P. Hirsch, B. Shwom, J. Anderson, J. E. Colgate, S. Jacobson, D. Kelso, J. Lake, and C. Yarnoff
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL 60208, USA
E-mail: phirsch@northwestern.edu

Abstract:
A two-quarter course in Engineering Design and Communication offers one answer to an old challenge: how industry and the academy can work together to improve the teaching of design. This article describes a successful collaboration between faculty in a freshman design course and professional industrial designers. Designers take on four key roles in the course: client, consultant, guest lecturer, and section instructor. The model results in a cutting edge course for freshman that yields benefits for all parties.