What is TEAM Design?

TEAM Design is a new initiative engineered to enhance our students’ skill sets and make them more productive members of Saudi Arabia’s new workforce. TEAM Design focuses on self-sufficiency, out-of-box thinking, multidisciplinary communication, teamwork, and creativity in design. In TEAM Design, students form their own multidisciplinary engineering teams, scope their own projects, and design, build and test their prototypes. Industrial partners help the students to identify real-world problems and their market potential. Entrepreneurial partnerships are used to enable easy transitions to market for student projects. Multidisciplinary faculty from all participating departments will coach the students through the design process while students find their own answers. The final product of TEAM Design is a prototype that is 100% student-initiated, student-led, and student-executed. Grades are based on teamwork, time management, resourcefulness, novelty, and creativity.

What makes TEAM Design different than my other courses or past semesters of senior design?

• The point of TEAM Design is self-initiation, resourcefulness, out-of-box thinking, creativity, risk taking and personal growth. There will be many challenges along the way, but we are here to coach you all the way to the end.
• There are no faculty or industrial advisors/supervisors for each project. There are only faculty “coaches” who are there to encourage you to make decisions on your own
• All teams must be multidisciplinary with at least 3 disciplines per team. Each discipline will scope and complete a significant contribution to the project.
• All ideas, presentations, assignments, solutions, prototypes, etc. are to originate from you and your team alone.

Who will be my faculty advisor?

There are no longer faculty advisors for each project. Your section will be assigned a shared multidisciplinary “coach” who will help YOU find your own answers

How do I join TEAM Design?

You need to register for senior design in your department during the registration periods.

I did not register for TEAM Design during early registration, but I want to register now. What should I do?

Please e-mail TEAM.Design@kfupm.edu.sa expressing your interest to enroll in TEAM Design. Once you have been approved, then you will need to sign up when registration opens.

How do I join a team if I am signing up late?

You’ll be added to a team after you inform TEAM.Design@kfupm.edu.sa and have been approved. Once you have been approved, then you will need to sign up when registration opens.

How many individuals should be on a team?

A team should consist of at least 5 students from at least three different departments.

Can I move to other clusters or switch teams to join my friends?

No.

Is there a penalty if I don't enroll in the course and join a team before the deadline?

Failure to enroll and join a team will result in a 10% penalty on your final grade.

How do I drop the senior design course?

First, send an e-mail to TEAM.Design@kfupm.edu.sa informing us that you intend to drop the course. This greatly affects your team; you should think about this before dropping. Then you can drop the course when the registration opens.

How long must someone be in industry in order to be eligible for the Industrial Interview form?

At least 1 year in the specific industry.

Can I change my idea after I turn in my Scope Form?

Yes, with the permission of your coach. After your Scope Form is initially turned in, it is reviewed by TEAM Design Coaches for conformity to TEAM Design, departmental, and ABET criteria. The review is returned to the team such that modifications can be made. Most reviews request minor modifications to the original submission. Sometimes, groups are required to submit a new idea. If a team wants to change their idea at any point after August 10th, this requires your section coach’s approval.

Can someone else help me fill out my Industrial Interview or Scope Form?

The Industrial Interview and Scope Form MUST be filled out by your team and no one else. Failure to comply will result in a 0 for the Scope Form, i.e. you lose 10% of your final grade.

If a friend, AI tool, family member, industrial contact, or anyone other than your team members fill out any part of the form for your team this constitutes a violation of the rules of TEAM Design and University Rules and Ethics

What if my team wants to create a business based on our product?

This is highly encouraged! We will have support and resources for you during the semester. TEAM Design will include a voluntary Feasibility Plan competition for funding from local investors. We will mentor and coach you in development of your Feasibility Plan and your team will receive a 10% boost to your final grade for successfully submitting a Feasibility Plan.

Can I turn in the Scope Form after the August 10th deadline and not be penalized?

No, and there are no exceptions. All Scope Forms are due by August 10th otherwise a 10% penalty will be incurred.

Can I interview an industrial contact not on the list supplied by TEAM Design?

Yes, you may interview anyone in industry that you like, even people not on the list from TEAM Design. Note that anyone you interview must have been working in that industry for at least 1 year.