#WeeklyBlog

[jullien-lorilli]

Unpacking Insulation: Lessons from Sustainable Design

Blog 4 - March 8, 2024

Artist: Paykhan - Science & Vie Magazine 2023

As part of our Technopreneurship class, my team gave a progress report on our venture in developing an eco-friendly refrigerated fish storage box. While researching thermoelectric cooling and insulation materials, I gained some meaningful insights.

Exploring coconut husks made me reflect on how much ingenuity remains untapped in circular economy solutions. I was amazed by how this abundant agricultural byproduct could outperform conventional insulators while being renewable and biodegradable. I also got excited envisioning how TEC technology could enhance cold chain and food preservation in developing communities, and maybe simultaneously combating hunger, climate change, or proper waste disposal.

Beyond the technical aspects, this project is shifting how I approach design from a sustainability mindset. Instead of optimizing for narrow factors like cost or performance, I'm learning to evaluate a fuller lifecycle picture - materials sourcing, energy use, end-of-life, and social impact. True sustainability means creating ecosystems and thinking about regeneration over degeneration.

This experience illuminated the power of engineering to develop intelligent solutions that harmonize modern needs with environmental rejuvenation. I feel inspired to carry this consciousness forward, finding opportunities to beneficially merge technology and nature's wisdom. As I continue my studies, I hope to further explore biomimetic design principles that allow innovation to emulate net-positive, zero-waste systems. The path to a thriving future lies in realizing our complete interdependence.

Jullien Lorilli T. Angcla - Mechanical Engineering 3A

[nextdimensionstory]

Your mental health is everything – prioritise it. Make the time like your life depends on it because it does." — Mel Robbins. There is no doubt that our mental health is a crucial element in decision-making. It influences how we think, feel and act, particularly when we face life's challenges. In such scenarios, mental wellness directly impacts our decision-making ability and makes us vulnerable and incapable of making sound decisions. Our mental health equips us with positive thinking and self-confidence to make smart, rational decisions. If you are struggling with mental issues due to stress, self-limiting and negative thoughts, it can impact your emotional, psychological and social well-being. 

Learn More : https://www.nextdimensionstory.com/post/unlocking-mental-health-learn-how-mental-wellness-fuels-smart-decision-making

[markelleg]

Finals Week 5 - Blog 5

Overcoming Challenges in Sustainable 3D Printing: The PET RenewTech Strategy

The challenge of persuading customers to switch from traditional filaments to our innovative, eco-friendly alternatives may be greater than anticipated. Despite growing environmental awareness, many customers might still prioritize cost and performance over sustainability. To address this, we will emphasize the high-performance quality and cost-effectiveness of our recycled PET filaments, using case studies, testimonials, and sample products to showcase their superior value. To mitigate risks, we are committed to maintaining a contingency fund and building relationships with potential investors or lenders, ensuring financial stability. Additionally, establishing strong relationships with multiple suppliers will secure a reliable material supply. Investing in research and development will keep our products at the forefront of innovation in the 3D printing industry. Collaborating with research institutions and industry experts will provide valuable insights and enhance our technological capabilities. While launching a new 3D printing business presents challenges, our meticulous planning, adaptability, and commitment to sustainability position us for success, turning potential hurdles into opportunities for growth in the competitive additive manufacturing landscape.

[ileenpasores]

Blog 1: April 25, 2024

Balancing Storytelling and Technical Detail in Entrepreneurship

This week, our team had the chance to present our Fish Box project pitch to a group of experts. While they liked our fresh approach to tackling food waste and pollution in fishing, their feedback emphasized something we often forget – the importance of storytelling.

They pointed out that our presentation, although informative, lacked the gripping narrative and lively delivery needed to really grab attention. We came off as too formal and rigid, missing the opportunity to inject the passion and excitement that could make our idea truly stick.

As tech enthusiasts, we tend to dive deep into the technicalities of our products, sometimes overlooking the fact that we're not just selling a solution, but a vision. We need to vividly illustrate the problem we're solving, the impact we aim for, and the journey ahead, all while showcasing our personalities and genuine enthusiasm.

Furthermore, their suggestion to include product architecture in our next presentation reminded us of the importance of balancing the big picture with the nitty-gritty details. While storytelling is crucial, we must also provide solid technical information to demonstrate our credibility and the feasibility of our venture.

Moving forward, our team is committed to incorporating these insights. We'll focus on crafting a more captivating and visually stimulating pitch, one that truly reflects the passion driving our project while also delivering the necessary technical information. Because successful entrepreneurship isn't just about having a brilliant idea – it's about conveying that idea in a way that inspires and engages our audience.

