If you’re gift shopping for someone you know who is a designer or an engineer, this article is for you. (And if you are that designer or engineer, this article is definitely for you!)
What your Filenames Reveal About your Design Mindset
From very prominent and obvious choices to the very small and seemingly inconsequential choices, design is everywhere. In this article, learn about what other people may conclude (correct or not) about you and the quality of your work based solely on the way you name your files.
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.
How to Design a Halloween Costume
Happy Halloween! Take a look at this year’s Halloween article where Emelia Sunday shares some thoughts on how the engineering design process can help you create your own Halloween costume.
The Magic of Magnets in Mechanical Design
Magnets seem magical, but we don't have to be wizards to use them. Read about tips, suggestions, and practical advice on how to include and use magnets in your next design project for some amazing results.
A Woman, An Immigrant, and A Nuclear Engineer: Interview with Guirong Pan
Emelia Sunday was able to tour the Westinghouse nuclear fuel production facility and meet some engineers. She shares select questions from her interview with Guirong Pan, a nuclear engineer, and learned some useful things we should all know.
Designing a College Semester: More Than Planning
School is back in session but many students will miss out on opportunities to maximize their learning, growth, and improvement. Dylan Conover shares some thoughts on how students can better design their semester and increase their performance in many areas with the right mindset and actions with more than planning.
What I Wish I Knew About Learning as an Undergrad
We all learn a lot while obtaining our university degrees. But learning how to learn is just as important. Find out what Marin wished she had known earlier during her undergrad about learning.
Avoiding the Next Boeing Door Plug Incident: Lessons from the YF-22
The F-22 Raptor is an amazing engineering aircraft and can teach some amazing design lessons. In this article, you'll learn about some of the most poignant lessons from Larry Howell's experience working on an early version and prototype of the F-22, designated the YF-22.
Good Design from the Summer of 2024
Summer is a time for relaxing but it doesn't mean it's a time to stop innovating. Learn about some good designs that we discovered over the summer of 2024.
The Harp: A Perfect Union of Design Function and Form
The harp is a perfect example of the balance between design function and form. In this article, learn about certain design choices that make this instrument so beautiful to play, beautiful to see, and beautiful to design.
Important Design Considerations for Additive Manufacturing
This article examines the transformative impact of 3D printing across various industries, from aerospace to construction and even culinary arts. It offers practical design tips for optimizing your prints, such as adjusting support structures, infill percentages, and finishing techniques to enhance both functionality and aesthetics. Learn how to leverage these insights to elevate your projects and harness the full potential of this versatile technology.
Product Development Lessons from the NES Controller
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Controller is an icon of the 1980’s and a symbol of the video gaming industry. This article describes the history of Nintendo as it relates to the NES and derives general product development lessons from the design of the NES Controller.
Is Documentation Valuable to the Design Process?
I visited 21 design firms and asked their designers and engineers what they thought about documentation. This is what I learned.
Crafting iconic products: The Power of a Branded approach in Product Design
In product design, UX gets a lot of attention—and for good reason. Making products that are intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly is crucial. But there’s one more thing that can contribute significantly to designing exceptional products and ignoring it means missing out on creating products that are truly iconic. Let’s talk branding.
Student Club Design: Lessons In Leadership
For student engineers, the process of gaining real-world experience through internships or part-time employment can be onerous and disheartening. By sharing my experiences in four student clubs, I hope to demonstrate the benefits of club involvement and communicate valuable lessons in team building, engineering skills development, and leadership.
The Modern-Day Ski Glove: A Surprising Opportunity for Innovation.
Read the winning article for the BDR 2024 essay writing contest!
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.
Minimalism in Design– Understanding Your Scope
The relationship between scope and minimalism doesn’t hold true in every case, but if you observe brands, you will definitely notice a pattern: the minimalism in their logos and their products frequently corresponds to their scope.
Optimization From Nature - Genetic Algorithms - A Brief Introduction
In this second part on optimization, the basics of the genetic algorithm are explored and explained, with an introduction to selection, cross-over, and mutation.