Design News for Mechanical and Design Engineers

At Design News, we’re big into recognition. Actually some people think it's just our excuse to have lots of big parties, but the truth is that we love to recognize engineers who do great things. For over 20 years, our magazine—in partnership with many important and forward-thinking companies—has been the proud sponsor of the Design News Engineering Awards Program.This year we have significantly expanded and renamed the program. We think the new name, “The Design News Golden Mousetrap Awards,” gives a more specific nod to engineering achievement and is just plain way more fun.

AND THE WINNERS ARE ...

ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Tom Watson, hybrid propulsion systems manager. Our readers (thank you!) selected Watson for this honor for the role he played in spearheading the design of Ford’s hybrid powertrain. Responsible for blending two diverse forms of power, he’s the guy leading the 103-year-old automaker into a whole new world. Read all about how he’s drawing on his expertise in hardware, electronics and energy management to pull off this amazing feat.
Read about the nominees

BEST PRODUCT WINNERS
Who better to pick the best products of the year than the engineers who actually use these tools? Read about the products Design News’ readers selected as the most innovative new ideas in the categories of electronics, motion control/automation, software/hardware, and fastening/joining/assembly. And in this year’s writeups, we’ve gone beyond the usual features and functions to discuss why each winning product is of particular significance to design engineers.
Read about the nominees

BEST PRODUCT FINALISTS
Here are more great product innovations — all finalists in our Best Products Contest. We profile them here.

READERS' CHOICE AWARDS
For this first-ever vendor popularity contest, we asked readers to name their favorite
companies across a number of different and critical dimensions — from best engineering support to best website to best quality. You were pretty opinionated on who you think the top vendors are in each category — we name the top three you deemed “really good at what they do” in each category.

BUILDING A BETTER MOUSETRAP
We asked readers to help us catch a mouse. A silly idea, perhaps, but one you clearly found challenging. Problem-solvers at heart, our readers inundated us with good ideas —ranging from elaborate methods of luring mice to the trap to the best baits for the venerable spring-loaded trap to more humane methods of dealing with a mice infestation.
We profile the winning entries here.
Read about the ideas
Join the forum conversation