synthesis
Criterion Function	State (dependent) variable whose value is used as a criterion; normally to be optimized.
Degrees of freedom	Number of design variables which must be specified to give a solution for the objective
Design	design \di-z in\ vb [MF designer, fr. L designare, fr. de- + signare to mark, mark out] vt 1a: to conceive and plan out in the mind 3a: to make a drawing, pattern, or sketch of b: to draw plans for c: to create. fashion, execute, or construct according to plan ~ vi 1: to conceive or execute a plan 2: to draw, lay out, or prepare a design (Webster) Engineering design is the repeated use of analysis or synthesis to determine the system that will provide an optimal performance characteristic, given a knowledge of the operating environment and other specified operating and performance characteristics.
Design Space	Totality of all values of state variables satisfying equality and fixed constraints
Design Variable	State variable chosen as independent variable
Feasible Region	Design space where inequality constraints are also satisfied
Nominal solution	Synonymous with baseline solution
Objective Function	State (dependent) variable to be optimized
Payoff Function	Synonymous with design objective
State Variable	Variable determining the state of system under study.
Synthesis	synthesis n, pl -theses [Gk, fr. syntithenai to put together, fr. syn- + tithenai to put, place] 1a: the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole 2a: a deductive reasoning