In this final part of the Design Thinking series, I highlight empathy development as a distinguishing factor in the Design Thinking approach and describe 6 reasons why some people fail to find success with Design Thinking.
Halloween, Tradition, and Design
How does Halloween connect to design? Let’s turn our attention to the intersection of tradition and design. As tradition has affected the celebration of Halloween, so too has tradition affected design practices.
Good Design: GAN14 Maglev Speed Cube
Humans are obsessed with speed. This need for speed can be found everywhere, including the world’s most high-tech Rubik’s cube.
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.
Quaker Oats and The Design of Everyday Things
I’m positing that this Quaker Oatmeal container is an example of good design. I’ll use some ideas from Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman to show you why.
Book Review of Tim Harford's "Adapt"
If you want to succeed, you need to get some failures behind you. For anyone interested in how to fail better, fail faster, and fail successfully, Adapt is a great place to start.
The Power of Designing a Networking Plan
The job search is a lot like a game. The challenge is to figure out the rules of the game and then to come up with a winning strategy.
Good Design: Bicycles in the Netherlands
Join me on a journey through the tulip-adorned countryside as we explore the Dutch art of bike design.
Back to School with the BYU Design Review
As the BDR editorial board, we asked each other which articles we could re-read to get ready for another school year. Here’s a list of 7 articles that could give you a kickstart on your next school year. Good luck!
Being the best in the world is easy
When I came to BYU, I wanted to be the best at something. It didn’t matter what, so long as I was better at it than anyone else at the university. I wasn’t going to be the best juggler at BYU, I was going to be the best joggler at BYU, juggling and jogging at the same time. And I think I did it. Out of everyone I have ever talked to, I am the only one who can run an 8-minute mile while juggling three balls.
Design Thinking Part 4: Framing and Reframing Design Problems
Problem framing is about uncovering the actual problem worth solving – which is often hidden to everyone when the design process begins. A key part of framing and reframing is to see the problem from various perspectives and to search for best match between the problem frames and the solution candidates. This article provides the basics of problem framing and positions it as the backbone of Design Thinking.
Blind(s) to Design
The window blinds installed by the owner seem to meet our needs perfectly. I will briefly describe some of the main features we enjoyed and why I consider this a good design.
Good Design: Silly Putty
It squishes, it bounces, it breaks, and it occupies a spot in the Smithsonian museum!? Most of us have played with Silly Putty, the iconic pink goop, but few know its origin story and the lessons it has for designers and engineers.
How Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Engineering Design
Have you thought about how AI will affect your design work? I’m excited for the ways that AI can facilitate product realization work, and in this article I describe why.
Beyond Paper: How to Make Origami Out of Thick Materials
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.
Good Design: The Ozark Trail 1-Person Backpacking Tent
Going backpacking this summer? Still need to buy a tent that won’t break the bank? Consider the Ozark Trail, 1-person backpacking tent.
What is Systems Design? Part 3: The Case for Model Based Systems Engineering
Here in Part 3 we tackle the challenge of performing systems design at various points on the system design spectrum in a planned and coordinated manner such that all designs, small and large, are properly specified, decomposed, allocated, tested, and integrated into a desirable and successful complete system.
Good Design: Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2
Nike has returned to its roots by providing exceptional performance, comfort, durability, and even fashion to elite and non-elite runners alike. Through my own experience and research, I can verify that Nike encapsulates this new vision in its Zoom Vaporfly NEXT% 2 shoe design
Good Design on the Roads of New Zealand
The reason why we can see so much good design in the world is because many of the bad (or not as good) designs have been removed over time and replaced with something better. At any given moment or place, the observable products and processes generally represent the best designs that the local people or nation could adopt or afford.
Life Lately - Memes for the Stressed Design Engineer
Engineering can be hard… but it’s harder when you aren’t laughing. Happy April Fool’s Day!