On this 14th of March, we hope you have a happy Pi Day! Celebrate the holiday this year by applying one of these principles to a project you are working on.
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.
Becoming a Slow Student
Even though the world is moving fast and perhaps even accelerating, it doesn’t mean we can’t be slow in certain ways. Becoming a slow student may be exactly what we need to do to stay at our peak performance in this fast paced world we live in.
What I learned when I let AI render my hand sketches (2024)
I let AI render my hand sketches, and in the end I am simultaneously amazed and sorely frustrated. Generative AI has its place, and preparing this article helped me learn when and were to expect value out of this powerful tool. In this article, I share various examples (good and bad), describe the software I used, list 4 ways this kind of AI is powerful, and give several tips on trying to use it in your own work.
Design for Manufacturing Series: Subtractive Machining
In an article published a few weeks ago, I gave a brief overview of a variety of manufacturing processes. Now, I will further discuss the first set of processes – subtractive machining.
The Night Before the Launch – (A True Story)
It was well after midnight, when one of the engineers woke violently from his sleep. He and a fellow engineer had wired the rocket motor firing circuit that evening, and through a miracle, he now realized that he had installed the two wires to the circuit BACKWARDS.
Essay Writing Contest! Win Cash Prizes!
Submit a short essay to the BYU Design Review and compete for cash prizes! If you’ve ever used a product (very likely) and wanted to make it better in some way, you already have an idea for your essay to write! Submit by March 30th, 2024.
Inversion: The Power of Thinking Backwards
The idea of solving a maze backwards is an example of what I consider the most powerful thinking technique out there: inversion. Inversion means flipping the problem on its head; you look at the opposite of the problem you actually want to solve, and then you use the insights you gain to help answer the original question.
Bring Your Sketches to Life with Simple Shading and Shadow
Relatively simple things can be done to liven up your sketches. This article presents a number of common techniques to try.
Five Articles From 2023 You May Have Missed
Every year, our editorial team picks some articles to give one more special shout out. These articles from 2023 inspired us, changed our perspective, or taught us something new. It’s also exciting that four of the five authors below all published their first article on the BDR in 2023. If you missed one of these articles, go give it a read!
2023: Year in Review
Make sure you caught all of our most read articles, and learn a little more about who reads the BYU Design Review.
Design Lessons from Movies: The Polar Express
It’s now December and we’re entering “the most wonderful time of the year.” It’s also time for my annual analysis of a Christmas movie. Today I want to share some interesting facts and thoughts about The Polar Express. I’ll also share lessons I believe we as designers can take from this movie.
A Brief Overview of Manufacturing Processes
As designers, we should be aware of as many manufacturing processes as possible. The more processes we know about, the more effectively we are able to manufacture a good product. This article will provide you with a short list of processes in which you can find inspiration for how to best make your product.
Holiday Gift Ideas for Design Engineers— 2023
The holidays are coming up, and it’s time for our fourth annual gift list for design engineers!
Cushions, Keyboards, and a Customized MRI - Lessons in Human Centered Design
You, as the designer, want people to like your work. Especially if you have already done the work. And especially if you have reason to believe your idea is what’s best. But familiarity and comfort remain, for better or for worse, critical considerations in product design.
Design Thinking Part 5: Tips and Anecdotes
In this final part of the Design Thinking series, I highlight empathy development as a distinguishing factor in the Design Thinking approach and describe 6 reasons why some people fail to find success with Design Thinking.
Halloween, Tradition, and Design
How does Halloween connect to design? Let’s turn our attention to the intersection of tradition and design. As tradition has affected the celebration of Halloween, so too has tradition affected design practices.
Good Design: GAN14 Maglev Speed Cube
Humans are obsessed with speed. This need for speed can be found everywhere, including the world’s most high-tech Rubik’s cube.
Solar Eclipse Glasses: Design Considerations
A solar eclipse is an amazing phenomenon and truly unforgettable - just be sure to wear the correct eye protection when viewing one. Solar eclipse cardboard glasses may be cheap to buy, or even free, but don’t settle for a low quality design. Your eyes will thank you.
Quaker Oats and The Design of Everyday Things
I’m positing that this Quaker Oatmeal container is an example of good design. I’ll use some ideas from Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman to show you why.