Featured Projects
Through Duke University’s new First-Year Design (FYD) program, students gain early experience as they work in multi-disciplinary teams to design and build prototype solutions to solve real-world, client-based problems.
Residential Bridge in West Virginia
A cost-effective, residential bridge that can withstand major weather events
Storage For Bikes
A storage system for adaptive sports equipment for those with physical challenges or disabilities
Shipping Container
An efficient and productive makerspace from a 40-foot-long converted shipping container
Recent News
March 2, 2020
Starving the Beast
First-Years work to alleviate trash issues in Durham's local waters.
January 10, 2020
Duke University students help advance construction safety
Members of Skanska’s Durham NC team supporter first-year Duke University students as they created a solution that could one day improve safety on job sites across the world
December 18, 2019
Duke First-Year Designers Get a Lift from Skanska
The company constructing Duke’s newest engineering building challenged students to solve a tricky safety problem
Inspiring Engineers
Duke Engineering offers students a progressive immersion in engineering design, from the first-year overview to capstone design projects in their chosen disciplines.
Be part of the excitement
You have the opportunity to support bright students and to benefit from their ideas!
Project Idea
When you see a need or problem, submit the idea as a project.
Provide Support
Share you knowledge as an expert in the engineering field as a team mentor
Pay It Forward
Support components of the First Year Design program to ensure student success
Explore our impact Map
Click the pins to see First-Year Design clients and projects by location