Describe how trade-offs may be made during the design process in order to optimize a solution.

Description should include decisions to use one material over another due to factors such as strength, cost, or aesthetics; decisions to eliminate unnecessary elements; and/or decisions to meet minimum specifications in order to save resources (e.g., money, time, material).

Process/Skill Questions:

• What is an example of making a trade-off on a design?
• How do trade-offs affect a design?
• What might trade-offs provide for a design?
• How is optimization important to a design?