Building Confidence Through Design: How BYU Capstone Projects Shape Future Engineers

At Brigham Young University, engineering students dive into their capstone projects with a mix of excitement and apprehension. For Robert Cloward, a seasoned capstone coach, this uncertainty is exactly what makes the experience transformative. “The class is all about the design process,” Cloward says. “It’s the bridge between knowing and doing.”

In a recent interview, Cloward emphasized that the capstone course is more than a project, it's a real-world simulation that forces students to apply everything they've learned in the engineering program. “They’ve seen the principles, but they haven’t done it,” he notes. “Capstone is where it becomes real.”

Tackling Real-World Problems: A Compact Noise Measurement Station for Varex

Cloward’s current team is partnering with Varex Imaging Corporation, a company that manufactures X-ray tubes used in medical imaging. These X-ray tubes can be quite loud during operation, and Varex requires them to meet strict noise thresholds to ensure performance and safety.

Testing the sound levels of the tubes has traditionally required large acoustic setups to block out background factory noise. These stations are bulky, expensive, and difficult to install in space-limited research environments.

That’s where Cloward’s team stepped in.

The students engineered a compact sound measurement station that dramatically reduced the testing unit’s footprint to just 8% of the size of existing stations. Instead of capturing sound data horizontally as traditional systems do, they innovated by collecting sound measurements from above the X-ray tube, maintaining acoustic performance while conserving space.

The result? A scalable, space-efficient testing solution that Varex can now install inside its R&D department, giving them flexibility to build more units as space and demand evolve.

“It’s a perfect example of what the design process should do,” Cloward says. “They identified the problem, researched the constraints, and built something truly impactful.”

Learning by Doing

Cloward believes that while engineering theory is critical, hands-on experience is where true learning takes place. “It’s much better to do the design process than just learn about it,” he says. His students are constantly engaged in researching, testing, and refining their ideas. The project’s success hinges on how well students internalize and apply design principles, not just follow instructions.

He recalls being particularly impressed when his team fabricated a steel table from scratch, including cutting, welding, painting, and pouring a reinforced concrete base. Most of the students had never done anything like it before. “It wasn’t in their skill set yet,” Cloward says, “but it was within their capability. Watching them realize that was huge.”

Common Pitfalls in the Design Process

One of the biggest time-wasters Cloward sees is teams getting stuck in “analysis paralysis.” Previous teams have spent too much time asking “what if” and second-guessing decisions without actually moving forward. This year's team, however, stood out. “They didn’t get bogged down. They kept progressing.”

To help students stay on task, Cloward recommends consistent planning. “Make a plan and keep reviewing that plan,” he advises. “Don’t just write it and put it away. You have to stay proactive.”

Ideation, Iteration, and Setbacks

When it comes to generating creative ideas, Cloward encourages students to build and prototype early, even using cardboard mockups. “The faster you can get from idea to hands-on, the more ideas start flowing. Better iterations come from more iterations.”

Although the team only had the budget for one full build of the final structure, they engaged in small-scale iterations on various subsystems. That blend of research and focused prototyping helped them refine their design before committing to the full build.

Of course, not everything goes to plan. “Setbacks will happen,” Cloward says. “If they don’t, that’s unusual.” His advice? Expect them, and build time into the schedule to adapt and recover.

The Most Valuable Skill? Show Up.

Perhaps Cloward’s most surprising insight came when asked about the most important interpersonal skill for engineers. His answer? “Show up. Show up prepared. Show up on time.” In an industry that depends on accountability and collaboration, reliability is a game-changer.

Final Advice

As a parting thought, Cloward emphasizes that true growth comes from fully engaging in the design process. “You get out of it what you put into it,” he says. Capstone challenges students to think critically, adapt quickly, and take ownership of their work from concept to final product. By navigating uncertainty, solving real constraints, and iterating through design decisions, students gain more than just a successful project, they walk away with the mindset and problem-solving skills that define great engineers.

To cite this article:
Glorius, Amber. “Building Confidence Through Design: How BYU Capstone Projects Shape Future Engineers.” The BYU Design Review, 5 May 2025, https://www.designreview.byu.edu/collections/building-confidence-through-design-how-byu-capstone-projects-shape-future-engineers