Designing for Impact
When you’re designing for rockets, precision isn’t optional, t’s survival. Our challenge: build a test stand that could handle extreme forces, unpredictable variables, and keep the team safe.
The Challenge
Testing propulsion systems for CubeSat and rocket engines.
Constraints: high pressure, thermal loads, safety, and usability for multiple subteams.
My Role
Led FEA and CAD modeling for propulsion and rover subsystems.
Designed visual dashboards to compare simulation vs. live-test performance.
Balanced design precision with usability, making tools accessible to mechanical and software teams.
The Process:
We started with sketches, moved to SolidWorks models, and ran stress simulations to predict failure points
Every iteration taught us something, from material limits to how a single bolt could change the entire load path.
The Outcome:
Enabled safe and efficient testing for propulsion systems.
Improved collaboration between hardware and software teams.
Delivered a design that was both robust and intuitive.
Designing for my passion: Airplanes
A Window Seat and a Thousand Questions Overview: A symbolic installation created at Camp EDI (orientation to my master's program) to represent my journey from childhood curiosity about flight to a career in engineering and design.
What I Made: 3D-printed airplane mounted on a vertical axis. Servo motor + LED light to animate the plane and highlight direction. Spiral structure with cotton clouds to evoke motion and atmosphere. Compass-inspired base pointing northwest, symbolizing my path to Northwestern.
Goal: To translate a personal story into a physical artifact that combines mechanical design, storytelling, and human-centered symbolism.
Skills & Tools: SolidWorks | 3D Printing | Arduino | Servo Actuation | Visual Storytelling
Why It Matters: This project reflects my design philosophy: technology should tell a story and earn trust. It’s not just about mechanics, it’s about meaning.
