Which step comes third in the Engineering Design Process?

In the Engineering Design Process, the third step is "Research and select solutions." This step follows the initial phase of identifying the problem and defining the criteria and constraints that the solution must meet. During this stage, teams gather information about existing solutions, technologies, and materials that may help them in developing their own ideas.

Research allows for a thorough understanding of what has already been done and helps identify viable options that align with the established criteria and constraints. By selecting solutions based on this research, teams can ensure that they are building on existing knowledge and innovations, which can lead to more effective and efficient designs.

Once this research phase is complete and solutions are selected, the subsequent steps involve designing and prototyping, followed by testing the product, thereby ensuring that each part of the process builds upon the previous one to achieve a well-engineered solution.