This part of the Design Thinking series describes the mindset of expert designers. The article argues that the mindset of Design Thinking is enabling and freeing because it represents the beliefs that the designer uses to choose good design actions at appropriate times given the unique characteristics of the problem being solved.
Every single product that has been made, is currently being made, or will be made has economic, environmental, and social impacts. How can we design to have better impacts and what are social impacts? Read on to find out.
It’s time to design. Again!
Another academic year is starting. COVID-19 continues to impact the world of engineering education, but certain things will always remain like CAD, Hooke’s Law, and projects that may seem enormous (Pro tip: start on them now!).
I am often inspired by design triumphs in history, but there is one design that has particularly influenced me. It is a humble design: an odometer made from wood for covered wagons that was never put into mass production. Part of what makes it interesting is that it was done under harsh conditions with the goal to help other people and it would become a legendary part of an epic exodus and the settlement of the Western United States.
Design Thinking is not new. It’s been around for decades. The first attempt to turn it into a process was in 1969. Contemporary forms of that process still exist today, the most popular being the 5-step process introduced by the Stanford Design School in 2005. This article describes that process and other techniques that will help you try-out Design Thinking.
The Olympics are an amazing event everyone should enjoy. But the Olympics are also incredibly hard to design for and offer a couple of lessons we can all transfer to our other projects.
Design Thinking is a powerful and popular topic, but it is also illusive and ill-defined. This article demystifies Design Thinking just enough so you can begin benefitting from what it offers. This is the first of a 5 part series on Design Thinking, where this first part provides basic definitions, view points, history, and Design Thinking exercises.
Anyone who has designed anything -- whether that be a new medicine, a design method, or even a new recipe -- has faced the question: “Is this better than what I had before?” If you’re just deciding whether or not you like a new recipe, getting an answer is straightforward. If you are in an academic or industrial setting you must also answer an even more important question: “Can I prove that this is better?”
We don’t often think of Caregiving when it comes to design or engineering, but we should. This face of innovation can make the difference between an enjoyable experience with a product or process and a miserable one.
Ideation techniques are processes used to develop a variety of ideas that have the potential to be a solution to a problem or scenario. The purpose of these techniques are to determine the best solution that meets most, if not all, the required criteria. Brainstorming is probably the most common ideation technique and you have likely used it at least once even if you didn't know it.
The customer matters. Our job is to get the customer what they want. We must interact with, listen to, and observe the customer to identify and understand their needs. But the notion of customer is significantly more complicated and important than it seems. This article breaks down and lists out the types of customers to consider when designing any product.
Will NFTs become mainstream someday? Will they impact engineers and designers? Only time will tell.
I have made a lot of mistakes over my time in product development. These range from small things like missing a dimension on a drawing, to sending the wrong paint code to a factory so a batch of new bikes were about to be painted like confetti. My biggest mistake was made early on in the development of my first product.
To be clear, there are many factors that lead to project success; attitude, knowledge, process, opportunity, resources, and more. This article gives one simple process technique that anyone can do. I chose this one because it has been a significant part of my process for the last 20 years and has been the foundation of my best work.
Most people agree that the environment can have a huge impact on our state of mind, productivity, and innovation. The Eighth Face of Innovation, The Set Designer, knows this too. Even if we aren’t setting up the spaces for others, we can and should be aware of where we’re are choosing to work and make sure that workspace is what we need to maximize our creativity.
I sat trying not to look as uncomfortable as I felt. Then he unveiled his invention. I already suspected what it was and now there was no doubt. I was looking at a perpetual motion machine.
Design the BYU Design Review logo and win a prize! We are giving away a Cricut Joy cutting machine. It can cut your designs in over 50 materials. After being around for a year and a half, it’s time for the BYU Design Review to update its logo.
As you transition from being a student to being a professional, consider latching on to the 5 professional attributes described in this article. They will distinguish you from your peers.
If you find yourself in Las Vegas, whether you plan to gamble or not, don’t miss out on the opportunity to observe some design choices made by casinos that influence behavior. However, don’t forget those same behaviors can be manipulated outside of casinos too…
