Bring clarity to your chaotic code! Learn the three core principles of modular programming (abstraction, encapsulation, cohesion) to build scalable, maintainable, and professional-grade software systems.
All in Design Methods
How Might We… Craft Better HMW Statements?
"How Might We" (HMW) statements transform ambiguous problems into clear, opportunity-driven starting points for design. When crafted well, they inspire creativity and focus ideation. This article by Christ Mattson breaks down how engineers can leverage HMW statements to effectively reframe challenges and unlock innovative solutions.
Explained: Engineering Photography
Explore how photography bridges the gap between the technical and artistic. It's a powerful tool for showcasing innovations, stimulating creativity, and communicating complex designs, essential for engineers in all fields.
Explained: The Design of Modern Fireworks
Explore the science and engineering behind captivating fireworks displays. From their historical origins to cutting-edge innovations, learn how customizable shells create the brilliant colors, sounds, and patterns that light up our celebrations.
The Scarf: A Most Versatile Design
Journey to Cambodia with Dr. John Salmon to discover the krama, a traditional Cambodian scarf, and its surprising versatility. Learn how this single item, rich in cultural meaning, offers a variety of practical uses, from sun protection to carrying essentials. Explore how the power of design blends beauty, meaning, and utility.
Dr. Paul MacCready and The Kremer Prize
Flight! People have wondered about it since the beginning of time. Paul MacCready was one of those people deeply interested in flight. What follows is a story of Paul MacCready, and what we can learn from him in the engineering design process.
5 Design Lessons I’ve Learned From Watching Too Much Shark Tank
From a door lock that flips tradition upside down to a pair of finger chopsticks for snacking while you work, Shark Tank is full of design inspiration. In this article, Blake takes a dive into some of the most important design lessons we can learn from Shark Tank.
The Principles of Garden Design and Their Application Beyond Landscapes
Design inspiration can come from unexpected places—like a garden. This article looks at how the core principles behind garden design—unity, balance, contrast, and more—can be applied beyond landscaping to fields like engineering, product development, and user experience. By examining the purpose and planning behind well-known gardens, we uncover how thoughtful design rooted in nature can lead to more intentional, people-focused creations in any discipline.
Caution: Road Construction Design Ahead
Road construction is a hallmark of American road experiences – and it's not necessarily a cherished one. However, breakthroughs in nanotechnology hold promising possibilities to not only fix potholes but also reinforce infrastructure for decades to come. Dive into the design principles behind these concrete innovations in this brief discussion.
Designing an Ice Cream Flavor: Crafting an Adventure
Designing a new ice cream flavor is an adventure! Read what Dylan Conover discovered after talking to Chef John, an ice cream designer.
Decomposition in Design
I immediately realized that decomposition could be translated into other aspects of life. It became an essential part of how I view and approach any problem.
Why Study the Design Process?
Why would you undertake a deep study of engineering design, or the design process, when you could go about design on your own and learn from your own experience? There is value to be gained from studying design, and I want to add my own take on why studying design is an important complement to hands-on experience.
Engineering with an Impact
Making a lasting change is my biggest goal in life, and I hope to share in this article the things that I have learned about how to be an engineer with impact. In voicing what has helped me to be more impactful in my undergraduate career up to this point, I hope you can gain more insight into what you can do from day to day to do the same.
Design Thinking Part 4: Framing and Reframing Design Problems
Problem framing is about uncovering the actual problem worth solving – which is often hidden to everyone when the design process begins. A key part of framing and reframing is to see the problem from various perspectives and to search for best match between the problem frames and the solution candidates. This article provides the basics of problem framing and positions it as the backbone of Design Thinking.
How Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Engineering Design
Have you thought about how AI will affect your design work? I’m excited for the ways that AI can facilitate product realization work, and in this article I describe why.
Beyond Paper: How to Make Origami Out of Thick Materials
Many people either know about origami, have seen others fold origami, or have folded it themselves, but very few people can translate origami crease patterns into 3D objects and designs. That skill is necessary to take origami from a hobby to an engineering tool. I want to push your origami knowledge and exposure just a little deeper and go beyond the paper pattern. Specifically, after reading this article, you’ll be able to make an origami tessellation pattern out of materials thicker than paper.
What is Systems Design? Part 3: The Case for Model Based Systems Engineering
Here in Part 3 we tackle the challenge of performing systems design at various points on the system design spectrum in a planned and coordinated manner such that all designs, small and large, are properly specified, decomposed, allocated, tested, and integrated into a desirable and successful complete system.
A Spoonful of Paper Helps the Prototype Go Down
I’ve come to learn is that the prototyping stage can (and should) belong at the very beginning of the design process. This article will focus on the role that early prototyping – specifically paper prototyping – can play in developing strong designs.
Visual Thinking Exercises for Engineers
Visual thinking skills enables good sketching. Good sketching facilitates rapid design iteration. Good design emerges from significant iteration. Based on this logic, visual thinking skills are foundational to good design.
From Chaos to Clarity in the Design Process
It's the nature of design to be messy and complicated. Eventually what felt chaotic in design becomes clear. Making that transition from chaos to clarity is greatly facilitated by checking four things about your process. This article discusses those four things.