Walk to the Sea

I certainly did not know that my DC2 week will be more demanding than DC1. It shifts from hands on building robot to abstract(somewhat) product design. The professor is from Mexico, who brought in 8 Mexico companies with their products, some are nation well known, some are small start-up. My DC2 team finally decided not to bid for well-known one but a family owned business. The product we got assigned is 'Sponge'. At the beginning, I thought, it is only a little sponge, probably only $1, does not seem too complicated. oh, How bad assumption did I make there!! we worked so hard with owner finding out the history, current business, customers feedback. there are several phases. for the first phase we need to provide our analysis and make business suggestions back to owner. I did research on Sponge patents, history and we brainstorming the potential needs on this design without causing significant owner's changes in their manufacture place. Thursday we discussed about Sponge over 6 hours, never in my life I would imagine that I care about kitchen stuff this much, and try to analyze customers' thoughts this deep. If you have any complaints about Sponge, I would like to know, which will help me to see the marketing strategy which I will work on tomorrow.

During our DC2 study, professor asked us to provide list of good design and bad design from our daily life. I see that we silently accept so many 'that is what it is' settings, instead of looking better design. Or, we see some new improved product, feeling like 'oh, how could I not see that simple change'. These are some of what I pick.






Besides DC2, significant time has been devoted to system architecture class. Like I said before, this is a great class and I enjoy it very much. But, it does not mean that this is a easy class. It is such a struggle for our of us. From Prof. Cowley talking about reverse your mind thinking, like reverse engineering, you will challenge your routine mindset to think differently. So far, making the change is such a hard task. He challenges each of us from small simple system breaking into form, process, instrument, function... to middle system. His questions were designed purposely ambiguity in order to force you to think, when you design system, how you should keep system thinking without jumping into other roles or accidentally taking others task preassigned into your system. When designer with your layout, they know what that means without any simple words and explanation. Last year his students said the discussion insides of team trying to figure out his questions is the plan he sets to force us to think more, the struggle is part of class plan and process. By Friday, when we finished last class, my team did not join the class to Muddy for relax drink, instead we stay inside from 4:00p.m. till next morning around 3a.m. working on System Architecture assignments. We certainly take the routine Friday night planning into next level. we choose Medical Device as middle system to analyze, by now, I learn a lot from Medical field, more than being a patient to visit there. When you spend so much time with a group of people, esp. under pressure and short of sleep, people will show you the worst port of themselves, or let you see another side of personalities you do not know. more or less, you feel that you know them more and see them not just a classmate but friends you can talk. Certainly, different personalities are always hard for coordination. This time, our leader is a guy who currently teaches MIT undergraduate design class, a super designer, perfectionist and a very patient person. plus he is the only American, who comments one day with Mexican owner that 6 of us, only he is from U.S., one from Spain, one from Columbia, one from Korea, one from India, and I am from China. When we speak with different accents, he may get our influence! One thing I learn from his design work is, when you work with a team, after communicating with customers, give each other a few minutes to draw down thoughts, then let each one present, without any critic/modification/comments, which is not easy to do, as everyone wants to jump in with his opinions. if you allow those happen, you will kill the good (maybe immature) design thought right at the root level. It reminds me of software related business requirements gathering, how often we jump into solution attack than patiently listen. Many times we know what is right, but we do not do it, repeating same thing. What he stops us with proper and well-articulate sentences, making you corporate very well. Prof. Catz said that the biggest learning here is from each other. The total years of working experience in my class is around 600 years(several in their 40s, some even retired and come back.), more than 35 years he had. We should well use the source. Now, I see his point. Only when you see how the best professional acts, you know you want to be like that and make things right.

Until Saturday morning we left office, we were drained. The road was so icy and I felt that I had a duck walk, so sleepy! One thing to be the minority(female group) in the class, all guys are very nice, offering to drive you back to my apt. or walk with me instead letting me wondering around the road three o'clock in the morning.

Today is the first time we do not meet on the weekend. But we have full days covered for Sunday and Monday holiday. I told myself that I need to step out of Cambridge to see Boston instead of viewing it crossing Charles rive in Cambridge. Plus, I need to step out of SDM office rooms for a day, in order to get focus again when I return. (Should I call it -- "mind cheating" to trigger your mind believe that you are in a new location next time?) I asked a few classmates to come to go with me to "Walk to the Sea" For our non-Bostonian, this part of important American History has so been taught/talked so often through words without seeing it. I could not believe that years ago at middle school, when I first learned American history and culture, learning its independence history, I never knew that someday I will walk at the real place to witness those historian sites.

Boston Common Memorial

from WWI


Beacon Hill State House, the beginning of 'Walk to the Sea'


Walking towards King's Chapel, we passed the Park Street Church, then we found this grave yard. The Granary Burial Ground is the final resting place for legendary Boston figures including Samuel Adams, Peter Faneuil, John Hancock and, Paul Revere.
As we wonder why Francklin's name is here. We thought he was buried in Philadelphia, our next step always answered our questions.


This old city hall was used to be a Latin school. Nowadays due to short of space, it is no longer used as city hall but a steak house.


King's Chapel, by now, I enter the freedom trail.



in front of Boston City Hall


By old Boston City Hall, I only saw the donkey, no elephant, making me want to check the history, "when the elephant enters the room?"


Famous B. Franklin sculpture in front of old Boston City Hall. A portrait statue of Benjamin Franklin overlooks the former site of Boston Latin School which Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock once attended. Franklin's place of birth was just one block away on Milk Street, across from the Old South Meeting House.


Standing at stairs of Government center, facing old State House