Intro to Engineering Project
The Lawn Chair
My first Engineering experience at the University level was my first year Intro to Engineering course (Fall 2014). It began the first day of class when our professor assigned us groups of 6 people and told us that we had only 1 task for the entire semester: we had to brainstorm, design, prototype and market a product that would make the lives of our university peers easier. My team decided on a portable lawn chair that included a desk and charging station, which would enable students to work outside in the nice weather with more comfort and ease. We had to deal with several failures in material, sizing and design, however it was arguably the single most beneficial task I’ve had as an engineer. I learned from mistakes that we made. We learned how to agree to disagree. I learned how to compromise on big decisions, but also stand up for what I believe in if I had the calculations to prove its validity. This project made me realize why I wanted to be an engineer. I want to problem solve and I want to share my learning and experience with my team.