Design

Research in the area of design spans a wide variety of activities ranging from early-stage customer needs assessment and ideation to design embodiment, detail design and optimization, to Design for X topics (Design for Manufacturing, Design for Sustainability, Design for Environment, etc.). The Clemson Design program is respected worldwide for its contributions to understanding the science behind engineering design and improving engineering design practice.

Research Topics

1. Design Methodologies (Mocko, Turner): investigates the underlying science and processes that designers employ to be successful in the design process.
2. Computational Design Tools and Optimization (Mocko, Turner): studies how computation and information science technologies can be used to represent, visualize, explore, analyze and make decisions in the design process, as well as how those technologies can be used to improve design methodologies and outcomes.
3. Systems Design and Engineering (Mocko, Turner): examines how the scale and complexity of the design alter the design process through the emergence of systems and engineered systems.
4. Sustainability (Mocko, Turner): considers how design decisions affect the ability of a system to be designed, manufactured, operated, maintained and retired in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Industrial applications for this research can be found in virtually every industry and engineering endeavor. Graduates work in small and large industries, national laboratories and academia.