Submit a short essay to the BYU Design Review and compete for cash prizes! If you’ve ever used a product (very likely) and wanted to make it better in some way, you already have an idea for your essay to write! Submit by March 30th, 2024.
Inversion: The Power of Thinking Backwards
The idea of solving a maze backwards is an example of what I consider the most powerful thinking technique out there: inversion. Inversion means flipping the problem on its head; you look at the opposite of the problem you actually want to solve, and then you use the insights you gain to help answer the original question.
Bring Your Sketches to Life with Simple Shading and Shadow
Relatively simple things can be done to liven up your sketches. This article presents a number of common techniques to try.
Five Articles From 2023 You May Have Missed
Every year, our editorial team picks some articles to give one more special shout out. These articles from 2023 inspired us, changed our perspective, or taught us something new. It’s also exciting that four of the five authors below all published their first article on the BDR in 2023. If you missed one of these articles, go give it a read!
2023: Year in Review
Make sure you caught all of our most read articles, and learn a little more about who reads the BYU Design Review.
Design Lessons from Movies: The Polar Express
It’s now December and we’re entering “the most wonderful time of the year.” It’s also time for my annual analysis of a Christmas movie. Today I want to share some interesting facts and thoughts about The Polar Express. I’ll also share lessons I believe we as designers can take from this movie.
A Brief Overview of Manufacturing Processes
As designers, we should be aware of as many manufacturing processes as possible. The more processes we know about, the more effectively we are able to manufacture a good product. This article will provide you with a short list of processes in which you can find inspiration for how to best make your product.
Holiday Gift Ideas for Design Engineers— 2023
The holidays are coming up, and it’s time for our fourth annual gift list for design engineers!
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.
Design Thinking Part 5: Tips and Anecdotes
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.