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This website features work from the completion of Phase 1 of the SCALES Project.

We are currently seeking partnerships for Phase 2.

Undergraduate

  • Book Group

    The four books that comprise Reading Assignment #7 are divided among four groups of students

    • Small is Beautiful
    • Gaviotas
    • Cradle to Cradle
    • Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid
    Read more: Book Group

  • Detail Design, Analysis and Experimental Results

    This assignment prepares for the Phase 3 Design Review of detail design, analysis and experimental results. 

    Read more: Detail Design, Analysis and Experimental Results

  • Idea Generation and Concept Evaluation

    Now that your design problem has been clearly defined and the specifications have been set out, it is time to concentrate on thinking of solutions. 

    Read more: Idea Generation and Concept Evaluation

  • Build-It Module Wrap Up

    Build-It modules are hands-on opportunities to learn how to use a variety hand tools, machine tools and prototyping equipment in project-based training sessions. You choose which module to take based on your interest in the project / skills taught, and are encouraged to coordinate with your teams to gain a variety of experiences that you can then share with each other.

    Read more: Build-It Module Wrap Up

  • Design Project Work

    This is a series of assignments around a design project for the course D-Lab II: Design.

    Read more: Design Project Work

  • Discussion Questions 2

    Write short answers to the following questions and submit them.

    Read more: Discussion Questions 2

  • Mini-Project: Affordable Rainwater Harvesting System

    The goal of the Mini Project is to design an affordable rainwater harvesting system that is made up of several small storage units that can be fit with attachments for drinking, cooking, hand washing and irrigation (and possibly other applications too). We will have a chance to experiment with some of the technologies that may influence the design (SODIS water bags, tippy tap hand washers and IDE drip irrigation kits) in class Ses #4.

    Read more: Mini-Project: Affordable Rainwater Harvesting System

  • Technology Critique

    Interact with and critique technology from a variety of perspectives

    Read more: Technology Critique

  • Discussion Questions 1

    Write short answers to the following questions and submit them.

    Read more: Discussion Questions 1

  • Design@MIT

    Consider the objects and products you encounter every day while at MIT—all of these were designed. When looking at a design, it’s important to be critical, but in a constructive manner. It’s also important to recognize that there are very few instances where a design is totally great or totally terrible; there are typically good parts of a poor design, and vice versa.

    Take a picture of two very different objects or products, one that you believe is a relatively bad design, and one that is a relatively good design. Discuss the pros and cons of each design, and why you have come to your overall “good” or “bad” conclusion. Also discuss what trade-offs and constraints the designers likely faced in developing these products, and how these challenges were managed.

    Read more: Design@MIT

Notice something that doesn’t seem right? Want to make a suggestion or provide feedback about how something is classified? 
Please reach out to esi [at] mit.edu and include SCALES Website in the subject of your email.
Feedback and any actions taken with regards to the feedback, will be shared as they are addressed.