This course is designed to introduce students from all disciplines to the concepts of rational design. It is open to first-year students and sophomores. In the first part of the course students will learn by hands-on experience the importance of giving attention at the design stage to consideration of accessibility, repair, replacement, choice of materials, recycling, safety, etc. Students will develop the ability to make observations and record them in suitable form for further analysis of the design process. From this, concepts of “good” design will be developed, and students will be introduced to the formal design axioms and principles. This will lead to the second part of the course which will consist of a comprehensive, realistic design problem. Creativity, intuition and cultivation of engineering “common sense” will be fostered within the framework of design principles and axioms. The course will constitute a direct introduction to the disciplines in their interdisciplinary context.
- Teacher: Eric Lima