Discover how water treatment engineering transforms raw water into clean, safe supplies through strategic design decisions, balancing influent variability, system reliability, regulatory compliance, and lifecycle costs for communities worldwide.
All in Design Methods
Why Most Designers Prefer Aluminum Prototyping
Skip 3D-printed plastics for functional testing. Discover why machined aluminum prototypes offer the speed, thermal conductivity, and strength needed to iterate faster without blowing your design budget.
Meeting the Pianist’s Expectations: The Grand Piano Action Ratio
Discover how the grand piano's complex triple-lever action ratio translates a pianist's precise touch into maximum power and musical expression, meeting the modern engineering standards expected by world-class musicians.
Burt Rutan: A Legacy of Novel Design
Discover how aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan revolutionized aircraft engineering through organic architecture, asymmetric design, and bold experimentation, leaving an indelible legacy of innovation far beyond the industry status quo.
Crosswalks: Improving Safety through Urban Design
Explore how innovative infrastructure like lane narrowing, pedestrian refuges, and high-visibility markings improve crosswalk safety. Learn how thoughtful design protects students and pedestrians in Provo and beyond.
The Design of Spires and Vertical Architecture
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.
Good Book Cover Design: Judging a Book by its Cover
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
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.
From Chaos to Clarity: Modular Design in Programming
Bring clarity to your chaotic code! Learn the three core principles of modular programming (abstraction, encapsulation, cohesion) to build scalable, maintainable, and professional-grade software systems.
How Might We… Craft Better HMW Statements?
"How Might We" (HMW) statements transform ambiguous problems into clear, opportunity-driven starting points for design. When crafted well, they inspire creativity and focus ideation. This article by Christ Mattson breaks down how engineers can leverage HMW statements to effectively reframe challenges and unlock innovative solutions.
Explained: Engineering Photography
Explore how photography bridges the gap between the technical and artistic. It's a powerful tool for showcasing innovations, stimulating creativity, and communicating complex designs, essential for engineers in all fields.
Explained: The Design of Modern Fireworks
Explore the science and engineering behind captivating fireworks displays. From their historical origins to cutting-edge innovations, learn how customizable shells create the brilliant colors, sounds, and patterns that light up our celebrations.
The Scarf: A Most Versatile Design
Journey to Cambodia with Dr. John Salmon to discover the krama, a traditional Cambodian scarf, and its surprising versatility. Learn how this single item, rich in cultural meaning, offers a variety of practical uses, from sun protection to carrying essentials. Explore how the power of design blends beauty, meaning, and utility.
Dr. Paul MacCready and The Kremer Prize
Flight! People have wondered about it since the beginning of time. Paul MacCready was one of those people deeply interested in flight. What follows is a story of Paul MacCready, and what we can learn from him in the engineering design process.
5 Design Lessons I’ve Learned From Watching Too Much Shark Tank
From a door lock that flips tradition upside down to a pair of finger chopsticks for snacking while you work, Shark Tank is full of design inspiration. In this article, Blake takes a dive into some of the most important design lessons we can learn from Shark Tank.
The Principles of Garden Design and Their Application Beyond Landscapes
Design inspiration can come from unexpected places—like a garden. This article looks at how the core principles behind garden design—unity, balance, contrast, and more—can be applied beyond landscaping to fields like engineering, product development, and user experience. By examining the purpose and planning behind well-known gardens, we uncover how thoughtful design rooted in nature can lead to more intentional, people-focused creations in any discipline.
Caution: Road Construction Design Ahead
Road construction is a hallmark of American road experiences – and it's not necessarily a cherished one. However, breakthroughs in nanotechnology hold promising possibilities to not only fix potholes but also reinforce infrastructure for decades to come. Dive into the design principles behind these concrete innovations in this brief discussion.
Designing an Ice Cream Flavor: Crafting an Adventure
Designing a new ice cream flavor is an adventure! Read what Dylan Conover discovered after talking to Chef John, an ice cream designer.
Decomposition in Design
I immediately realized that decomposition could be translated into other aspects of life. It became an essential part of how I view and approach any problem.
Why Study the Design Process?
Why would you undertake a deep study of engineering design, or the design process, when you could go about design on your own and learn from your own experience? There is value to be gained from studying design, and I want to add my own take on why studying design is an important complement to hands-on experience.