Ileen M. Pasores - BSME 3A

[steincasas]

Development and Discussion on Our Path to Sustainable Fishing Solutions

Blog 4 - March 8, 2024

Artist: Paykhan - Vivre x EDF Magazine

This week was a big turning point in our ongoing project to create portable thermoelectric iceboxes since we asked our teacher for advice and submitted our progress report. The insightful input we received helped us navigate the complex world of sustainable solutions for small-scale fishers and highlighted the significance of continuing to interact with important stakeholders.

The consultation session was an important opportunity for introspection and improvement, highlighting the need for a more thorough comprehension of the difficulties experienced by fish sellers, customers, and fishermen. By highlighting the crucial function of direct interaction through interviews to gain deeper insights into the requirements and preferences of our target audience, our teacher's observations highlighted areas where our approach may be better.

Equipped with a fresh sense of direction and determination, we're determined to step up the number of interviews we do with fishermen, fish vendors, and consumers. These exchanges are essential for both co-creating solutions that meet the needs and goals of the people we aim to assist, as well as for verifying our theories.

Our focus remains unwavering on establishing meaningful connections and fostering a sense of shared ownership among all stakeholders. We seek to bring together various viewpoints into a cogent story that guides the creation of creative and long-lasting solutions for the fishing community by active listening, empathy, and teamwork.

Finally, we would like to say that the progress report and consultation session have given our project to create portable thermoelectric iceboxes new life and purpose. We are getting closer to realizing our common goal of empowering small-scale fishermen and encouraging environmental stewardship in the fishing sector with every interview. We set out on a path of self-discovery, resiliency, and group action together, driven by the unyielding will to bring about positive change in the world.

Gleven Stein E. Casas - Mechanical Engineering 3A

[awkwarddystopianwarlord]

S p a t i a l A w a r e n e s s

I don’t spend a ton of time out in the world, but when I do, I am bombarded by the fact that people have horrible spatial awareness. It’s actually ridiculous how much people don’t pay attention to their surroundings and fellow humans. 

I work in a mall, so I see this a lot because of that. I know that many stores have awkwardly narrow aisles or have random stands that take up space in wider aisles. I know that some buildings have inconvenient layouts and some sidewalks aren’t wide enough. That being said, even with the widest of aisles, the most expansive of spaces, people still manage to be in the way and not care to realize it. I’ve been stuck behind a single person walking like an idiot and taking up an entire sidewalk. I’ve been stuck behind pairs of people walking apart in such a way that you can’t get around them or go through them. I’ve been stuck behind groups of people taking up entire hallways and aisles by walking side by side instead of clumping. I’ve had to serpentine dramatically just to get to the food court on my lunch breaks. When in a car, it’s been difficult to get out of parking lots due to people slowly walking in the middle of the road. When at my till, people will scoot their carts so that they sit at a diagonal and block off the whole entryway. 

It is astounding how these folk don’t just glance to the side and see that someone is trying to pass by and they’re in the way. And the worst part of this is, is the amount of these fools who ignore your requests for them to move. You can say “excuse me” all you like but they aren’t going anywhere. It doesn’t matter if you have a giant tiered cart of stock you need to get past them or if you’re an elderly person in a motorized scooter trying to get through a doorway. People will stand in your way and dismiss your words and you simply have to suffer and go another route or plow them down. Which would be a nice feeling, but alas, most of us are decent human beings and don’t fancy kicking our fellow idiots out of the way physically. I don’t know if it’s because everyone is so wrapped up inside their own heads that they truly don’t see anything around them or what. I’ve only started noticing this in recent years, but it must be something that’s always been present. It’s really frustrating though, and I’m at a loss as to why people find this acceptable. Could you imagine if everyone did this but when crossing the street? They’d all get hit by cars and it would be a bloodbath! It would be mayhem! It shouldn't be too much to ask to pay a wee bit of attention to our surroundings. We shouldn’t all have to fight for our lives just to get anywhere because morons are blissfully unaware of where they are at all times.

[lillynigerianlitblog]

Nigeria week 1 blog

The most important quote of the week in my book, “Continent in balance: Africa: Nigeria” is on page 11 which states, “Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and one of its most diverse.” The book does a good job giving us a brief introduction to Nigeria. Sharing with us the histories of its geography and culture. In the book, the author starts with a nice opening about Africa.  Kind of quickly touching on its many different languages and religions as a whole. The author talks about revolutionary battles they have had and he gives us statistics to show us how big and diverse Africa really is. However, as we get more into the book the author begins to narrow down so the main focus could be Nigeria and how big and diverse Nigeria as a singular country is.

