Course Syllabus

Syllabus

Course Information
Course Number: MEEN 601
Course Title: Advanced Product Design
Section: 600 (IN-PERSON) & 700 (DISTANCE)
Time: TR 12:45 –02:00
Location: JCAIN 205 (for Section 600)
Credit Hours: 3

Instructor Details

Instructor: Dr. Richard Malak

Office: MEOB 325
Phone: 979-845-1919
E-Mail: rmalak@tamu.edu
Office Hours: Thursdays 2-3pm or by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Mr. Brad Mazoch

E-Mail: bhzoch@tamu.edu
Office Hours: Available via email and during lecture hours

Course Description

In this course you will learn skills important to success as a design engineer or design researcher. A key
focus is systematic design methodology. You will learn about the major phases and steps of a design
process as well as common variations on design process models. You also will learn about specific design
methods, including techniques for needs analysis, functional modeling, idea generation and decision
making. A semester-long project will provide you an opportunity to apply techniques taught in class.

Critical thinking is a point of emphasis in this course. Part of being a successful designer is thinking critically
about both the design problem and the methods you will use to solve it. Designers frequently get trapped
in common pitfalls such as rushing to develop a technical solution before understanding the design
problem, fixating on particular technical solutions, and invoking logical fallacies when making design
decisions. Through a combination of critical thinking and the systematic design methodology taught in this
course, you should be able to avoid these pitfalls and be more successful as a designer.

Course Prerequisites

MEEN 402 or equivalent

Special Course Designation

None

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 Course Syllabus

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Describe and utilize an overall design methodology or design process model.

• Conduct a thorough needs analysis for a design project.
• Create and interpret abstract representations (functional models, process models, activity diagrams)
commonly used to understand a design problem.
• Create and interpret requirements for a design project.
• Identify design concepts or embodiments using idea generation methods.
• Be able to communicate design concepts through.
• Apply systematic decision methods to make design decisions (e.g., concept selection).
• Interpret and critique proposed design methods or design process models.

Textbook and/or Resource Materials

No required text. Lecture slides, selected reading materials, and other learning tools will be distributed via
Canvas. The following are references that the instructor consults most commonly when creating lecture
slides. Students are not required to purchase any of these. These are listed here in case a student is
interested in further information about specific course topics.

● G. Pahl & W. Beitz, Engineering Design: A Systematic Approach. Springer. 2nd Ed. 1995.
● N. Cross, Engineering Design Methods: Strategies for Product Design. Wylie, 4th Ed. 2008.
● K. Otto & K. Wood, Product Design. Pearson. 2001.
● G.A. Hazelrigg, Fundamentals of Decision Making for Engineering Design and Systems
Engineering.2012.
● R.T. Clemen & T. Reilly, Making Hard Decisions. Brooks/Cole. 2001.

Grading Policy

There are no exams. The course grade will be determined through homework assignments, in-class
activities, and a team project as detailed below.

Grade Distribution

● Team Project – 60%

● Homework Assignments – 35%
● In-class Activities – 5%

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 Course Syllabus

Final Grade Calculation

There is no curve in this course. Letter grades will be assigned according to the following strict thresholds
and a brief relation to your performance:

A: >= 90% <= 100%

B: >= 80% < 90%
C: >= 60% < 80%
D: >= 50% < 60%
F: < 50%

Graded Assignments

Homework Assignments: These are take-home assignments administered and graded for each individual
student (unlimited number of attempts, last attempt graded) that will typically be due a week after being
announced in class and on Canvas. Most of the assignments will require you to demonstrate your
understanding of the methods learned in class on some design – be it a new design or redesign type
exercise. These will be graded according to the rubric provided in the assignment description. Some
assignments may take the form of a “quiz” in Canvas, but any assignments like that will not be a traditional
quiz (you will have access to your notes, etc.).

In-class activities: From time to time, the instructor will conduct in class activities (e.g., brainstorming) to
engage students and provide a first-hand experience of some of the techniques discussed in class. Students
will submit these by the end of day (midnight) on the same day of the class. The grading for these activities
will be based on completion (of course, there is a minimum quality that will be expected in the submission).

