EDC in Depth: Then and Now           

Groundbreaking Pedagogy - Communication Taught with Design Thinking

EDC was among the first undergraduate courses in the nation to teach engineering communication as an integrated part of design thinking.  Launched as a pilot program in 1996, EDC was part of a curricular innovation known as Engineering First® that lays a solid foundation in design, analysis and teamwork.  Soon required for all first-year engineering students at Northwestern, EDC was – and still is – designed and taught by faculty from both the engineering school and the university's Writing Program.  As part of a team, you will be immediately confronted with meaningful, client-based design projects that require all aspects of design-thinking, teamwork, and communication.

Dynamic Interdisciplinary Curriculum

EDC is continually refreshed by new projects and rotating faculty involvement.  Universal design and collaboration with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago help students appreciate the social impact of engineering.  Every quarter more current topics like sustainability (cradle-to-cradle design) and global awareness are regularly introduced to the course.

Authentic Setting

Projects come from real clients.  We believe that only real engineering problems best develop design-thinking, effective communication, and teamwork while fostering passion for engineering.

Experiential Instruction

Students learn that both design and communication are iterative, context-centered, problem-solving processes; they are motivated to learn communication when they pursue it in the context of engineering design.  EDC introduces you to professional communication genres, technologies, and conventions. In EDC, students:

• Brainstorm with sketches

• Make engineering drawings for supervisors

• Write technical reports and proposals for clients

• Prepare slides and posters for project fairs and public presentations

Reflective activities will help you begin to develop a professional identity.

Cross-Campus Collaboration

EDC fulfills requirements in both engineering design and written communication since it offers content from both areas and is team-taught by faculty from two schools: the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Writing Program, EDC’s broad scope and public events bring together diverse members of the Northwestern community and raise awareness throughout the University of the importance of design.  Moreover, EDC’s home is located in the prominent, centrally located Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center.