2008 Project Theme

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2008 Project Theme

You are part of a successful product development firm that prides itself on being at the cutting edge. The firm designs a wide range of innovative consumer and professional products that are driven by new technologies, current societal trends or challenges, and concerns about global sustainability.

Your firm's core competency is centered in mechanical design, but, since modern products are highly integrated, your firm also addresses a wide variety of technologies including software and electronics.

Each year your company challenges a select group of teams to propose and develop new products, all positioned within a broad theme.

This year the theme is "the home". Any product related to a home environment or activities within a home is potentially within scope.

Target customers may include those living in developed or developing countries. Business models may range from products for under-served clients, to products distributed on a non-profit basis, to highly profitable mass-produced goods. However, in all cases you must develop a realistic plan for how the product can be produced and sustained. If the plan is unrealistic, the product will fail and have no impact.

You are a member of one of 7 teams that have been charged with the challenge to develop an alpha prototype for a new product. Your team will consider ideas generated through its own ideation and research, along with ideas presented by under-served clients at the idea fair.

The alpha prototype development phase culminates on December 8 at the 2.009 final presentations.