Engineering Design: A Survival Guide to Senior Capstone

Engineering Design: A Survival Guide to Senior Capstone contains a wealth of information about the engineering design process. One of the goals of this textbook is to bridge the gap between academia and industry. To that end, it draws on project management resources and provides extensive insights from an industry perspective—yet it remains tailored to senior design courses.

I used this textbook while developing a capstone course in computer engineering. Although I couldn’t implement every design process outlined in the book (especially in a one-semester course), it served as a strong foundation to build upon. My advice for instructors is to treat it as a flexible resource—pick and choose the most important parts of the design process to include in your course. For students, this book can be a valuable resource, not only to help navigate senior design but also to prepare for and gain exposure to design work in industry.

Engineering design in the real world is rarely as straightforward as solving a well-defined problem presented in a classroom. As engineers, we must often define the problem ourselves and then devise suitable solutions. There is rarely a single “correct” answer. The engineering design process, as described in this textbook, is meant to maximize the chances of success and reduce the risk of project failure. Having worked in industry, I found many aspects of the book to be relatable to my own real-world experiences. It also emphasizes professional or “soft” skills—skills that are often more critical in the workplace, where collaboration and teamwork are essential.

I read the book cover to cover and gained a lot from it. However, that approach may not be ideal for everyone. I recommend using it as a reference to explore key concepts and big ideas. The text is well-organized and clearly formatted, making it easy to jump around and extract useful insights. Here are some especially helpful elements to look for:

1. Text highlighted in blue – These often contain summarized, practical advice.
2. Industry point of view boxes – These feature engaging real-world stories that offer valuable lessons.
3. Common pitfalls boxes – Helpful warnings that can guide students away from frequent mistakes.
4. Examples throughout the text – These bring concepts to life and demonstrate application.

I also want to make a note regarding process methodologies. I’m very familiar with Agile in the context of software engineering. Toward the end of the book, the author discusses two engineering processes: Waterfall and Scrum (a form of Agile). Waterfall is highly structured and phase-based, and the design process in this textbook closely aligns with it. Scrum, by contrast, is fast and iterative. The author acknowledges—and I agree, based on my own experience—that a hybrid approach blending Waterfall and Agile elements often works best in practice.

In summary, I strongly recommend this textbook for anyone designing or taking a capstone course. It’s an excellent resource for developing both technical and professional skills, and it offers a realistic view of how design is practiced in industry.