One-on-one with Design Fellow Matthew Briggs
Matthew Briggs (far right) and Craig M. Berge Design Program Director Larry Head (far left) pose with Engineering Design Center staff members.
As an assistant professor of practice and design fellow for the College of Engineering, Matthew Briggs instructs students and helps guide programs at the Engineering Design Center, or EDC. Briggs has expertise in computer-aided design and fabrication technology, including equipment for woodworking, metalworking, machining, robotics, textiles and printing. He completed bachelor’s degrees at Arizona State University in graphic information technology and digital culture and earned an MFA in design for emerging technologies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
What inspired you to teach and guide students?
As an undergrad, I had a few mentors who invested in me and gave me opportunities. One of those opportunities was to be one of the first student employees in my university’s new makerspace. In this role, I worked directly with students on their projects to teach them new tools and processes. I found the work extremely rewarding.
Working with a community that has so much joy and enthusiasm was exhilarating. When I graduated, I continued working in this makerspace until one of my mentors asked me to co-teach a course with them. Teaching gave me a deeper insight into the students' work and aspirations. That experience inspired me to pursue a teaching career.
Tell us about the role of experiential design projects in an engineering education.
Hands-on design projects may be the most important part of engineering education. My definition of hands-on can be any design project where a student applies their education. In this application, their strengths and weaknesses unfold. This must happen early and often in engineering education, as it provides students the ability to self-reflect and evaluate. These critical moments should happen at the university, where projects provide a low-risk environment in which students can fail safely. If this type of environment is provided throughout students’ academic careers, they leave the university confident and capable.
What do you particularly enjoy about teaching?
I enjoy developing and supporting communities of practice. A practice can be defined as the application of a discipline or even a skill – for example, engineering or soldering. A community of practice is a collective of people with a shared practice. In the EDC, a community of students practice engineering design. They learn from each other and support each other in their practice. Within that community of practice, there are smaller communities of practice such as students interested in 3D printing. I feel that fostering these communities of practice is of great importance because they build confidence and togetherness, which promotes student success.
What do you wish every engineering student knew about the EDC?
This is the first batch of coffee beans Briggs roasted.
Firstly, every engineering student should KNOW about the Engineering Design Center. If you have not been to the EDC, YOU SHOULD GO! Beyond that, there is a great community of students working there and you are invited and welcome. We offer great classes and workshops. We are there to help you achieve your aspirations, whether it's building an autonomous rover or building a Charizard Pokemon character on the 3D printer.
Tell us more about you.
I love coffee and talking about coffee with others. I enjoy going to coffee shops, doing roastery tours, sharing brewing methods and coffee beans. Please reach out to me if you want to share the interest.