The 2010 NASCAR had some clear "non-production" features, including the front end. In this episode Allison and Vince dig into how designers made the 2011 cars look more like the production versions without compromising performance. NASCAR engineer Bill Ferguson gives us the inside scoop on the 2011 nose design.

X-ray sensors and Whirlwind mills represent advances in woodworking equipment design. This week Allison and Vince explore several such advances, with their trademark tongue-in-cheek perspective.

Allison and Vince get the lowdown on indoor surfing from the engineers at American Wave Machine. They explain the standing wave phenomenon that results from a hydraulic jump and show how designers manipulate bottom contours to give an endless ride.

How does Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs fit into concept design? Allison and Vince show how The Psycho Aesthetic approach helps guitar designers forecast future consumer needs to create next generation instruments.

RKS uses emotion as a starting point for new product design. This episode of the Product Design Show looks at the Kor water bottle and how decisions designers made at the concept stage makes buyers feel better about themselves.

Vince and Allison uncover the engineering advances that make home appliances use 75 percent less energy compared to 25 years ago. Specific topics covered include the refrigerator, dishwasher and oven.

Vince and Allison talk about design challenges that toymakers face when creating toys.

Applications for electric motor design are shown including small size motors for power tools, totally enclosed designs for agricultural environments, anti-corroding designs for humid operation, and more. Don't miss Allison's truly inspiring tutorial on the basics of electromagnetism.

Heating and cooling system design, including Allison's hilarious description of the vapor compression cycle for air conditioning

Bottle designs must consider the pressure of the liquid to be contained, the form factor and the aesthetics. In this episode we explore the engineering constraints in glass and plastic bottle design for thermoses, perfume and soda pop bottles.