Quiz, Exams, Tests

This is a project-based course. There will be NO exams in this course.

Design Project

This is a project where students will work in teams of three or four and will design and develop a new
product starting from the identification of the problem that the product seeks to address to the
specification of details on the embodiment of the product. A low-fidelity prototype will be expected as a
means to demonstrate the feasibility of the product idea.

● The project is a semester-long task starting on the 4th week until the final presentation day of the
course. The purpose of this project is to (a) have you experience the design methodologies
discussed in class through a concrete example and (b) have you appreciate the best practices in
the design and modeling process.
● The project will be divided into several milestones and each design team will submit a design
document for each milestone that will be graded by the instructor. Additionally, each team will be
required to maintain a design diary that will be constantly updated and made available to the
instructor throughout the semester. You will be provided with a separate and detailed description
of the project.

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 Course Syllabus

● Given that each project will be open-ended and completely different from others in the class, it is
important to understand there is no single correct answer for which you are striving. Therefore,
the project will be graded based on the quality of work, the application of appropriate design
methods, and the effort demonstrated in implementing the design process. Peer evaluation may
be optionally employed toward a minor part of the project to assess individual contributions to the
project.

● Note: The project will require you to work outside of class sessions. This is the highlight of this
course that makes the course fun – so enjoy it!
● Note:
o Section 600: Attending the final presentation on the class day you are not presenting is
mandatory. You will lose points for missing the presentations.
o Section 700: You are welcome to attend in person if practical for you. If not, you are
required to view presentations and complete feedback forms for the other teams.

Late Work Policy

The instructor expects that all individual as well as team assignments are turned in before the deadline
specified for the submission. Work submitted by a student as makeup work for an excused absence is not
considered late work and is exempted from the late work policy. (See Student Rule 7.) In addition, the
instructor will accept late work with the following penalties imposed on the grades:

● Late Home Assignment Submissions: Ten percent (10%) of the home assignment grade will be
subtracted every 24 hours (including weekends) past the due deadline. For example, if your
submission is late by slightly more 48 hours, the submission will get a maximum of only 70% of the
total grade for a given home assignment. However, for a delay of 47 hours, a maximum of 80% of
the total grade will be given. This deduction is completely non-negotiable unless the delay is
caused due to reasons specified in the university guidelines. Any deviation from the general policy
will be stated in handout for an assignment. The submission policy stated in a handout overrides
policy specified in this document.
● Late In-Class Activity Submissions: Five percent (5%) of the assignment score will be deducted if
the assignment is submitted after the end of day (midnight) but before 24 hours of the class. No
points will be given if submitted after 24 hours of the class.

Course Schedule
The following is a tentative schedule for the semester. It is subject to change, but typically deviations
from this schedule are minor.

25-Aug Introduction, Design Problems, Course Overview

30-Aug Design Methodology
1-Sep Product Planning, Design Thinking
6-Sep Needs, Product-Opportunity Gap
8-Sep Tools for Needs Gathering
13-Sep Objectives and Requirements
15-Sep Quality Function Deployment

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20-Sep Problem Decomposition using Functional Modeling

22-Sep Functional Modeling Continued
27-Sep Function Basis, Concept Generation Techniques
29-Sep C-Sketch Activity, Sources of Design Inspiration
4-Oct Concept Generation Through TRIZ/TIPS
6-Oct Concept Generation Through Morphological Matrix
11-Oct Fall Break – No Classes
13-Oct Concept Selection and Intro to Decision Making
18-Oct Rating Matrices for Decision Making
20-Oct Voting Schemes
25-Oct Perspective Sketching (Cubes)
27-Oct Perspective Sketching (Complex Shapes)
1-Nov Design Visualization
Embodiment Design, Models in Product
3-Nov Development
8-Nov Prototypes as Experience, Product Architecture
10-Nov Risk Assessment, FMEA, DFX
15-Nov Pareto Dominance and Trade Studies
17-Nov Decision Theory
22-Nov Tradeoffs under Certainty
24-Nov Design Methodology and Design Research
29-Nov FINAL PRESENTATIONS
1-Dec FINAL PRESENTATIONS
6-Dec FINAL PRESENTATIONS

