You’re an engineer and your design has failed. What’s the first thing you do?

1 Acknowledge the failure

The first thing you do when your design fails is to acknowledge it. Don't deny, ignore, or hide the problem. Be honest and transparent with yourself, your team, and your stakeholders. Admitting failure is not a sign of weakness, but of integrity and accountability. It also shows that you care about the quality of your work and the impact of your design.

2 Analyze the causes

The next thing you do is to analyze the causes of the failure. Use data, evidence, and feedback to identify what went wrong and why. Was it a technical error, a human mistake, a communication gap, a requirement change, or something else? Try to be objective and avoid blaming yourself or others. Focus on the facts and the lessons, not the emotions and the regrets.

3 Communicate the results

The third thing you do is to communicate the results of your analysis to the relevant parties. Depending on the situation, this could include your team, your manager, your client, your users, or your peers. Explain what happened, what you learned, and what you plan to do next. Be clear, concise, and respectful. Avoid jargon, excuses, or defensiveness. Listen to feedback and respond to questions. Show that you are committed to finding a solution and improving your design.

4 Implement the changes

The fourth thing you do is to implement the changes that are needed to fix or improve your design. Based on your analysis and communication, you should have a clear idea of what needs to be changed, how, and by when. Follow the best practices of engineering design, such as prototyping, testing, iterating, and documenting. Seek feedback and validation along the way. Demonstrate your competence and creativity.

5 Reflect on the experience

The fifth thing you do is to reflect on the experience of facing a design failure. Think about what you did well, what you could have done better, and what you can do differently in the future. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses, your successes and failures, your opportunities and challenges. Learn from your mistakes and celebrate your achievements. Grow as an engineer and as a person.

6 Share your insights

The sixth thing you do is to share your insights with others who can benefit from them. This could be your team, your organization, your community, or your industry. Share your story, your findings, your solutions, and your recommendations. Contribute to the collective knowledge and wisdom of engineering design. Inspire and support others who may face similar challenges. Build your network and reputation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?