Workshops

Maier Design Works conducts intensive one day workshops in major conference centers around the Southeast several times a year. The purpose of these workshops is to offer in-depth training into cutting-edge design methods. These workshops present information you simply cannot find anywhere else without researching dozens of sophisticated books, attending technical conferences, and interviewing experts from around the world. We have distilled a treasure of expertise into each exciting workshop.

While workshops can be arranged to present information from any of the many advanced design methods and tools that we use, our current Fall Workshop Series includes:

Breaththrough Creativity Methods

Thursday, October 16, 2003, 8:30-5:00pm

Palmetto Expo Center, Greenville, SC, room 104A

The first half of this popular workshop begins with the proven techniques of brainstorming, synectics, mind-mapping and other useful ideation methods. Participants are then sensitized to their own conceptual blocks that precent most people from being as creative as they desire. Effective techniques for overcoming these blocks are presented and practiced. The second half of the workshop is devoted the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (usually known by its Russian acronym "TRIZ"). Participants learn the key insights gleaned from the analysis of thousands of patents, including proven methods for resolging technological contradictions, and the 40 inventive principles. Several case study applications will be presented and discussed.

Functional and Affordance-Based Methods for Design

Friday, October 17, 2003, 8:30-5:00pm

Palmetto Expo Center, Greenville, SC, room 104A

This workshop introduces participants to three powerful design methodologies. We begin with the German Systematic Engineering Design Method that has been used in Europe for decades but is not well known in the United States. Learn the secrets behind German precision and engineering excellence with this proven methodology. We will explore function-based methods for original design and reverse engineering. Second, the methods developed at MIT for Axiomatic Design have enjoyed increased popularity for their cross-discipline applicability and elegant results. However, application of axiomatic design is tricky; we’ll show you how it’s done, step-by-step. Third, become an expert at the Affordance-Based Design Methods Maier Design Works pioneered. These revolutionary methods give you an entirely new way to think about and solve problems.

All Maier Design Works workshops include catered lunch on site. Every participant receives a take-home notebook full of expanded discussion of techniques, further reading, and practice tutorials. Discounts are available for multiple attendees from a single firm, and participants registering for more than one workshop. Space for most workshops is limited to 20, and these slots fill quickly, so please download a registration form or call us to register today to reserve your place.

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