Invention by Design; How Engineers Get from Thought to Thing

1. Engineering is a fundamental human process shaped by the world around us.

Indeed, the world of our everyday experience is shaped by the practice of engineering and technology, and the world shapes those activities in turn.

Ubiquitous influence. Engineering is not just about high-tech computers or spectacular structures; it's woven into the fabric of our daily lives. From the air conditioning keeping us comfortable to the roads we travel on, engineering shapes our physical environment. This influence extends to our metaphorical world, encompassing telephones, videotapes, and computer networks.

Reciprocal relationship. The relationship between engineering and the world is not one-sided. While engineering shapes our environment, the world, with its needs, resources, and constraints, also shapes engineering. This interplay creates a dynamic system where innovation is driven by both technological possibilities and societal demands.

Origins and practice. Engineering is a fundamental human process with roots in the earliest days of civilization. While modern engineering has become professionalized and formalized, its core principles remain connected to the skills and discipline exhibited by craftspersons throughout history. Modern engineering is a more mathematical and scientific endeavor, but its practice still requires a good deal of commonsense reasoning about materials, structures, energy, and the like.

2. Engineering design involves balancing competing objectives and constant compromise.

Engineering is the art of compromise, and there is always room for improvement in the real world.

Conflicting goals. Engineering design is rarely about achieving a single, perfect solution. Instead, it involves navigating a complex web of conflicting objectives. For example, a paper clip should be easy to apply and have a strong grip, but these qualities often require trade-offs in design.

The art of compromise. Because of these conflicting objectives, engineering is fundamentally an art of compromise. The "best" designs are those that strike the most effective balance between competing demands, considering factors like cost, performance, aesthetics, and environmental impact.

Continuous improvement. No engineering problem is ever completely solved to everyone's satisfaction. There is always room for improvement, new materials to explore, and evolving societal needs to address. This constant drive for improvement is what fuels innovation and keeps the field of engineering dynamic.

3. Analyzing failures and limitations drives innovation and improved products.

A healthy sense of criticism is what gives the best inventors, designers, and engineers their edge, and it is also what drives the evolution of the made world and of technology.

Learning from mistakes. Engineering is not just about celebrating successes; it's also about scrutinizing failures. By carefully analyzing why things break, malfunction, or fall short of expectations, engineers gain valuable insights that inform future designs.

Identifying shortcomings. A key aspect of engineering is the ability to identify the shortcomings and failings of existing technology. This critical eye allows engineers to see opportunities for improvement and to develop new solutions that address those weaknesses.

Driving evolution. A healthy sense of criticism is what gives the best inventors, designers, and engineers their edge, and it is also what drives the evolution of the made world and of technology. If we were content with everything around us, we would have no conception of improvement and the world would be a static place.

4. Understanding material properties like springiness and elasticity is crucial in engineering.

The paper clip works because its loops can be spread apart just enough to get it around some papers and, when released, can spring back to grab the papers and hold them.

Hooke's Law. Robert Hooke discovered that, up to a limit, each object stretches in proportion to the force applied to it. Conversely, the more we stretch something elastic, the more resistance it offers to being further stretched. This principle, known as Hooke's Law, is fundamental to understanding the behavior of materials.

Springiness in design. Springiness, or elasticity, is a critical property in many engineering applications. It allows materials to deform under stress and then return to their original shape when the stress is removed. This property is essential for the function of objects like paper clips, springs, and even airplane wings.

Elastic limit. Every material has an elastic limit, beyond which it will no longer return to its original shape after being deformed. Engineers must carefully consider this limit when designing structures and mechanisms to ensure that they can withstand the expected stresses without permanent damage.

5. Technological advancements often depend on the development of supporting networks and systems.

Engineering can never operate effectively in a vacuum.

Interdependence. Engineering design and development must proceed with a clear sense of worldwide developments. The story of the fax machine illustrates how a sophisticated piece of equipment could not develop into the user-friendly device it now is before a communications network over which data could be transmitted was put in place.

Context matters. Engineering can never operate effectively in a vacuum. The extraordinary rise in use of the fax machine that began in the 1980s had as much to do with government deregulation, standards development, and cultural imperatives as it did with pure technology.

