Design Philosophy? 3

[Althalus]

I was looking at a list of items that a client requires for a bid/proposal. One of the items is "Design Philosophy". Does anyone have examples of what this would include? It seems too trite to imagine that a client wants a simple statement about the company outlook on engineering. So what is it?

This item is listed for both civil and structural departments. I am creating "Company Standards" and "Design Criteria". But I don't think that is the same thing as a "philosophy". I've also provided a description of our intent as an engineering company. But I really don't know what they want.

Anyone?


Althalus

 

[beej67]

"At Althalus Engineering, we endeavor to provide as little actual work as possible for the largest fee. Your product is guaranteed to be hacked together from previous designs by a bunch of poorly paid interns with little or no oversight. Althalus prides itself on relying completely on reviewers and clients to do our QC for us, and figures we pay enough in insurance to cover any screw ups."



Sorry for the humor, haven't had my coffee yet this morning. If I were you, I'd just write the opposite of the above.

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[BigInch]

Describe what you will design and how you will design it.
Typically it is a whole lot more what rather than how.
The client is trying to determine if you understand the concept of what he wants designed, so he is asking you to translate the concept he explained to you so you can turn it into written words on a page. From that, he will ask any further questions of your concept to see if your ideas match his, or he will more fully explain the things that he finds deficient, or ask you to add details to the things that he thinks you have not covered sufficiently, or left out entirely.

You might want to explain how you will design something, if it is a very important item, or technically complex, or difficult to design and the design method used could make a significant difference in the integrity, or quality of the item being delivered.

Independent events are seldomly independent.

 

[msquared48]

KISS

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[fel3]

beej67…I may have to adopt that.

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"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill

 

[racookpe1978]

Safety. Quality. Economy. Efficiency. Satisfaction.

(Look at your company's "goals" or business statement, or copy it directly as a "summary" of your design. Maybe this will be the first time it will be used profitably.)

 

[brandonbw]

I would write a basic idea of how to design the site by saving money and making it better, not in those words. I went through this walking a job site recently and I was designing on the fly out loud, while walking. The client kept asking, but can you do this? Just write out what you plan to do and how to approach the challenge and why you guys are best suited to be hired.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com

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http://bwstructuralengineer.com

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http://bwcivilengineer.com

 

[bridgebuster]

I agree with BigInch; it sounds like they're asking for a technical approach to the project.

beej67 - I think we work for the same company