In the area of “human factor engineering,” this discussion focuses on fundamental design, mainly from the perspective of the user.

Group Discussion: watch video  (1hr 43 mins)

It has happened gradually, but the time has come when style and function are now as important as performance in the products consumers purchase. Companies today continue to innovate on performance, but more so, innovation has taken the form of design. A product such as the iPod, for example, has become as much a sartorial accoutrement as it is a personal music player. And while the cell phone is not a fashion accessory, designing sleek mobile phones has become imperative for consumer appeal. But are all products designed with the consumer (human factor) in mind? We’ll delve into this topic with designers, critics, and the audience. We’ll also talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Human Factor Engineering Workshops sponsored and conducted by SolidWorks.

Session I: Design Challenges (aimed at users) Sponsored by SolidWorks	Workshop 1 Video  111 MB WMV 1 hr 5 min	Speakers Ron Lasser, Introduction Rick Chin
Session II: Change Management (aimed at managers) Sponsored by SolidWorks	Workshop 2 Video  193 MB WMV 1 hr 16 min	Speaker Aaron Kelly

(brought to you by ME Magazine, Comsol, Dassault Systemes, and DS SolidWorks)