Hello, this is Yuri Makada from the Hakusanroku office. I would like to write about the final poster presentations in the Engineering Design IA (1st year) held on July 24th, 2026.
Engineering Design IA is a course in which 1st year students engage in project-based activities to identify problems in everyday life and develop solutions to address them. While learning fundamental design methods and concepts, students experience the excitement of creating something new by rapidly prototyping their ideas and bringing them to life.
For this project, students were challenged to redesign “the worst thing they use every day” and improve it. The teams focused on a variety of items that they found frustrating in the dormitory and the classroom. The prototypes they developed are introduced below.
Working in teams, students identified problems encountered in their daily lives and developed innovative solutions. Throughout the project, they learned design-thinking methods and gained hands-on experience in creating prototypes that addressed real-world challenges.

Roll Hanger

This group focused on the difficulty of storing hangers efficiently due to their size and shape. To solve this issue, they designed a hanger that can be folded and rolled up for compact storage. The lightweight and portable design makes it easier to carry during moves and helps reduce the amount of space required for storage.

Blackboard Eraser Attachment

This group addressed the problem of chalk dust being dispersed into the air when erasing a blackboard, creating an unhygienic classroom environment. They developed a blackboard eraser attachment that effectively collects chalk dust while quickly and thoroughly erasing the board. The device incorporates a filter and fan system that captures airborne dust, contributing to improved cleanliness and a more comfortable learning environment.

Attachment for Table

This group recognized that students often have limited desk space, causing small items to fall off the desk and reducing the available workspace. To address this issue, they created a clip-on desk organizer that can be attached to a table. The organizer provides additional storage space for small items and helps students make more effective use of their desks.

Cable Organizer

This group focused on the clutter caused by computer cables and adapters on students’ desks. They designed a cable organizer with built-in storage that keeps cables and adapters neatly arranged. The organizer can be attached to a desk, allowing users to manage cable length efficiently and maintain a larger and more organized workspace.

Bottle Lamp

This group identified two issues in the Living Commons: the existing lighting fixtures were so large that they make it difficult for students to see the faces of friends nearby, while also failing to provide sufficient illumination for effective studying. To address these issues, they developed a lightweight, portable lighting device. The lamp shines light upward through a water-filled plastic bottle, using reflection and diffusion to spread light throughout the surrounding area. Its compact design improves visibility for communication while creating a brighter environment for studying.

On-time Laundry

This group focused on a common problem in the student dormitory: some students leave their laundry in the washing machine after the cycle has finished, preventing others from using the machines promptly. To solve this issue, they proposed a washing machine management system that utilizes student ID cards and QR codes. Students can unlock a washing machine using their ID card, while QR codes allow users to check machine availability and identify current users. The system aims to improve washing machine use efficiency and reduce waiting times.

Through this project, students experienced the entire design process, from identifying problems and generating ideas to prototyping and presenting their solutions. By focusing on everyday inconveniences and transforming them into practical innovations, they developed valuable skills that will support their future learning and engineering activities.

Yuri Makada