# Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren't Round and Other Mysteries with Science Activities for Kids - Hardcover

by **Carla Mooney** (Author), **Tom Casteel** (Illustrator)

**What is industrial design? How does it affect our everyday lives?**

Why do microwaves open with a swinging front door? Why aren't smartphones round? Why do drivers sit on the left in the United States?  
Industrial design is the study of the design process behind the products we use every day, from blenders to school buses to laptops. In _Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren't Round and Other Mysteries with Science Activities for Kids_, readers ages 10-15 engage in and learn about the engineering design process from its earliest beginnings when individuals designed and crafted their own tools to today, when engineers work to find the best design for products that are then manufactured in bulk by automated machines.

Why does design matter? It's the design of a product that increases or decreases its chances at success. If the design of your phone isn't quite right and you feel uncomfortable or frustrated every time you use it, you probably won't buy that model again. Engineers consider the user experience of every product they design to ensure that users have the best experience possible. Good design combines the right materials, colors, details, and form to make a person want to buy and use a product. A well-designed product is easy to use and does what it is meant to do.  
In _Industrial Design_, readers practice their own engineering design skills using the engineering design process and learn how to create useful, aesthetically pleasing designs for a variety of products. They learn about the history of industrial design and the transition from craft-based design to mass production. Through fun science and engineering projects, they explore the steps of the industrial design process including brainstorming, idea sketching, technical drawings, creating models and prototypes, and product testing. Like a good designer, they learn how to evaluate products for function, usability, ergonomics, aesthetics, and green design.

Throughout _Industrial Design_, inquiry-based activities, essential questions, links to online primary sources, and an extensive engineering glossary all promote critical and creative thinking and serve to highlight the importance and beauty of engineering design and the role it plays in our world.

In the **Technology for Today** set, readers ages 10 to 15 explore the digital and tech landscapes of today and tomorrow through hands-on STEAM activities and compelling stories of how things work, who makes them work, and why. Titles in this set include _Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren't Round and Other Mysteries with Science Activities for Kids; Big Data: Information in the Digital World with Science Activities for Kids; Projectile Science: The Physics Behind Kicking a Field Goal and Launching a Rocket with Science Activities for Kids_; and _Artificial Intelligence: Thinking Machines and Smart Robots with Science Activities for Kids._

Nomad Press books integrate content with participation. Common Core State Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, and STEM Education all place project-based learning as key building blocks in education. Combining content with inquiry-based projects stimulates learning and makes it active and alive. Nomad's unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers.  

### Back Jacket

What is industrial design? Why do microwaves open with a swinging front door? Why aren't smartphones round?

In _Industrial Design: Why Aren't Smartphones Round and Other Mysteries_ _with Science Activities for Kids,_ kids ages 10-15 engage in and learn about the engineering design process from its earliest beginnings, when individuals designed and crafted their own tools, to today, when engineers work to find the best design for products that are then manufactured in bulk by automated machines. Engineers consider the user experience of every product they design to ensure that users have the best experience possible. Good design combines the right materials, colors, details, and form to make a person want to buy and use a product. A well-designed product is easy to use and does what it is meant to do!

Throughout _Industrial Design_, inquiry-based activities, essential questions, links to online primary sources, and an extensive engineering glossary all serve to highlight the importance and beauty of engineering design and the role it plays in our world.

### Author Biography

Carla Mooney has written more than 70 books for children and young adults. She is the author of several books for Nomad Press, including _Terrorism: Violence, Intimidation, and Solutions for Peace_, _Evolution: How Life Adapts to a Changing Environment_, _The Holocaust: Racism and Genocide in World War II_, and _Comparative Religion: Investigate the World through Religious Tradition_. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

**Number of Pages:** 128

**Dimensions:** 0.6 x 10.2 x 8.3 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** August 03, 2018

## Details

- **Price:** 22.95 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 22.95 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren't Round and Other Mysteries with Science Activities for Kids - Hardcover

---

> Source: [Smart supply deals](https://smartsupplydeals.com/products/industrial-design-why-smartphones-arent-round-and-other-mysteries-with-science-activities-for-kids-hardcover)
> Updated: 2026-07-23