In the lab.
EDES 350 taught us how to see cracks. EDES 200? How to fill them—with circuitry, code, and a soldering iron in hand.
For the second half of the iSEED Summer Program, Dr. Deirdre Hunter immersed us in the world of prototyping. We took our carefully crafted problem statements and turned them into tangible, testable solutions. The process was intense, technical, and all magical.
One microcontroller, two wires, and a whole lot of trial and error later—I was now in engineer mode.
EDP
EDES 200 challenged us to follow the Engineering Design Process (EDP) all the way to the finish line. That meant:
First prototype!
Defining the Problem
Brainstorming and evaluating ideas
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Selecting and justifying a solution
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Prototyping, testing, iterating
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And finally… presenting
Our team brainstormed, sketched, coded, soldered, assembled, tested, failed, took breaks, adjusted—and repeated. We went to bed thinking about sensors and woke up debugging wiring problems in our dreams. It was beautiful chaos.
The Solution
Each team tackled a healthcare challenge observed during our field visits. Our group focused on improving community health testing by developing a Community Health Promoter (CHP) Screening Device that automates urinalysis strip reading. Our prototype featured an optical system designed to read reagent strips with greater consistency and accuracy.
This was my first time fully using the EDP framework—and while it was intense at first, it gave structure to what would’ve otherwise been an overwhelming process. We faced real engineering hurdles: sourcing components on a tight timeline, searching for datasheets that just… didn’t want to be found, and switching stubborn components to atleast get a blink.
But when it finally came together—the sensor reading values, the code running clean—it was pure joy.
Grit & Gikomba Market
Metalwork without CAD
One of the most unexpected highlights of the prototyping phase was our visit to Gikomba Market—a place that pulses with raw skill, sweat, sparks, and sawdust. We wandered through the woodwork and metalwork sections, squeezing between stalls where fundis (artisans) welded, hammered,
sawed, and shaped materials into beds, jikos, gates, stools—you name it.
It was loud. It was messy. It was real.
Watching people create with little more than fire, metal, and memory reminded me: engineering doesn’t always begin with a 3D printer or CAD model. Sometimes, it begins with instinct and inherited craft.
That visit grounded our work. It reminded us that no matter how sleek our design looked in the lab, it had to make sense in the real world—where durability, cost, and simplicity matter more than buzzwords.
Final Presentations
We wrapped up EDES 200 with a final showcase: poster presentations, live demos, and invited guests. Standing beside our prototype, explaining our journey from initial observation to functioning device, I felt a strange mix of nerves and pride.
But the guests were incredibly kind, engaged, and supportive.
Their interest made that moment feel like more than a celebration. A celebration of the power of user-centered design, of cross-cultural collaboration, and of student-led innovation that can make an impact.
Team OwlSreenYou
What I’m Taking With Me
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The Engineering Design Process is a mindset.
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Iteration is where innovation lives.
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Just start! The prototype doesn’t need to be perfect.
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Teamwork is non-negotiable.
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I am far more capable than I ever imagined.
- And yes—sometimes the most crucial component in your circuit… is a mental break. (Preferably with a snack and a 10-minute nap that turns into 40.)
The Last Supper
As the program drew to a close, we gathered for the last dinner. Over shared plates and heartfelt reflections in a beautiful farm restaurant, we realized just how far we’d come. From hospital hallways and early sketches to working prototypes and confident presentations.
There was laughter. There was pride. And, yes, a little sadness. But when something transforms you, it never truly ends—it simply lives on in what you do next.
Thank you to Amy, Dr. Hunter, Prof. Casey, and Rice University for an unforgettable experience.
Until next time.
With gratitude and inspiration,
Jemimah Wambui, BME KU.