Opus College of Engineering’s Design Day, May 10

An icon graphic representing Pursuit of Academic Excellence for Human Well-beingThe Opus College of Engineering’s seventh annual Design Day will be held in Engineering Hall on Tuesday, May 10, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. With a return to an in-person event, all are welcome to attend and celebrate our engineering students. Guests will be asked to sign in upon arrival. No advanced registration is required. 

The celebration of student design and innovation will showcase an array of year-round design activities that let students put their knowledge and skills into action to solve real-world problems. In addition to student presentations, the event will include keynote speakers and the opportunity to mingle in Engineering Hall. 

Keynote speakers include: 

  • Molly Erickson, research engineer at the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation and Engineering Center, and Dr. Gerald Harris, director of the Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Engineering Center, on Go Baby Go! Milwaukee 
    • The nationwide, open-source Go Baby Go! program is dedicated to helping children with special needs gain more independent mobility through the use of customized ride-on cars at no cost to families. Go Baby Go! Milwaukee was started in 2015 as a collaboration between The Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Engineering Center at Marquette University (OREC/MU, MCW) and Children’s Wisconsin (CW), to bring independent mobility to the children of Southeastern Wisconsin. This presentation will discuss the purpose of the program and opportunities for student involvement. 
  • Manolo Caballer, vice president of engineering and advanced development at the Kitchen & Bath Group, and Lun Cheak Tan, vice president of industrial design at the Kitchen & Bath Group, present “Bringing Ideas to Life: An Inside Look at the Unique World of Innovation” 
    • Kohler leaders reveal how an idea emerges, grows and blossoms into a product that changes an industry – or the world – and how engineers and designers make it happen. 
  • Dr. Douglas E. Melton, program director of the Kern Family Foundation, presents “Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat; It has just Moved on to More” 
    • There’s an old adage that “curiosity killed the cat,” insinuating that unwanted investigation could lead one to trouble. For a few professions, that might be correct. But for most engineers, curiosity can be a key to success. In this interactive seminar, we will begin with a fun group exercise that will test your curiosity and observational skills. Practicing curiosity is serious play that builds both skills and mental habits. 

Special thanks to senior design project sponsors, faculty and staff for supporting this annual celebration of design and innovation. To learn more about Design Day, please email industryrelations@marquette.edu or visit the webpage.