Engineering Design Process –An Interdisciplinary Approach

In the 21 century, modern engineering design is practiced as an interdisciplinary endeavor requiring individual engineers to work as part of a team that involves a range of specialists. An interdisciplinary approach to engineering design sensitizes team members (students, faculty and industry partners) to multiple perspectives and discourages them from taking comfort in the singular domain to which they are accustomed. Students in Functional Apparel Design and Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer were to design a garment for the human torso that will facilitate heat transfer considering a particular environment, activity, or both. These research activities engage interdisciplinary student teams in collaborative research with industry and help promote teaching and learning while utilizing methodologies focused on solving functional design issues using an innovative application of industry-relevant technology. The result is a wellprepared professional who can balance technical training with a firm understanding of scientific inquiry and industry practice. This paper provides a framework for creating models of successful interdisciplinary collaborative projects between university and industry. Index Terms – Design process, Engineering Education, Interdisciplinary, Student teams,