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Which traditional engineering practice do you think needs to be reimagined for today's challenges?

The greatest engineering breakthroughs often come from looking beyond engineering itself. It's a peculiar paradox: to push the boundaries of what's technically possible, we sometimes need to step away from our technical mindset. This month's newsletter explores three distinct paths to engineering excellence that challenge our conventional thinking.

When James Cuseo and his team at Apple set out to reinvent the laptop trackpad, they didn't start with mechanisms and sensors. Instead, they began by questioning the very nature of human perception – why does a click feel like a click? This "peeling the onion" approach led to a revolutionary insight that transformed user interaction. Similarly, while engineers have spent decades perfecting rigid mechanical systems, nature has been conducting its own R&D for millions of years. Our exploration of biomimicry reveals how companies are achieving breakthrough improvements – from 40% better energy efficiency to 50% fewer workplace incidents – by learning from nature's time-tested designs.

Yet technical innovation alone isn't enough. Even the most brilliant engineering solutions can falter without organizational alignment. Our final piece examines how treating workplace relationships with the same systematic thinking we apply to technical problems can transform potential conflicts into catalysts for innovation. Together, these stories reveal a powerful truth: whether we're studying user perception, natural systems, or organizational dynamics, the next level of engineering excellence often lies in unexpected places.

What makes a product truly magical? According to James Cuseo, former Apple engineering leader, it's about looking deeper than the obvious solution. Through his development of the Force Touch trackpad and other groundbreaking innovations, James shares how treating engineering problems like an onion—peeling back layer after layer—leads to revolutionary results.

The trackpad you're using right now seems simple: press down, feel a click. But James reveals how his team questioned this basic assumption, ultimately creating a lateral movement that tricks your brain into feeling a downward click. This innovation required abandoning early prototypes and rethinking fundamental approaches to user interaction.

James's "peeling the onion" methodology shows that true engineering excellence isn't about finding quick answers—it's about asking progressively deeper questions until you discover opportunities for magic. Listen to the full interview:

From octopus-inspired grippers to bird-like drones, biomimicry is transforming how we approach mechanical engineering. The field is experiencing explosive growth, with a projected 50.8% market expansion by 2025. Leading companies like Festo and Soft Robotics Inc. are already demonstrating remarkable results: 40% improved energy efficiency in bio-inspired drones, 30% increased productivity in adaptive handling systems, and 50% reduction in workplace incidents with collaborative robots.

For engineers, this evolution opens exciting new career paths in soft robotics, adaptive control systems, and bio-inspired design. The integration of flexible materials, smart sensors, and machine learning is creating opportunities that bridge traditional mechanical engineering with emerging technologies.

➔ Read the full article to explore:

Ever wondered why some brilliant engineers struggle while others thrive? The difference often lies not in technical skills, but in their ability to manage relationships up and across the organization.

Managing up isn't about office politics – it's about creating clarity that drives engineering success. Through personal experience transitioning from R&D to manufacturing, I learned that effective engineers do more than solve technical problems. They build bridges between technical realities and business objectives, transforming potential conflicts into opportunities for collaboration.

The key? Treating organizational relationships with the same systematic thinking we apply to engineering problems. By understanding different technical languages, anticipating challenges, and fostering knowledge sharing across functions, engineers can create environments where technical excellence flourishes.

Read the full article to discover how to transform your technical expertise into organizational impact, featuring insights from Mary Abbajay's "Managing Up" and real-world engineering scenarios that will reshape how you approach workplace relationships.

Engineering is about solving, innovating, and connecting ideas to make a difference. Progress is a collective effort and your curiosity is what drives it forward. Thank you for exploring the dynamic world of engineering with all of us at Pipeline Design & Engineering and The Wave.

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“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.” - Steve Jobs

In collaboration and creativity,
Brad Hirayama
Blueprinting tomorrow, today