Title:

The Structures of Designs

Abstract:

Some of the most pivotal scientific discoveries have been about structural forms. Until the double helix structure was discovered, the mechanism by which DNA transmitted biological information was unknown. With the discovery of the structure of the periodic table of the elements, the atomic structure of elements that had not yet even been found could nonetheless be predicted. The field of engineering is likewise replete with discoveries about the structures of breakthrough designs – which are then formalized in symbolic representations in equations, diagrams, and domain-specific models.

In my research, I investigate the structures of designs and design processes, and by generating insights into the structures, solve important engineering design problems. In this talk, I present discoveries made by me and my research collaborators about the structures of designs and the effects those structures have beyond the intended purpose of the design. Some of the problems I will explore including predicting the performance of design teams, forecasting the rate of innovation of products, estimating the cost of changing existing designs, and students’ recontextualization of theoretical knowledge to solve design problems

Bio:

Andy Dong is head of the Oregon State University School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering and a professor of mechanical engineering. His research addresses strategy in the design and innovation of engineered products and systems.

His research aims to explain the impact of design strategy on productivity and the betterment potential of new products. His background in artificial intelligence in design has led him to collaborative work across a wide range of topics in behavioral economics, cognition, and computational fabrication. Considered around the world as an expert in design strategy, he has provided advice to major international telecommunications, financial services, and civil aviation companies. He was awarded an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship in 2010, one of the most prestigious research fellowships in Australia, and appointed the inaugural Warren Centre Chair for Engineering Innovation at the University of Sydney in 2012.

Prior to joining Oregon State, he was the professor and chair of the MBA in Design Strategy program at California College of the Arts and an adjunct professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is an associate editor for the journal Design Studies. He received his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley.

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Seminar Series features scholars from a wide range of peer institutions across the country. The events are open to all faculty, staff and students looking to spark their curiosity and learn about high-impact research from some of the world's most prominent experts in mechanical engineering.