Capstone Step 3

Design Step 3 was an important part of our Capstone project, where we focused on improving and finalizing our idea. Our project is a large 20ft by 20ft San Marin logo sign with an LED light border. During this step, we updated our proposal to better explain what problem we’re solving and who the project is for—mainly the school community and people visiting the campus. We wanted the sign to show school spirit and be something that stands out. We also made sure our idea was supported by research, feedback, and advice from our mentors.

We took time to think about different design options and made some sketches and small models to compare ideas. We looked at different materials, lighting styles, and ways to build the sign so that it would last a long time and still look good. We also included things like a schedule (with a Gantt chart) and results from early surveys in our updated plan. These changes helped us stay organized and make smart decisions based on what people wanted and what would work best.

Content: 

Classification Scheme: A way of grouping and organizing data so that it can be compared with other data. In this case, we made a classification scheme of all of our ideas for our wrist brace to help us come up with a final design.

Mind Map/Decomposition Flow Chart: The diagrammatic representation of the particular concept with its sub-parts. We created a flow chart of our wrist brace that shows the breakdown of the overall function of our design into smaller parts called sub-parts/functions.

Human-Centered Design: An approach to problem-solving that develops solutions to problems by involving the human perspective and emotion in all steps of the process. It aims to make systems usable and useful by focusing on the users, their needs, and their values.

Prototype: A first or preliminary model of something, from which other forms are developed or copied. 

3D printer: A machine allowing the creation of a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many thin layers of a material in succession. We used a 3D printer to construct our funnel.

Survey: A general view, examination, or description of someone or something. We surveyed fellow students to get insight into what they would like to see in our Snappack. We plan on doing more surveys and gathering more data from a broader group of people. 

Mentor: An experienced and trusted adviser.

Demand: An insistent and peremptory request, made as if by right. We have created and continue to update our demands and wishes list. 

Wish: Feel or express a strong desire or hope for something that is not easily attainable. 

Functionality: The quality of being suited to serve a purpose well; practicality. 

CAD: Computer-Aided Design, this is a software tool that allows designers to create 2D and 3D models of objects, structures, and parts using computer technology.  

Reflection 

Overall, I believe I demonstrated strong communication skills and a thoughtful approach to learning throughout the Capstone project. I stayed actively engaged during group discussions and contributed ideas that helped move our work forward. Whether it was planning next steps, offering feedback, or assisting with edits, I aimed to be someone my teammate Rio could count on. I took the time to understand each part of the project and ensured that my contributions were meaningful and added to the overall quality of our final product. Being a conscientious learner helped me stay focused and motivated from start to finish.

At the same time, I recognize areas where I can continue to grow—particularly in time management and collaboration. There were times when I had difficulty meeting deadlines or wasn’t as present as I needed to be. I’ve come to see how important it is to communicate early when I’m falling behind and to consistently step up in support of my teammate. Moving forward, I want to improve my time management so I can be more reliable and share the workload more equally. With better planning and stronger follow-through, I’m confident I can become a more effective and dependable team member.