Most Read Articles of 2020
At the beginning of 2020 we had no idea how different of a year it would be. As I reflect on 2020 and publish the yearly list of the most-read articles, I see how this list mirrors many of the things we saw in 2020: the pandemic, racism, the need for fun, positive lessons, and some laughs. Take a look at these top ten articles and consider sharing them with a friend. The world needs the best designers to tackle the challenges we face.
The LEGO Brick by Dallin Cordon & Chris Mattson
LEGO has been named the most reputable company in the world. Their product has been very well thought out to be modular in ways few people know about.
A favorite quote from the article: “From a design perspective, the genius of LEGO is it’s impeccable, and surprisingly robust, modularity. It has made LEGO timeless and the atom of creativity for generations of people all over the world.”
Learn to Sketch: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 by Chris Mattson
Sketching is a skill that many people think they don’t have the talent for, but the truth is it just takes a little consistent practice to grow by leaps and bounds. This series presents a very approachable way to improve your sketching skills.
A favorite quote from the article: “The next 10 years will pass by no matter what I do, I might as well use that time to become more skilled at something important to me. I’m only a few years in, and frankly I haven’t practiced as much as I could or should have, but I am improving.”
Racism in America, manifested in engineering design: A pledge to take responsibility and action by Grace Burleson
We may think of ourselves as perfectly logical beings that are above racism, but the truth is that we may have unintentionally introduced racial bias into products. Grace shares excellent tips on how to combat racism in design.
A favorite quote from the article: “[A]s engineers and designers, we must not remain complacent within our profession and thus recognize the ways systemic oppression can manifest in the design of buildings and technology. Join me in intentionally acknowledging the role design and engineering has played in perpetuating racial injustices. Pledge to seek expertise, resources, and actionable ways to dismantle the inequities we’ve embedded into systems.”
An Optimistic Perspective on the COVID-19 Pandemic by John Salmon
There are positive things we have learned in 2020. Let’s not forget them when we go back to our pre-pandemic life.
A favorite quote from the article: “I’m going to write about nothing but some of the good things that might come from this pandemic. I want to drink the lemonade we can make from this large helping of lemons we are all being served.”
I Can Do Hard Things, but I Can’t Do All Things by Chris Mattson
Learn how engineering stress parallels the stress of life. Chris gives some great strategies to manage stress we encounter.
A favorite quote from the article: “Like the crowbar, we all experience the pressures of life weighing down on us. This is particularly true when we’re constrained, such as when we have tight deadlines, or when we have limited knowledge or experience to solve a problem or finish a project. When we find ourselves in these situations, internal stress develops and we’re strained as we try to manage the load.”
Cosmo the Cougar’s 3-point dunk: How he did it by Jake Hunter
A dunk from the 3-point line?! How is that possible? Jake lays out some of the physics that made this feat possible.
A favorite quote from the article: “But the real question is how? How did Cosmo the Cougar soar nearly 25 feet from behind the 3-point arc, reach 14 feet high in the air, and have a hang time of about 1.5 seconds?”
Taking Your 3D Prints to the Next Layer by Noah Smith
3D printers are more accessible than ever, but many people don’t realize the amount of work required to get one to print properly. Noah gives great advice on things to think about when you are designing for a 3D print.
A favorite quote from the article: “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve poured my heart into a design beyond the wee hours of the night and expected it to print beautifully, only to be met by the disastrous blob. Of course, failing so fast and frequently has led me to come up with a number of tips and tricks.”
Engineering Laughs by Jake and Emilee Hunter
Who doesn’t love a good meme? Although this post was from April Fool’s Day we think you deserve a laugh any day, especially in 2020.
A favorite quote from the article: “Hang in there everyone! COVID-19 will come to an end and science, design, and engineering will still be around to brighten everyone’s lives!”
Interdisciplinary Teams by Chris Mattson
You have likely had good and bad experiences with teams. Chris details ways we can improve our team experiences, especially those with members from different disciplines.
A favorite quote from the article: “[W]ho is on the team matters more than what a team is working on. At first, I struggled with that idea, but now I believe it. Not only when thinking about team member specialty, but especially when thinking about team member disposition for interdisciplinary teamwork.”
Good Design: The Milwaukee Fastback Utility Knife by Chris Mattson
This knife is one of my favorite tools, even before the article by Chris Mattson. He gives great insight into the things Milwaukee did to make a simple utility knife so great. Another great thing is that the difference between a cheap utility knife and this one is just a few dollars, so go ahead and treat yourself. You deserve it.
A favorite quote from the article: “They make the entire knife development process about the user experience. They pulled from existing technology and created some of their own. What resulted is a great knife that increases productivity and quality of work.”
