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The BYU Design Review
Project Hail Mary Spoiler Free Review – The Perfect Novel for Engineers
Feb 4

Feb 4 Project Hail Mary Spoiler Free Review – The Perfect Novel for Engineers

Blake Ipsen
Pop Culture

Discover why Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary is the ultimate sci-fi novel for engineers. This spoiler-free review explores its scientific accuracy, engineering puzzles, and cinematic pacing.

Groundhog Day and Lessons for Designers
Feb 3

Feb 3 Groundhog Day and Lessons for Designers

John Salmon
Pop Culture

Explore how Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day offers vital engineering lessons on iterative design, attention to detail, collaborative friction, and the importance of user-centric purpose.

Good Checklist Design from The Checklist Manifesto
Jan 28

Jan 28 Good Checklist Design from The Checklist Manifesto

Eli Smith
Good Design, Career & Professionalism

Discover how Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto revolutionizes complex tasks. Learn to design simple, effective checklists that reduce errors, improve team collaboration, and ensure precision in engineering and professional workflows.

The Design of Spires and Vertical Architecture
Jan 26

Jan 26 The Design of Spires and Vertical Architecture

Dylan Conover
Design Methods

Explore how vertical architecture, from steeples and minarets to pagodas and obelisks, blends engineering mastery with cultural symbolism to reach for the divine and beyond.

Why All Creative People Should Read Books
Jan 21

Jan 21 Why All Creative People Should Read Books

Chris Mattson
Inspiration & People

Discover how reading fuels innovation by expanding your mental toolkit. Learn why diverse books are essential for engineers, designers, and creative thinkers.

Book Review: Thinking, Fast and Slow
Jan 19

Jan 19 Book Review: Thinking, Fast and Slow

Dylan Conover
Inspiration & People

Explore how Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow optimizes engineering design by balancing intuitive expertise with methodical, conscious processes to reduce errors and improve objectivity.

Exploring “The Design of Everyday Things”
Jan 14

Jan 14 Exploring “The Design of Everyday Things”

Dalton White
Inspiration & People

Explore Don Norman’s classic The Design of Everyday Things with Dalton White, uncovering how human-centered design and seven core principles transform our interaction with the world.

Good Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover
Jan 12

Jan 12 Good Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover

William Bowler
Design Methods

While we are told not to judge books by their covers, material choice and genre-specific aesthetics are vital design elements. Explore how typography, imagery, and consistency drive marketability and consumer trust.

Design Principles in the Creation of Rock Climbing Routes
Jan 7

Jan 7 Design Principles in the Creation of Rock Climbing Routes

Ian Stubbs
Design Methods

Explore how the principles of engineering design and problem-solving shape the art of rock climbing routesetting, from indoor gym challenges to the technical complexities of outdoor bolting.

Most Read Articles of 2025
Jan 5

Jan 5 Most Read Articles of 2025

The BYU Design Review Editorial Board
The BYU Design Review

Review the five most read articles that were published in 2025. Refresh yourself with some engineering memes and insights into Japanese carpentry, roller coasters, water bottles, and the number pi!

2025: Year in Review
Dec 31

Dec 31 2025: Year in Review

The BYU Design Review Editorial Board
The BYU Design Review

Catch our review of 2025, including some of our favorite articles from the year.

Writing Professional Articles: Know Your Audience
Dec 29

Dec 29 Writing Professional Articles: Know Your Audience

Dylan Conover
Career & Professionalism, Series

Mastering the art of writing requires balancing audience intent, AI-driven searchability, and the delicate mix of timely relevance and timeless value to ensure your message resonates.

Lessons Learned From Soichiro Honda
Dec 22

Dec 22 Lessons Learned From Soichiro Honda

Taylor Heiner
Inspiration & People

Explore the engineering legacy of Soichiro Honda. Learn how curiosity, hands-on experience, and fearless risk-taking can transform your design process and drive innovation in engineering.

Theory of Change: A Path to Positive Social Impact for Engineers
Dec 17

Dec 17 Theory of Change: A Path to Positive Social Impact for Engineers

Chris Mattson
Design Philosophy

Learn how engineers use the Theory of Change to bridge the gap between technical outputs and long-term social impact through logical, socio-technical systems thinking.

Design in Christmas Movies: A Christmas Carol
Dec 15

Dec 15 Design in Christmas Movies: A Christmas Carol

Dylan Conover
Pop Culture

A Christmas Carol expertly uses contrast — Scrooge and Tiny Tim, three Ghosts, inside and outside— to convey moral meaning, a powerful design principle for impact and attraction.

Empathy in Technical Communication: What? Why? How?
Dec 10

Dec 10 Empathy in Technical Communication: What? Why? How?

Elena Arana
Career & Professionalism

As the first step in the design-thinking process, empathy is a vital starting place for any effective piece of technical communication. And yet, it is (quite ironically) frequently misunderstood.

Good Design: Giving Machines
Dec 8

Dec 8 Good Design: Giving Machines

Eli Smith and Dylan Conover
Good Design, Inspiration & People

Explore the brilliant design of Giving Machines. Learn how the charitable vending kiosks maximize accessibility, transparency, and public visibility for donations.

A Christmas Story: Good Design Features in Christmas Movies
Dec 3

Dec 3 A Christmas Story: Good Design Features in Christmas Movies

John Salmon
Pop Culture

Discover good design lessons from A Christmas Story. Analyze movie features like the leg lamp and practical effects for better product design.

Engineering Design in Formula 1
Dec 1

Dec 1 Engineering Design in Formula 1

Josh Engle
Technology

The F1 championship depends on engineering mastery. Learn how teams use aerodynamics, downforce, ground effect, modeling, and strategic tire choices to design the fastest, most competitive racing car.

Design in Onshape
Nov 26

Nov 26 Design in Onshape

Dylan Conover
Technology, Career & Professionalism

Discover why Onshape is the premier CAD technology for design. Explore its version history, cloud-native collaboration, fast learning curve, and streamlined workspace organization.

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