Optional Course Information Items

Technology Support

Canvas: This course will use the TAMU Canvas as the virtual classroom. Within Canvas, you can find all
course-related content and assessments (including but not limited to course materials, videos,
assignments, grades, etc.). Recommended browsers for Canvas access are Mozilla Firefox or Google
Chrome (Internet Explorer is not recommended). For additional information on supported browsers for
Canvas, please visit https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Guides/ct-p/canvas_guides.
To login to Canvas:
● Go to http://canvas.tamu.edu
● Click the Login button
● Use your TAMU NetID and password to login
Once logged into Canvas, you will see a list of all courses for which you are enrolled in for the semester.
To navigate to this course, click on the name of the course. For technological issues related to Canvas and
software, contact the TAMU Help Desk:
● Student Canvas Help Website, https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Guides/ct-
p/canvas_guides

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● TAMU IT Help Desk:

o Website: http://hdc.tamu.edu/index.php (Online Chat is available)
o Phone: (979) 845-8300
o Email: helpdesk@tamu.edu
The TAMU Help Desk is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If your technical problems are unable to be
resolved within 48 hours, please contact the instructor for additional assistance.
Technology issues are not an excuse for missing a course requirement – make sure your computer is
configured correctly and address issues well in advance of deadlines.

Access to Lecture Content: The video recording of the lecture will be posted in Canvas and will be available
throughout the semester. The lecture slides (PDF) will be made available on Canvas and will be available
to you at all times during the semester.

Technology for Collaborative work: The following may be useful for some students during the semester.
The recommendations are informational only—the instructor is neither endorsing the listed services nor
certifying their effectiveness.
● Google Hangouts can also be used to work collaboratively in a virtual environment for group
projects. Students will need to make sure they have claimed a TAMU Google account. To claim
and learn more about your account, please visit http://google.tamu.edu.
● Skype (http://www.skype.com/en/) provides free video call and videoconferencing software.
There are limitations on the free version, but this can be a useful tool within its limitations.
● There are several solutions for file sharing that are free or that have free membership levels. These
include Google Drive (https://www.google.com/drive/), Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/)
and other cloud-based file sharing systems.
There are several recent apps that support various aspects of teamwork. For example, Slack
(https://slack.com/) is a messaging app that provides specialized support for teams (specialized message
organization, searchability, file sharing, etc.) and offers a free tier of service.

Instructor’s Notes on Academic Integrity

This is a project-heavy course with a significant amount of team work involved. From my perspective, you
will learn far more if you receive a small tip that enables you to complete the assignment than you would
by leaving the assignment incomplete. Since my primary concern is whether you learn the material, I see
this type of collaborative interaction as healthy and desirable. Furthermore, it parallels the real world,
where you will collaborate with a team of other engineers (not to mention scientists, managers, lawyers,
etc.). Naturally, there must be limits to how much you are permitted to help one another. The general rule
for this is that the work you submit must be your own or your teams, but it is acceptable for you to receive
tips from others on how to complete the work. Examples of permissible collaboration include:
● Discussing general strategies for solving a problem
● Discussing in any way the methods and techniques presented in lecture provided you do not solve
a specific assigned problem in the process
● Pointing fellow students to useful websites and other references
● Discussing how to interpret results
Examples of behavior that is not permissible (and possibly to be considered as academic misconduct; note:
this is NOT an exhaustive list): Copying writing, code, CAD models, or any part of an electronic document

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from other sources and passing it off as yours. If you need any clarification, please ask your instructors,
TAs or graders. See boilerplate below.

Academic misconduct WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. According to the Aggie Honor System Office, academic
misconduct (http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/Student%20Rules/definitions.html) includes cheating,
fabrication, falsification, multiple submissions (same work in multiple classes), and plagiarism.
Academic misconduct will be dealt with according to University regulations

Course Copyright Statement:

The materials used within this course are copyrighted by the instructor. This includes, but is not limited to,
syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab problems, online handouts, course videos, etc. Because these materials are
copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy or distribute these materials, unless permission is expressly
granted.

