Creativity and exploration are essential parts of design, but in engineering, they should be grounded in purpose. Without a defined problem to solve, designs risk being ineffective, unused, or even wasteful.
All in Lessons Learned
Natural Problems vs. Self-Induced Problems
Natural problems make your work challenging—and valuable. But many of the headaches in engineering and design come from mistakes we create ourselves. In this article, Dr. Chris Mattson shares how to spot and eliminate self-induced problems to work smarter, not harder.
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.
Don’t spend all your weirdness points in one place
You might not like it. Or you might be a big supporter. But you’ve probably heard, seen, and formed strong opinions about the Cybertruck. In this article, Mark McDonald explores some observations and discusses design decisions related to the application of “weirdness points” to this innovative design.
The Magic of Magnets in Mechanical Design
Magnets seem magical, but we don't have to be wizards to use them. Read about tips, suggestions, and practical advice on how to include and use magnets in your next design project for some amazing results.
Avoiding the Next Boeing Door Plug Incident: Lessons from the YF-22
The F-22 Raptor is an amazing engineering aircraft and can teach some amazing design lessons. In this article, you'll learn about some of the most poignant lessons from Larry Howell's experience working on an early version and prototype of the F-22, designated the YF-22.
Product Development Lessons from the NES Controller
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Controller is an icon of the 1980’s and a symbol of the video gaming industry. This article describes the history of Nintendo as it relates to the NES and derives general product development lessons from the design of the NES Controller.
Is Documentation Valuable to the Design Process?
I visited 21 design firms and asked their designers and engineers what they thought about documentation. This is what I learned.
Student Club Design: Lessons In Leadership
For student engineers, the process of gaining real-world experience through internships or part-time employment can be onerous and disheartening. By sharing my experiences in four student clubs, I hope to demonstrate the benefits of club involvement and communicate valuable lessons in team building, engineering skills development, and leadership.
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.
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.
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.
How did ChatGPT Perform as an Author?
On January 24th, 2023 we asked ChatGPT to be a guest author of the BYU Design Review. This week we discuss the experiment and how ChatGPT performed. If you’ve somehow missed hearing about ChatGPT, here is another chance to learn about a new technology that might become a part of our everyday lives.
Barely Tolerance-able
My particular legal field, real estate, requires me to work with engineers frequently. But let me be absolutely frank with you. When I am arranging settlement meetings, I will do all I can to avoid inviting engineers. I do love you guys. But these meetings are about compromise, and engineers struggle with that. Why?
How do we Develop Creativity?
I hope to show in a Ratatouille fashion that “anyone can [create]” given practice and the right environment.
Public Sustainable Design Projects in California
Truly, California has beautiful weather, lots of people, and some unique ideas. Some of these ideas have flopped, but others are very intriguing and should be spread around. I find myself respecting their efforts to try new ideas and become early adopters on many things that other states should consider embracing as well.
Why Does the Leaning Tower of Pisa Lean? What Can It Teach Us About Design?
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, or simply the Tower of Pisa, attracts 5 million visitors every year. It certainly is a strange sight to behold as you walk through the city walls. Why does it lean?
Innovation, Sustainability, and Design for HVAC Systems
A lot of energy is needed to power the HVAC systems that keep people comfortable. Although not every building is actively cooled, buildings are responsible for 40% of all U.S. energy consumption and emissions, and space heating and cooling accounts for 53.1% of building energy usage. What can we do to make HVAC design more sustainable, and how can we be more sustainability conscious in our own design work?
Water, Water Bottles, and Why I Struggled Finding Water Bottle Stickers in Peru
Why was it so hard to find water bottle stickers in Peru? Why aren’t reusable water bottles popular in Peru, and why are they so popular in the United States? Read on to find answers to these pressing questions and change the way you think about drinking water.
Nuclear Power: Actuarial versus Perceived Risks
Actuarial risks can be quantified or measured. Perceived risks are felt when the outcome of a risk is negative, catastrophic, or involuntary. Learn how this applies to public opinion of nuclear power and think about how this could apply to your design work.