Systems thinking. The best designers and analysts are those who are constantly aware of the interrelationships of all things. No artifact or system that any engineer designs or analyzes can function independent of a larger social system.

6. Economic considerations significantly influence engineering design and manufacturing decisions.

Engineering is the art of compromise, and there is always room for improvement in the real world.

Cost optimization. Economic factors play a crucial role in engineering design and manufacturing. Engineers must constantly strive to reduce costs without compromising performance, safety, or reliability. This often involves making trade-offs between different design options.

Mass production. When products are manufactured in large quantities, even small cost savings per unit can have a significant impact on overall profitability. This is why engineers often focus on optimizing designs for mass production, even if it means sacrificing some performance or features.

Market viability. The ultimate success of an engineering project depends on its economic viability. A technically brilliant design may fail if it is too expensive to manufacture, market, or maintain. Engineers must therefore consider the entire life cycle cost of a product, from design to disposal.

7. Engineers act as technological critics, identifying shortcomings and driving improvements.

A new artifact will displace an existing one only if there is a clear advantage that the new holds over the old.

Challenging the status quo. Engineers are not simply builders; they are also critics. They constantly question existing technologies, identify their shortcomings, and seek ways to improve them. This critical mindset is essential for driving innovation and progress.

Articulating problems. Often, the problems with existing technologies are so familiar that people have adapted to them and no longer notice them. It is the engineer, acting as a technological critic, who articulates these problems and makes them visible to others.

Seeking advantages. A new invention will displace an existing one only if there is a clear advantage that the new holds over the old. The most direct and successful means of establishing an advantage is to point out the shortcomings and failings of existing technology and to show how the new device serves to remove objections to the old.

8. The history of engineering is rich with stories of success triumphing over failure, providing valuable lessons.

Studying past cases of exemplary engineering, as superseded as their technology might be, can provide much insight into how we can approach some of the most challenging problems of today and come up with rewarding solutions.

Learning from the past. The history of engineering is filled with stories of both triumph and failure. By studying these past cases, engineers can gain valuable insights into the challenges they face today and develop more effective solutions.

Exemplary engineering. Studying past cases of exemplary engineering, as superseded as their technology might be, can provide much insight into how we can approach some of the most challenging problems of today and come up with rewarding solutions.

Judgment and experience. The stories of how engineers approached their problems and exercised their judgment have much to teach us about some of the fundamental, if not innate, characteristics of the human endeavor known as engineering.

9. Mathematical and scientific analysis are essential tools, but common sense reasoning is also vital.

Mathematics and science help us to analyze existing ideas and their embodiment in "things," but these analytical tools do not in themselves give us those ideas.

Analytical tools. Mathematics and science provide engineers with powerful tools for analyzing existing ideas and their embodiment in "things." These analytical tools help us to understand how things function and to identify areas for improvement.

The source of ideas. Mathematics and science help us to analyze existing ideas and their embodiment in "things," but these analytical tools do not in themselves give us those ideas. We have to think and scheme about nature and existing artifacts and figure out how they can be altered and improved to better achieve objectives considered beneficial to humankind.

Commonsense reasoning. Modern engineering is a more highly mathematical and scientific endeavor, but its practice still requires a good deal of commonsense reasoning about materials, structures, energy, and the like.

10. Political and social issues are inextricably intertwined with engineering problems.

In the real world, such questions become inextricably intertwined with political and social issues, from which engineering problems are never immune.

Social context. No artifact or system that any engineer designs or analyzes can function independent of a larger social system. The best designers and analysts are those who are constantly aware of the interrelationships of all things.

Political influence. The story of just about any large bridge project can serve to illuminate the essential complexity of large projects, especially with regard to the political environment in which the engineering must proceed.

Intertwined issues. Safe artifacts and systems of all kinds are clearly very important for the society that finances them, every dollar that goes unnecessarily into strength may be a dollar that is not available for other needs, such as conservation or maintenance. In the real world, such questions become inextricably intertwined with political and social issues, from which engineering problems are never immune.

Last updated: March 28, 2025