University Policies
This section outlines the university level policies that must be included in each course syllabus. The TAMU
Faculty Senate established the wording of these policies.

Attendance Policy

The university views class attendance and participation as an individual student responsibility. Students
are expected to attend class and to complete all assignments.

Please refer to Student Rule 7 in its entirety for information about excused absences, including definitions,
and related documentation and timelines.

Makeup Work Policy

Students will be excused from attending class on the day of a graded activity or when attendance
contributes to a student’s grade, for the reasons stated in Student Rule 7, or other reason deemed
appropriate by the instructor.

Please refer to Student Rule 7 in its entirety for information about makeup work, including definitions,
and related documentation and timelines.

Absences related to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 may necessitate a period of more than
30 days for make-up work, and the timeframe for make-up work should be agreed upon by the student
and instructor” (Student Rule 7, Section 7.4.1).

“The instructor is under no obligation to provide an opportunity for the student to make up work missed
because of an unexcused absence” (Student Rule 7, Section 7.4.2).

Students who request an excused absence are expected to uphold the Aggie Honor Code and Student
Conduct Code. (See Student Rule 24.)

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Academic Integrity Statement and Policy

“An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

“Texas A&M University students are responsible for authenticating all work submitted to an instructor. If
asked, students must be able to produce proof that the item submitted is indeed the work of that student.
Students must keep appropriate records at all times. The inability to authenticate one’s work, should the
instructor request it, may be sufficient grounds to initiate an academic misconduct case” (Section 20.1.2.3,
Student Rule 20).

Texas A&M at College Station

You can learn more about the Aggie Honor System Office Rules and Procedures, academic integrity, and
your rights and responsibilities at aggiehonor.tamu.edu.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy

Texas A&M University is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all
students. If you experience barriers to your education due to a disability or think you may have a disability,
please contact the Disability Resources office on your campus (resources listed below) Disabilities may
include, but are not limited to attentional, learning, mental health, sensory, physical, or chronic health
conditions. All students are encouraged to discuss their disability related needs with Disability Resources
and their instructors as soon as possible.

Texas A&M at College Station

Disability Resources is located in the Student Services Building or at (979) 845-1637 or visit
disability.tamu.edu.

Title IX and Statement on Limits to Confidentiality

Texas A&M University is committed to fostering a learning environment that is safe and productive for all.
University policies and federal and state laws prohibit gender-based discrimination and sexual
harassment, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

With the exception of some medical and mental health providers, all university employees (including full
and part-time faculty, staff, paid graduate assistants, student workers, etc.) are Mandatory Reporters and
must report to the Title IX Office if the employee experiences, observes, or becomes aware of an incident
that meets the following conditions (see University Rule 08.01.01.M1):

● The incident is reasonably believed to be discrimination or harassment.

● The incident is alleged to have been committed by or against a person who, at the time of the
incident, was (1) a student enrolled at the University or (2) an employee of the University.

Mandatory Reporters must file a report regardless of how the information comes to their attention –
including but not limited to face-to-face conversations, a written class assignment or paper, class
discussion, email, text, or social media post. Although Mandatory Reporters must file a report, in most
instances, a person who is subjected to the alleged conduct will be able to control how the report is

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handled, including whether or not to pursue a formal investigation. The University’s goal is to make sure
you are aware of the range of options available to you and to ensure access to the resources you need.

Texas A&M at College Station

Students wishing to discuss concerns in a confidential setting are encouraged to make an appointment
with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Students can learn more about filing a report, accessing supportive resources, and navigating the Title IX
investigation and resolution process on the University’s Title IX webpage.

Statement on Mental Health and Wellness

Texas A&M University recognizes that mental health and wellness are critical factors that influence a
student’s academic success and overall wellbeing. Students are encouraged to engage in healthy self-care
by utilizing available resources and services on your campus

Texas A&M College Station

Students who need someone to talk to can contact Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) or call the
TAMU Helpline (979-845-2700) from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. weekdays and 24 hours on weekends. 24-hour
emergency help is also available through the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800-273-8255) or at
suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

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