I thought this would be the perfect quote of the week because it really stamps what I’ve been learning. All I’ve been reading about this past week is how Nigeria specifically is very one of a kind. The book so far is just giving me a basic, but boring introduction on Nigeria and some of its history and statistics. It tells us about the many languages and religions that are booming in Nigeria. It was talking about the climate and how it varies from south to north and their own seasonal change and how it is different from us here in the US.  The book is broken down into many sections going from the landscape, environmental issues, animals to It's governmental status. So far I like the book. I haven’t read anything that I hadn’t known before as a Nigerian, but I am excited to read about the next chapter, which is talking about how Nigeria went from colonialism to democracy. I think in this next chapter, it’ll really show Nigerians true strength and how they are born warriors. 

[travellizasworld]

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[aralexa05]

~~A week had passed!?~~ Wait. Woah!

I know everyone might be struggling with their life problems TwT 

Same with me too! 

A week of being depressed in all of these rubbishes around me. But I am blessed to have genuine friends!! They reminded me of my purpose in life and how to deal with it in the right way~!

I completely ignored those people who did nothing but talk behind my back. It seems like they have no life to live XD and that's so sad.

Oh well, at least I know my goal, and I'm striving to reach it!

My good friend, Elijah, sent me this verse, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/search=Psalm+56&version=NIV&interface=amp, which reminded me that God is superior amongst our troubles or worries; In verse 11, the sentence "What can man do to me?" enlightens me so much. I may be offended/hurt by what other people are talking about me that is not quite right, but in Psalms 56, it tells me to not be afraid, for God we should trust!! Those people can only hurt me mentally due to the pandemic; I can only talk to them online, and if I didn't let them upset me, then I shouldn't have been irritated in the first place.

Verse 13: "For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling that I may walk before God in the light of life."

My lesson for the past week was, "Do everything that glorifies and pleases God!" 

If others hurt/offended you, you don't have to do the same thing for revenge. Be humble. If you know you're doing the morally good thing/your conscience is clean, then why would you retaliate? 

Let them be and live a life that glorifies God!!

[makaylathelabel]

Blog 8 Week 11 - The Final Blog

This weeks deliverables -

- Shoot last of inside videos ✓

- Final edit of outside video

- Look for appropriate graphics for outside video ✓

- Rough edit of last inside video ✓

- Meet with supervisor ✓

- Write last journal 8 week 11 ✓

The last blog post - wow, I can't believe how fast it got here. Coming up to the deadline of finishing the professional project, I have been focused on the details of the project.

One detail that I was encouraged to explore was changing the capital 'T' in my logo to a lower case 't' as seen below.

However, after making these adjustments, I have returned to the original capital 'T' as I believe the lower case 't' looks like a plus sign in this font and I did not want any confusion when looking at the logo. So I have decided to stay with the original logo font and size.

ALL MY SHOOTING IS FINISHED! This is such a relief and so exciting as now I get to focus solely on post production. I have been putting the finishing touches on my first inside video and have been experimenting with colour grading on the outside video. Below is a before and after of the colour grading.

Although this looks like a very subtle change, it is so necessary for consistency and the overall intended look and feel of this video. Bonneel et al (2013) suggest that colour grading plays a vital role as "the color palette used in a movie often plays a critical role in establishing its visual look" (Bonneel, Sunkavalli, Paris and Pfister, 2013). It is this attention to detail that makes a video more engaging resulting in more people consuming it and therefore, buying from my company. I have found colour grading to be time consuming but very rewarding.

I have also found some graphics that fits the outdoorsy/light hearted/picnic vibe for this video as seen below.

I have decided to go with mostly white graphics with some pastel/muted colours to contrast the warm light in the visuals.

Below is my first draft of the last inside video before colour grading and graphics/logo have been added.

I have enjoyed adding the visuals to complement the beat of the music and really love the pace of the visuals and music together at the end of the video.

The hair and makeup in this video is also very different to my other videos in order to further drive the difference in the clothing and attitude of the three videos.

Overall, this experience has been so rewarding and has pushed me to work under difficult circumstances. I'm impressed with how all my videos are coming along and feel that I have stuck to my original concept and inspiration but have made the project my own by adding my creativity and vision. I'm so excited to see the end project all completed!

This weeks tasks -

- Add graphics and logo to outside video

- Add graphics and logo to inside video

- Continue writing report

- Create pitch power point

- Meet with supervisor

Reference

Bonneel, N., Sunkavalli, K., Paris, S. and Pfister, H., 2013. Example-based video color grading. ACM Transactions on Graphics, 32(4), pp.1-12.

