#5 Experiment 1

🏗️ Design Thinking & Idea LabCivil Engineering • First Year

INTERACTIVE TEACHING WEBSITE

Think like a designer.
Build like an engineer.

A practical Design Thinking & Idea Lab for Civil Engineering students — combining empathy, creativity, prototyping, testing, reflection and engineering communication.

Explore Modules ↓

4Teaching Modules

12Lab Experiments

6DT Process Stages

20Quiz Questions

The Design Thinking Cycle

Students learn by moving repeatedly from problem to prototype to evidence-based improvement.

👥

Empathize

Understand people, context and needs.

🎯

Define

Frame a meaningful problem.

💡

Ideate

Generate many possible solutions.

🏗️

Prototype

Make an idea tangible.

🧪

Test

Collect evidence and feedback.

🔄

Improve

Iterate using what was learned.

Four-Module Course

Click a module to explore teaching content and activities.

Module 1 — Design Thinking Foundations

Understand design thinking, users, problems, observation and problem framing.

Core Topics

• What is Design Thinking?
• Human-centred engineering
• Observation and empathy
• User personas and journey maps
• Problem statements and “How Might We?” questions
• Engineering constraints and sustainability

Class Activities

• Observe a campus facility.
• Interview a user or conduct peer observation.
• Create an empathy map.
• Convert an issue into a design challenge.

Module 2 — Creativity & Ideation

Move from a defined problem to multiple alternative concepts.

Core Topics

• Brainstorming and brainwriting
• SCAMPER
• Mind mapping
• Analogies and forced connections
• Concept selection matrices
• Feasibility, desirability and viability

Class Activities

• Generate 20 ideas in 10 minutes.
• Sketch three competing concepts.
• Use weighted decision criteria.
• Pitch the selected concept in 60 seconds.

Module 3 — Prototyping & Model Making

Transform concepts into low-cost physical prototypes and learn through making.

Core Topics

• Low-fidelity prototypes
• Paper and cardboard modelling
• Structural frames
• Scale and proportion
• Rapid iteration
• Prototype documentation

Materials

PaperCardboardStrawsGlueRubber bandsColour pens

Use inexpensive materials to focus attention on thinking, experimentation and communication rather than fabrication cost.

Module 4 — Testing, Feedback & Innovation

Test prototypes, interpret evidence, redesign and communicate engineering value.

Core Topics

• Prototype testing
• Observation and measurement
• User feedback
• Failure analysis
• Iteration and refinement
• Innovation pitch and reflection

Reflection Questions

• What worked?
• What failed?
• Why did it fail?
• What evidence supports the redesign?
• What would you change next?

Step-by-Step House Making Guide

Follow these construction sequences during the two house-model laboratory experiments.

Experiment 1 — Low-Cost Sustainable House

Suggested working size: cardboard base about 30 × 25 cm.

Step 1 — Plan

Draw a simple floor plan on paper. Mark living room, bedroom, kitchen, toilet, door and windows. Keep the layout compact.

Step 2 — Prepare Base

Cut a rectangular cardboard base. Draw the outer wall line and room partitions lightly with a colour pen.

Step 3 — Make Columns

Cut equal lengths of straw. Position them at the corners and important wall intersections. Fix them vertically to the cardboard using glue.

Step 4 — Make Beams

Cut horizontal straw pieces to connect the tops of the columns. Glue the joints carefully so the frame remains square.

Step 5 — Make Walls

Cut paper or thin cardboard panels to fit between the frame members. Leave openings for the door, windows and ventilators.

Step 6 — Make Door & Windows

Draw or cut a door and windows. Use colour pens to identify them clearly. Provide windows on more than one side where possible.

Step 7 — Make Roof

Fold paper/cardboard into a simple sloping roof. Make two roof panels and join them along the ridge. Support the ridge with straw if needed.

Step 8 — Add Connections

Use glue for rigid joints. Rubber bands may be used experimentally at selected joints. Compare the behaviour of different connections.

Step 9 — Finish & Label

Use colour pens to label rooms, columns, beams, windows and roof. Add a small garden, pathway or water tank if desired.

Step 10 — Test

Gently move the model horizontally. Place a small lightweight object on the roof. Observe stability, deformation, ventilation and joint performance.

Step 11 — Identify Problems

Record weak joints, roof movement, excessive deformation, poor room arrangement or insufficient openings.

Step 12 — Improve

Strengthen weak joints, modify the roof, alter openings or rearrange spaces. Build the improved version and test again.

Student Challenge: Try to use fewer materials without sacrificing stability, functionality and comfort. Record what you saved and what you changed.

Experiment 2 — Earthquake-Resistant Straw House

Suggested working size: cardboard base about 30 × 25 cm. Focus on lateral stability and bracing.

Step 1 — Define the Challenge

Decide that the model must remain standing during gentle left-right movement of its base.

