All in Prototyping

Beyond Paper: How to Make Origami Out of Thick Materials

Beyond Paper: How to Make Origami Out of Thick Materials

Clark Roubicek
Design Methods, Prototyping

Many people either know about origami, have seen others fold origami, or have folded it themselves, but very few people can translate origami crease patterns into 3D objects and designs. That skill is necessary to take origami from a hobby to an engineering tool. I want to push your origami knowledge and exposure just a little deeper and go beyond the paper pattern. Specifically, after reading this article, you’ll be able to make an origami tessellation pattern out of materials thicker than paper.

Pocket Prototyping

Pocket Prototyping

Ken Hardman
Prototyping, Ideation

In engineering we frequently have questions to which we’d like practical answers to keep us moving forward. If a simple prototype will do, don’t forget to look in your pocket, your home, your lab, your hobbies, or just down the street.

Why Designers Make Prototypes

Why Designers Make Prototypes

Chris Mattson
Prototyping

Have you been asked to make a prototype, or feel like you should be doing more prototyping, but you’re not quite sure why, or not quite sure how to get the most out of prototyping? This article presents 4 reasons designers make prototypes. Understanding these reasons and mapping them onto your project will unlock the power of prototypes and speed up your development efforts.

Origami Design: A Fuzzy Boundary Between Art and Science

Origami Design: A Fuzzy Boundary Between Art and Science

William Godfrey
Design Philosophy, Prototyping

Origami is an ancient Japanese art form which had its roots over a thousand years ago in ancient Japan. Only in the last century’s intellectual revolution has it transformed into a more scientific and fully developed art form. We can see origami under scrutiny as an art form, and as a scientific and mathematical method of design. In any design, it is important to see from both angles.

The Risky Business of Design

The Risky Business of Design

Terri Bateman and Carl Sorensen
Prototyping, Design Methods

If skateboard legend Tony Hawk were a design engineer, what do you think his design process would be? We suspect he would not settle for the obvious. Choosing a final concept during the design process can be challenging and risky. Teams generate many ideas during the concept development phase, and it can be difficult to select the best one. On rare occasions, choosing two concepts and taking them further into the design process at the same time is better than just choosing one.