One of my classes at the University of Washington was titled Introduction to Design. The topic of this class was the design process and the different tools that a design engineer has. As part of this class I wrote the paper below.
Many people think of engineering as a very scientific, number
crunching discipline. While these skills are very important to be
successful in the engineering world, there are many other skills
engineers need to have. An engineer that is going to be successful and
make his employer successful is one that not only understands the
complexity of his assignments, but also understands the liability and
the impact that his solutions with have on the environment. Above all a
great engineer has to have a lot of creativity to implement all of
these things to make a product that will benefit everyone. I hope to
show that I have all of these skills through this portfolio.
While designing a product it is important to always look at
any possible hazards that the design may have. This is not only
important in order to make a safe design, but also to limit the
liability of the company. Always being aware of the liability of the
company will not only lead to a better design but will keep the company
out of any trouble. This also makes the engineer think more about any
warnings that the packaging or product should include so that the
consumer is aware of any hazards.
One of the most important topics that have come up lately is
the environmental impact and sustainability of any design. Engineers
have to keep this is mind throughout the design process. Everything
that goes to the production line will have an impact on the
environment and it is the engineer's responsibility to make sure that
their product leaves the smallest footprint possible. Making sure that
any product has a small footprint is not only good for the environment,
but will also help when marketing to environmentally conscious buyers.
When deciding on the best solution to a project an engineer has
many factors to look at, including functionality, aesthetics, liability
and end use. In able to look at the solution from every point of view
and make any necessary changes to make the best product an
engineer has to be creative. There usually is not a straight forward
solution to any problem and creativity is needed to find the best
solution and to find a solution that is different and better than any
solution that is available. Without creativity, we will not be able to
advance forward and create any new, better products.
All of the skills mentioned above combine to make a great
engineer. Being able to come up with a creative design that entails all
the needs of the product while keeping it green, aesthetically pleasing and
keeping the liability down is not always easy. A great engineer does
not only have a scientific frame of mind through the design process; he
uses creativity to design the best product, a product that will bring
success to a company and leave a small footprint on the environment. I
believe that through this portfolio I have demonstrated that I have the skills necessary to be
a great engineer.
