EC.720J | Spring 2010 | Undergraduate

D-Lab II: Design

Calendar

WEEK # SES # TOPICS ASSIGNMENTS
READINGS & HW OUT † HW DUE
1 1 Introduction: design for development

Reading 1

HW 1: Design@MIT

 
2 2

Design, innovation, invention, and the design process

Case studies: Q-drum, LifeStraw, Freeplay radio, solar cookers, treadle pumps, iDE drip irrigation kit

Reading 2 (due Ses #6)

HW 2: Discussion questions

HW 3: Technology critique

 
3

Case study discussion

Charcoal press case study

Introduction to Mini Projects

Reading 3

HW 4: Idea generation

HW 1: Design@MIT

HW 3: Technology critique

3 4

Mini Project

  • Idea generation
  • Experimentation
  • Prototyping

HW 5: Concept evaluation HW 4: Idea generation
5

Mini Project

  • Concept evaluation
  • Detail design
  • Fabrication

HW 6: Testing & evaluation

HW 7: Mini Project presentations

HW 5: Concept evaluation
4 6

Mini Project

  • Testing & evaluation
  • Repeat

Reading 4 (due Ses #10)

HW 8: Discussion questions

HW 2: Discussion questions
7

Mini Project

  • Presentations

Graphical representation of information
Presentation skills

Reading 5

HW 6: Testing & evaluation

HW 7: Mini Project presentations

5 8 Project presentations and selection HW 9: Project selection  
9 Build-It modules

HW 10: Information gathering

HW 11: Problem statement & design specs

 
6 10 Build-It modules HW 12: Build-It module wrap-up HW 8: Discussion questions
11

Phase 1 Design Review

  • Project background
  • Problem statement
  • Design specs

HW 13: Refined problem definition & specs

HW 14: Idea generation & concept evaluation

HW 10: Information gathering

HW 11: Problem statement & design specs

HW 12: Build-It module wrap-up

7 12

Manufacturing in the developing world

Design for Manufacture

Film: No Spare Parts

Reading 6 (due Ses #15)

HW 13: Refined problem definition & specs

NB: IDEAS Competition proposals due

13

Phase 2 Design Review

  • Idea generation
  • Experimental results
  • Concept evaluation

HW 15: Detail design, analysis, & experimental results

Reading 7

HW 16: Book group

HW 14: Idea generation & concept evaluation
8 n/a Spring break – field trips, no classes    
9 14 Human factors

Reading 8

HW 17: Wheelchair and stove assessment

 
15

Design for [X]: usability, affordability, sustainability, reuse, failure

Case studies: wheelchairs & cookstoves

HW 18: Design for usability

HW 17: Wheelchair and stove assessment
10 16 Guest speakers: Paul Polak & Shawn Frayne HW 19: Paul & Shawn reaction piece  
17

Phase 3 Design Review

  • Detail design
  • Analysis
  • Experimental results

Reading 9

HW 15: Detail design, analysis, & experimental results

HW 18: Design for usability

HW 19: Paul & Shawn reaction piece

11 18 Green Engineering 1 (with guest speaker Ben Linder) HW 20: Final presentation  
19 Green Engineering 2 (with guest speaker Ben Linder) HW 21: Embodied energy evaluation NB: IDEAS Competition final entries due
12 20

Phase 3 Design Review

  • Prototypes (with guest mentor Ralph Hotchkiss)

HW 22: Final report  
13 21 Guest speaker: Suprio Das HW 23: Suprio Das reaction piece HW 21: Embodied energy evaluation
22 Guest speaker: Bernard Kiwia HW 24: Bernard Kiwia reaction piece HW 23: Suprio Das reaction piece
14 23 Scaling up (with guest speakers Sarah Bird and Gwyn Jones) HW 25: Design for production

HW 16: Book group

HW 24: Bernard Kiwia reaction piece

24 Practice session for MIT Museum presentations Reading 10 HW 25: Design for production
25 Presentations at MIT Museum (D-Lab event)   HW 21: Final presentation
15 26 Penultimania    
27

What next…?

Evaluations

  HW 22: Final report

† NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, reading assignments are to be completed by the class session after they’re assigned.

Course Info

As Taught In
Spring 2010
Learning Resource Types
Lecture Notes
Projects with Examples
Design Assignments
Written Assignments
Activity Assignments with Examples