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I took dual leadership roles as both project manager and an engineering role, coordinating six team members across multiple workstreams while personally diving deep into advanced engineering calculations. Recognizing gaps in our collective knowledge, I self-taught Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and calculated structural mechanics to tackle the most challenging aspects of the design.
My technical contributions included leading the gear CAD design, gear system analysis by calculating wear patterns, tooth bending stresses, operational forces, and movement kinematics for the mechanical crank system that transforms the unit. I performed extensive hand calculations supplemented by computer aided analysis tools to validate our design assumptions. Beyond individual technical work, I orchestrated the entire project workflow: strategically dividing complex analysis tasks across team expertise areas, establishing milestone deadlines, and ensuring seamless integration of all analysis components into a cohesive design report.
Renter Friendly Desk
Renter Friendly Desk
Problem
Urban living constraints present a critical design challenge: 75% of Americans live in apartments where space is at a premium, with studio apartments averaging only 514 square feet. Existing solutions for space-efficient furniture are either prohibitively expensive, require permanent wall mounting (unsuitable for renters), or lack the functionality needed for modern work-from-home lifestyles. Our team was tasked with designing a mechanically-operated, freestanding desk that could seamlessly transform from compact storage furniture into a full workspace—a complex engineering challenge requiring sophisticated mechanical systems, structural analysis, and precise manufacturing considerations.
Result
The project culminated in developing a fully functional 3D printed prototype that demonstrated our rack-and-pinion gear mechanism, which elegantly lifts and extends the desktop surface through a simple hand crank operation.
Successfully delivering a comprehensive 40+ page engineering design report featuring complete structural, mechanical, and safety analysis that exceeded academic standards. The final design achieved all core objectives: a renter-friendly, freestanding desk that reduces spatial footprint by 70% when stored while providing full workspace functionality when deployed.
My project management approach ensured on-time delivery across all work streams, with no team member missing deadlines. The self-directed FEA learning enabled me to validate critical stress concentrations and safety factors that traditional hand calculations couldn't capture, resulting in a more robust and manufacturable design. The project demonstrated my ability to simultaneously lead technical teams while mastering advanced engineering tools.
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