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The BYU Design Review
May the 4th: Design of the X-Wing
May 4

May 4 May the 4th: Design of the X-Wing

Dylan Conover
Pop Culture

Analyze the X-Wing’s iconic evolution through design principles, from pub-dart inspiration to multi-generational iterations, revealing why this starfighter remains a sci-fi masterpiece.

Engineering Design in Artemis II
Apr 29

Apr 29 Engineering Design in Artemis II

Josh Engle
Technology

Exploring Artemis II’s pivotal engineering, from Orion’s thermal protection to SLS propulsion, this article highlights design innovations driving humanity’s return to the Moon.

Explained: Design Challenges of Hypersonic Missiles
Apr 27

Apr 27 Explained: Design Challenges of Hypersonic Missiles

Dylan Conover
Technology

Explore how hypersonic design is redefining modern warfare and aerospace engineering. From scramjet propulsion to advanced refractory materials, discover the challenges of Mach 5 flight and its future impact on civilian travel.

Making the Most of Your Summer
Apr 20

Apr 20 Making the Most of Your Summer

Emelia Sunday
Education & Schooling

Maximize your summer break through internships, SMART personal projects, and outdoor balance. Set yourself up for success this upcoming semester.

Technical Writing: The Notorious Debacle of Citation Styles
Apr 15

Apr 15 Technical Writing: The Notorious Debacle of Citation Styles

William Bowler
Career & Professionalism

Explore the historical evolution of citation styles, from religious glosses to the Chicago Manual of Style, and discover how these specific academic formats transformed from simple attribution into complex requirements.

Explained: Haptic Vibrations for Phone Notifications
Apr 13

Apr 13 Explained: Haptic Vibrations for Phone Notifications

Dylan Conover
Technology

Explore the evolution of haptic feedback from pagers to modern smartphones. This article examines the mechanical engineering of ERM, LRA, and piezo actuators in creating sophisticated tactile notifications.

The PlayPump: Lessons Learned from a Design Failure 
Apr 8

Apr 8 The PlayPump: Lessons Learned from a Design Failure 

Caleb Jenkins
Lessons Learned

Explore the rise and fall of the PlayPump in this analysis of design failure. Learn how overlooking product misuse, vague problem definitions, and inadequate testing transformed a humanitarian dream into a cautionary tale.

Preparing for Design Reviews
Apr 6

Apr 6 Preparing for Design Reviews

Chris Mattson
Career & Professionalism

Transform stressful design reviews into productive sessions. Learn how to focus on critical unknowns using forty essential questions to improve performance, reliability, and manufacturing outcomes.

A Serious Approach to Engineering Memes
Apr 1

Apr 1 A Serious Approach to Engineering Memes

Blake Ipsen
Pop Culture

Explore the social science of engineering memes. From sleep deprivation to coding struggles, we analyze what truly makes engineers laugh.

The Timeless Appeal of Cadbury Mini Eggs
Mar 30

Mar 30 The Timeless Appeal of Cadbury Mini Eggs

John Salmon
Pop Culture

Explore the design mastery of Cadbury Mini Eggs. From the psychology of seasonal scarcity to their iconic speckled aesthetic, discover how thoughtful design transforms this simple candy into an Easter staple.

Ralph Ziman's Weapons of Mass Production
Mar 25

Mar 25 Ralph Ziman's Weapons of Mass Production

Eli Smith
Inspiration & People

Explore Ralph Ziman’s Weapons of Mass Production project, where decommissioned MiG-21s and Casspirs are transformed into beaded masterpieces to confront history, provide employment, and inspire impactful design.

Celebrate Women’s History Month
Mar 18

Mar 18 Celebrate Women’s History Month

Emelia Sunday
Inspiration & People

Celebrate Women’s History Month by exploring how female engineers improve design quality, expand perspectives, and drive innovation in a field where they remain underrepresented.

Explained: How Touchscreens Work
Mar 16

Mar 16 Explained: How Touchscreens Work

Dylan Conover
Technology

Explore the evolution and physics of touchscreen technology, from 1960s prototypes to modern capacitive and infrared sensors. Discover how these interfaces work and what the future of touchless interaction holds.

Embracing the Call to Serve
Mar 13

Mar 13 Embracing the Call to Serve

Hunter Byington
Short Articles

Explore how the Embrace infant warmer provides a low-cost, portable solution for premature babies in resource-limited regions, demonstrating how engineering design can save lives and serve humanity.

The New World’s Tallest Roller Coaster: Tourism Inspired Engineering in Saudi Arabia
Mar 12

Mar 12 The New World’s Tallest Roller Coaster: Tourism Inspired Engineering in Saudi Arabia

Blake Ipsen
Short Articles

Explore Saudi Arabia’s Falcon’s Flight, the world’s tallest roller coaster, showcasing how ambitious engineering and tourism investments are diversifying the nation’s oil-dependent economy.

Designing a Better Pie
Mar 11

Mar 11 Designing a Better Pie

Hunter Byington
Good Design

Apply engineering principles to the kitchen by analyzing the materials, methods, and constraints of the perfect pie to achieve a flaky crust and stable structure.

The Confederation Bridge
Mar 11

Mar 11 The Confederation Bridge

Dalton White
Short Articles

Explore how Canada’s Confederation Bridge overcomes harsh ice and navigation challenges through intelligent engineering, featuring unique conical ice shields and curved designs to ensure long-term driver safety.

Alberto Santos-Dumont: The Father of Aviation?
Mar 10

Mar 10 Alberto Santos-Dumont: The Father of Aviation?

Josh Engle
Short Articles

Explore the aviation rivalry between the Wright brothers and Alberto Santos-Dumont. Did Brazil’s national hero achieve the first true powered flight with his 14-Bis in 1906?

Fordlandia: The Failed Design of an Industrial Utopia
Mar 9

Mar 9 Fordlandia: The Failed Design of an Industrial Utopia

Ian Stubbs
Lessons Learned

Discover the history of Fordlandia, Henry Ford’s failed Amazonian utopia, where industrial ambition clashed with ecological reality and cultural misunderstanding in the Brazilian jungle.

Rudolf Diesel’s Ubiquitous Legacy
Mar 9

Mar 9 Rudolf Diesel’s Ubiquitous Legacy

Chris Mattson
Short Articles

Explore Rudolf Diesel’s enduring impact, from his vision of accessible power to the global engine legacy that remains a cornerstone of modern industry.

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