Senior associate dean Kristin Wood and a team of researchers have received one of two 2020 Journal of Mechanical Design Editors’ Choice Award for their paper “Machine Learning-Based Design Concept Evaluation.”  

The Journal of Mechanical Design is considered the top mechanical design journal in the world. The announcement of this prestigious award follows the publication of The Design Innovation (DI) Methodology Handbook, a decades-long project and collaboration between University of Colorado Denver and Singapore University of Technology and Design. 

The paper examines the use of machine learning technologies for design concept assessment based on the need to process, review, and assess the large number of design concepts required to develop novel solutions to complex problems. This research aligns with the College of Engineering, Design and Computing’s forward-thinking strategic vision and the emphasis on computing and design across all disciplines. 

“This is a really powerful expression of how we are living up to and leading in the areas of engineering, design, and computing,” said college dean Martin Dunn. “These core ideals are the foundation of our education and our research. As part of a public urban research university, we are creating and disseminating knowledge simultaneously with teaching cutting-edge computing and design.” 

Wood, a renowned leader in design innovation, joined the college in 2019, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the realm of higher education and human-centered design methodologies. He is leading the transformation of the college’s educational programs, from building a first-year design course required of all students, to revamping the capstone experience across all departments. These bookend design experiences are just one aspect of how the College of Engineering, Design and Computing is creating a new model of engineering education.