Capstone Project

Project Instructions

Overview: 

You are now an engineer for Lakeside Engineering Inc.. Your primary task is to develop a new product line that addresses real-world challenges. To succeed, you must convince your fellow engineers (classmates) and management (Mr. Wyant and guests) to invest the company’s resources into your specific product line. This project will test your ability to research, design, prototype, and market a solution under professional constraints. 

Problem Statement:

Every great product starts with a clear focus: your Problem Statement. Before any building begins, you must submit a statement in the following format for approval:

• "[Specific Target Audience] needs [a way to do X] because [current solutions are failing in this specific way]."

• Approval Rule: Your statement must be approved by Mr. Wyant (Project Manager) before you are cleared to spend company resources (class time/materials) on a prototype.

Problem Description:

A "Market Gap" occurs when a group of people has a problem that current products don't solve well, or at all. We are looking for projects that fall into one of three categories:

1. The "Better Mousetrap" (Efficiency): An existing solution exists, but it is too expensive, too slow, or breaks too easily. (e.g., “Existing portable chargers are too bulky for hikers who need to save weight.”)

2. The Unmet Need (Innovation): A problem people have just "accepted" because there isn't a tool for it yet. (e.g., “Mechanics currently have no way to see around this specific engine block without a second person holding a mirror.”)

3. The Niche Gap (Specialization): A product that works for the general public but fails a specific subgroup. (e.g., “Standard paint palettes are not designed for artists who only have the use of one hand.”)

Your Task: Look at your own life, your family’s hobbies, or local businesses. Where is the "friction"? Where are people using "workarounds" or "hacks" to get a job done? That is your gap.

Requirements: 

To move from the "Idea Phase" to the "Production Phase," your project must meet these Lakeside Engineering standards:

• Verified Customer: You must identify at least one person (not yourself) who experiences this problem. You will interview them to help identify your Criteria (what the product must do) and Constraints (size, cost, safety).

• Prototype: You must produce a functional model. It doesn't have to be "retail-ready," but it must demonstrate the solution to the problem. Example: A physical prototype, circuit, or coding application.

• Engineering Notebook: A professional log of every design choice, failure, and iteration. If it isn't in the notebook, it didn't happen.

• Market Justification: You must provide evidence (competitor research or survey data) showing why your design is better than what is currently on the shelf.