Step 2 — Prepare Foundation

Cut a stiff cardboard base. Mark four or more column locations so the structural frame is reasonably symmetrical.

Step 3 — Build Columns

Cut equal straw lengths. Glue vertical straws at the marked positions. Check that they are approximately vertical.

Step 4 — Connect Beams

Join the tops of the columns with horizontal straws. Add an intermediate beam if the frame is too flexible.

Step 5 — Add X-Bracing

Place diagonal straws across selected wall faces to form X-braces. These are intended to reduce excessive lateral movement.

Step 6 — Make Lightweight Walls

Attach paper walls without making the model unnecessarily heavy. Keep doors and windows visible.

Step 7 — Build Lightweight Roof

Make a simple paper/cardboard roof. Avoid unnecessary weight at the top of the structure.

Step 8 — Experiment with Joints

Use glue at some joints and rubber bands at selected joints. Record which arrangement gives better stability during testing.

Step 9 — Inspect the Frame

Check vertical columns, beam connections, bracing and base attachment before the first test.

Step 10 — Simulate Earthquake

Place the model on a cardboard sheet and move the sheet gently left and right. Start with small movement and increase gradually.

Step 11 — Record Failure

Note lateral movement, roof movement, column deformation, joint failure and whether the model collapses.

Step 12 — Redesign & Retest

Add or reposition braces, improve joints, reduce unnecessary mass or change the frame geometry. Test the improved prototype again.

Engineering Question: Compare the unbraced and braced models. Which one moves less? What evidence from your test supports your conclusion?

🛠️ Recommended Construction Sequence for Students

Sketch → Measure → Cut → Assemble → Glue → Reinforce → Finish → Test → Record → Redesign → Retest

Do not begin construction immediately. First make a sketch, decide the dimensions and identify the test you will perform. The prototype should answer a design question.

12 Laboratory Experiments

Each experiment follows the Design Thinking cycle and ends with a testable prototype or evidence.

Student Worksheets

Complete the fields and print the sheet as a laboratory record.

Student / Team

Experiment

Problem / User Need

Empathy Findings

Ideas Generated

Selected Concept & Reason

Prototype Description

Test Results

Redesign / Improvement

Reflection

Bloom’s Taxonomy Alignment

Questions and activities progress from recall to creation.

Remember

Define empathy, prototype, ideation and iteration.

Understand

Explain why user needs matter in engineering design.

Apply

Use brainstorming and prototyping methods.

Analyse

Compare alternatives using design criteria.

Evaluate

Judge prototype performance using test evidence.

Create

Develop, test and refine an original engineering solution.

CO–PO Mapping

Illustrative OBE alignment — adapt the labels to the approved programme/course structure.

Course Outcome	Outcome Statement	PO1	PO2	PO3	PO4	PO5	PO6
CO1	Explain Design Thinking principles and stages.	2	1	1	—	1	1
CO2	Identify and define user-centred engineering problems.	2	3	2	1	1	2
CO3	Generate and evaluate alternative concepts.	2	3	3	2	2	1
CO4	Build and test low-fidelity prototypes.	3	2	3	3	3	1
CO5	Iterate and communicate an improved engineering solution.	2	3	3	3	3	2

Suggested scale: 1 = Low, 2 = Moderate, 3 = High. Verify against the institution’s officially approved PO/PSO framework.

Interactive Quiz

20 quick questions. Your score is calculated instantly in the browser.

Viva Voce Question Bank

Use these questions for laboratory review and oral assessment.

Foundations

1. What is Design Thinking?
2. Why is empathy important?
3. Differentiate problem and solution.
4. What makes a good problem statement?
5. What is a “How Might We?” question?

Ideation

1. What is brainstorming?
2. Why generate multiple alternatives?
3. What is SCAMPER?
4. How do you select a concept?
5. What is a decision matrix?

Prototyping

1. Why use low-fidelity prototypes?
2. What is iteration?
3. Why were straws used as structural members?
4. What is the role of a prototype?
5. How can material use be reduced?

Testing

1. What is failure feedback?
2. How did you test your model?
3. What evidence justified your redesign?
4. What changed between prototypes?
5. How would you improve the experiment?

Instructor Dashboard

A lightweight local dashboard for classroom progress. Data stays in this browser.

Class Progress

Worksheet completion

0% saved completion

Module 1 completed Module 2 completed Module 3 completed Module 4 completed Experiments reviewed Quiz completed Viva completed Final reflection submitted

Teaching Checklist

• Brief the design challenge.
• Form diverse teams.
• Require sketches before making.
• Test every prototype.
• Require one redesign.
• Assess evidence and reflection.

Instructor Tip: Reward learning from failure, not only the final appearance of the model.

🏗️ Design Thinking & Idea Lab

Interactive teaching companion for Civil Engineering students

Empathize • Define • Ideate • Prototype • Test • Improve