As part of this capstone, the thing I gained the most appreciation for was the design process and how iterative it really is. I learned that design isn't just about coming up with an idea, you have to test, evaluate, refine, and coordinate work across an entire team. Once all of that is done, you refine solutions based on real feedback and constraints. I experienced firsthand how planning, prototyping, and troubleshooting are all critical stages, and how each team member has a different operating style within which they must all coordinate for each of these.

From this experience, I realized that the most important attributes of an engineer are not the technical knowledge. It's the critical thinking, problem-solving, and, most importantly, effective communication when collaborating. I saw firsthand how clear communication and unclear communication affected our team dynamics. Complex integrations were made easier with clear communication, while tasks would be delayed and mismanaged when communication was unclear and expectations were not set across team members.

This leads into the insight it gave me regarding the role and responsibilities of engineers in society. Engineering solutions are complex and often have the smartest, most capable people behind them. However, if they are not communicated properly and presented effectively, the best projects can appear mediocre, while even the most mediocre projects with good communication can appear outstanding. Communication is half the work, while technical know-how is the other half. Some team members excel in one or the other, and effective communication and collaboration ensure they can compensate for one another.

Reflecting on my personal growth, I discovered strengths that I bring to my engineering career, including analytical thinking, creativity in problem-solving, and perseverance under pressure. At the same time, I identified areas for growth, such as refining my project management skills and improving my ability to communicate complex ideas concisely to non-technical audiences. I did improve on this toward the end of the project, though I do think it still has room to grow. I plan on developing these skills by seeking leadership opportunities within my profession and by working with more experienced and seasoned engineering teams. This course surprisingly taught me more people skills than it taught me technical ones, and I think that's the best takeaway I can take from it.