[jullien-lorilli]

Crafting the Final Pitch: Distilling Our Vision into a Compelling Narrative

Blog 6 - June 1, 2024

Artist: Arek & Anna Kajda - Pitch 3D Brand Illustrations 2020

This week, our team embarked on crafting our pitch deck for the final presentation. As we pored over the guidelines, a profound realization dawned upon us – creating a compelling pitch is not merely about presenting facts and figures, but about crafting a narrative that resonates deeply with our audience and encapsulates the very essence of our venture.

The 10/20/30 rule – 10 slides, no more than 20 words per slide, and a minimum 30 point font size – forced us to distill our message to its most succinct and impactful form. It was an exercise in ruthless prioritization, challenging us to identify the core elements that truly capture the heart of our Fish Box solution and its value proposition.

We recognized the intricate interplay between each element as we mapped out the components – the problem, solution, product, target market, traction, revenue model, competition, team, and ask. Every aspect had to seamlessly reinforce the overarching narrative, painting a vivid picture of the problem we aim to solve, the innovation we bring, and the potential impact we can create.

A key realization was the importance of storytelling in entrepreneurship. It's not just about presenting dry facts and figures; it's about weaving a captivating narrative that connects with the audience on an emotional level, igniting their imagination, and inspiring them to believe in our vision.

Moreover, we understood that our pitch is not just a one-way communication; it's a dialogue, an opportunity to engage our audience, address their concerns, and ultimately, convince them to invest – whether that investment is financial, intellectual, or simply their belief in our cause.

As we continue refining our pitch, we are reminded that this exercise is not just about securing funding or approval; it's about crystallizing our understanding of our venture, our goals, and our path forward. Crafting a compelling pitch is an invaluable exercise in self-reflection, forcing us to confront our assumptions, sharpen our focus, and emerge with a clearer, more cohesive vision for the future.

Jullien Lorilli T. Angcla - Mechanical Engineering 3A

[nextdimensionstory]

This week's blog on mental wellness will be live soon. Here is the teaser for you...

[markelleg]

Finals Week 4 - Blog 4

Embracing Sustainable Innovation: The Journey of PET RenewTech

The allure of transforming digital designs into tangible objects captivated me, but the environmental toll of traditional 3D printing materials prompted me to seek a sustainable solution. After relentless experimentation, PET RenewTech was born, crafting high-performance filaments from recycled PET plastics. Our venture diverts plastic waste from landfills and oceans, offering eco-conscious, high-quality, and cost-effective materials for makers, businesses, and educational institutions. As we prepare to launch, our solid financial plan and commitment to sustainability ensure we are ready to reshape 3D printing for a greener future.

[healthier-happier-mee]

25.1.21-29.1.21 Weekly workouts

Mon- 5mile run +42 min strenght + 20min yoga

Tue- 8.1 mile run + 21min yoga

Wed- 5 mile run + 40min strength + 30min yoga

Thur- 8.2 mile run + 22 min yoga

Fri- 5 mile run + 40min strength + 30min yoga

This week was really strong, all my runs felt fantastic.

[steincasas]

Enhancing Fisheries: A Technopreneurship Journey of Creativity and Cooperation

Blog 3 - March 3, 2024

Photo by: Daisie Team 2023

We recently engaged in a group exercise called Game 3 where we collaborated to envision a more positive future. Our main goal was to assist small-scale fishermen who cannot afford refrigeration and hence struggle to keep their catch fresh. We devised solar-powered iceboxes to help preserve fish without using styrofoam, which is bad for the environment.

We conducted interviews with fish vendors, customers, and fishermen throughout our activities to better understand their needs. We also learned that a lot of fisherman lose money because they can't keep their fish fresh for very long. We learned from our interviewees how crucial it is to build larger, more durable iceboxes in order to accommodate more fish.

We discovered from our conversations that maintaining fresh seafood is only a small portion of the issue. Additionally, we must guarantee that the fish maintain their coldness from the time of capture until they are sold. Speaking with fish vendors revealed to us that they can be valuable collaborators in informing consumers about our solution.

When we reflect on our work, we recognize that we must continue to pay attention to the people we are attempting to assist. In order to ensure that our ideas become practical solutions, we also need to collaborate closely. Our objective is to continuously develop and look for methods to improve the lives of fishermen and all those associated with the fishing business.

Gleven Stein E. Casas - Mechanical Engineering 3A