Technical Drawing

Technical drawings have been used to describe designs for centuries. A modern equivalent is a Computer-Aided Drawing (CAD), which can be readily drawn using software packages such as SolidWorks or free alternatives such as Google SketchUp.

Technical drawings should clearly help the reader or audience understand how your design works.

Example application

If your design is a physical object, technical drawings are used when registering a design patent. Design patents are used to protect your design so that you can gain a commercial advantage, and might be a consideration if your design is novel and has broad potential. Google maintains a Patent database search via Google Scholar, and many ANU engineering alumni have worked at IPAustralia, our patent office (see guest lecture slides from 2015)

Technical drawings are often shown in views: top, side, front and isometric. If your design has multiple components, it might be good to show a cross-section or exploded view of your design.

Alternative representations

The purpose of this topic is to communicate your design. You might find these alternatives more relevant depending on your project or idea:

• Wireframes are useful for showing Graphical User Interface (GUI) design. Many GUIs have design standards, such as Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines [website]
• Videos or storyboards are a great way to show how a design will work. A good way to structure a video is using the Minto method described below
• Think about using rapid prototyping to communicate your design

Minto method

The Minto method is a useful way to structure a narrative around your design

• Situation: what is the situation you are addressing?
• Complication: why is this an issue that needs to be addressed? Problematise your question
• Resolution: what should we do to resolve the problem?
• Governing Thought: show how your design will fulfil the design need

Golden Circle

Another way to communicate your design is using the Golden Circle technique, shown by Simon Sinek in his TED talk [video 3m39s]

• start with ‘Why’- few organisations understand why they do something
• then ‘How’ - some organisations know how they do what they do differently
• then ‘What’ - all organisations know what they offer

Core resources

• MITOpenCourseware Design Handbook: Engineering Drawing and Sketching [Online or as PDF]

Further resources

• See the MITOpenCourseware page for further examples, such as Creating CAD components and Assemblies [Online]