Project Design introduces students to the principles and practices of systems engineering through the development of a comprehensive proposal for a real-world engineering project. The course guides students through the early stages of the engineering design process, from identifying stakeholder needs and defining system requirements to evaluating design alternatives and developing an initial system architecture.
Students work collaboratively on industry-sponsored or faculty-initiated projects, applying structured methods for requirements engineering, functional modeling, design trade studies, risk assessment, and project planning. Emphasis is placed on traceable requirements, evidence-based decision-making, technical feasibility, and the systematic evaluation of design alternatives against cost, schedule, and performance constraints.
The course follows an iterative, stage-gate approach that mirrors professional engineering practice. Through hands-on studio sessions, weekly deliverables, faculty mentoring, peer critiques, mock reviews, and formal stakeholder presentations, students learn to document, communicate, and defend their engineering decisions. By the end of the course, students produce a validated project concept, a defined set of system and subsystem requirements, a preliminary system architecture, and a project plan that establishes the foundation for detailed design and implementation during the Final Year Project.
