Director of Engineering Mentors MIT students on Product DesignOctober 18, 2008 – Eric Sugalski, director of engineering at Insight's Boston office, knows how hard it is to develop a product from a raw idea into a working prototype. Even after years of product development experience, it is still a challenging process, which is why he is helping students enrolled in Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Product Engineering Process class get a head start by serving as mentor and advisor. The class asks students to come up with a useful product and working prototype of something that is to be used in the home, such as kitchen appliances or HVAC improvements. Sugalski helps the students understand the complexities of the design process by starting with the people who will be using the product. "My goal is to help the students really understand the user and their needs, because after years of experience at Insight, we know that is the most critical element to successful product design and development," Sugalski said. Sugalski is available as a mentor to the entire class and specifically advises one of the teams of about 15 students to help them achieve their goal of designing an alpha prototype of a brand new product. The class puts the students in real-world situations by having them work within a budget and timeline. They experience the process of developing new product ideas, improving design skills and learning strategies and processes for successful innovation. The program, which ends in December, requires the class teams present their work to an audience of approximately 150 practicing product designers and entrepreneurs. "I am glad I have the opportunity to help the students design and engineer a working prototype and to help them get ready to present to industry professionals," said Sugalski. "While the goal is to engineer a quality product, being able to successfully demonstrate its attributes to an audience is part of the process." |
Press ContactTara Prasad 773.907.0100 x255 |