College Engineering Team Example

A few years ago, a Mechanical Engineering Team from Oregon State University created a "track" full of obstacle courses and scenarios for student teams to navigate using Edison Robots. Edison, the robot pictured below, DID NOT COME WITH A TRACK. Here is the story of how they made an Edison Robot using Human-Centered Design. Their names are Courtney, Nikki, and Ian.

In Empathize, we are focused on building Empathy for the user. Watch the video, read the helpful tips below, and reply to the discussion board.

https://youtu.be/4yCNzjt_PEM

Tips for getting to know a User:

Interview (in-person, phone, video - what will you ask them?)

Observations (video, in-person - what will they do?)

Document (notes, recording, contract, survey - how will you record what they say?)

Contact me when you have more information (email, phone, text, video - if they think of something later, how will they share it with you?)

In Define, we are focused on defining the scope of the problem the user faces. Watch the video, read the helpful tips below, and reply to the discussion board.

https://youtu.be/4yCNzjt_PEM

Tips for Defining a Problem:

How will they know if the problem is solved? What does the user want out of the invention?

What is the user hoping to gain because they are using the invention?

Rank needs in a solution (durability, size, weight, etc.)

You may want your user to fill out a survey or google form (https://www.google.com/forms/about/) (Links to an external site.)

Extra Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4dddmOpQ5s&ab_channel=DIYToolkit

In Ideate, we are focused on as many ways to solve the problem the user faces as possible. Watch the video, read the helpful tips below, and reply to the discussion board.

https://youtu.be/8Pqv0xwFkuM

Tips for Ideate:

Turn your brain on by doing creative games/puzzles, then try to think of a solution.

Brain dump and write down every thought that comes to your mind.

Look at ways others have solved a similar problem to the one your user is facing.

Extra Ideation Video on How Ideating Helps you Design:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3q0Zry7H2o&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=NNgroup

In Prototype, we are focused on making something to solve the problem the user faces . Watch the video, read the helpful tips below, and reply to the discussion board.

https://youtu.be/JL0DYzFSnVM

Tips for Prototyping:

Fail fast and learn fast by making many designs from many different materials.

Try making a prototype for how you want your end design to look (design prototype)

Try making a prototype that proves your invention will actually solve the problem (proof of concept prototype)

Learn what you need to do and integrate that into your project

Extra Video on Cardboard Prototyping:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_9Q-KDSb9o&ab_channel=Quirky

In Test, we are focused on showing our invention can solve the problem our user is facing and thinking of how we can market our invention if we wanted to sell it. Watch the video, read the helpful tips below, and reply to the discussion board.

https://youtu.be/-l-d4CTAUmA

Tips for Test:

Create a catchphrase for your product

Create a name for your product

Marketing campaign - Colors? Idea stores?/ Price?

Shoot an ad and pitch your invention!

Take a look at this to help you know what you have to do:

Pitch Presentation_iINVENT.docx

Here are some student examples of their inventions:

https://youtu.be/2I01u9O6OtY

Click here to see all modules!