In this episode, Dave and Matt dive into First LEGO League, where kids as young as third grade take on robotics and engineering challenges. Coach Dave drills one rule into his team’s brains (gently, of course): Keep it simple, keep it sturdy. Overcomplication? That’s for people who love redoing their work.

Turns out, good engineering is a lot like picking the right tool for the job — go for the trusty hammer, not the Rube Goldberg contraption. Simple solutions just work. Fancy for the sake of fancy? Not so much.

Dave credits his time at MIT for hardwiring this keep-it-simple philosophy into his brain. Since then, simplicity has been his not-so-secret sauce for reliable design. And as a LEGO League coach, his mantra "Boring is Best™" takes center stage. Why? Because dependable beats flashy every time. And, funny enough, the so-called "boring" solutions tend to rack up the biggest wins.

But this isn’t just about gears and sensors — it’s about the people turning the wrenches. Coaching young engineers reveals an ultimate truth: The best engineering puts people first, solving real problems for real humans. (Not just impressing other engineers.)

Key Takeaways:

• LEGO League 101: Where third graders gear up to build and program robots like tiny pros.
• Simple Wins: In engineering, simple and sturdy beats flashy but fragile every time.
• Dave's MIT Mantra: Inspired by his alma mater, Dave champions practical, reliable solutions.
• Power of Basics: Stick to the fundamentals, and you’ll go further than you think.
• Test, Tweak, Repeat: Early testing and iteration > chasing perfection out of the gate.

This episode is proof that when it comes to engineering (and life), keeping it simple doesn’t just work — it wins.

Timestamp

🧩 0:32 – Coaching Kids in Engineering Through First LEGO League
⚖️ 5:31 – Balancing Simplicity and Creativity in Engineering Solutions
🤖 8:02 – Simplifying LEGO Robotics: Achieving Success Through Minimalism
🤿 10:54 – Innovative Solutions for Underwater Exploration Challenges
🏆 12:38 – Boring Solutions Win Engineering Competitions
🚀 15:45 – Balancing Innovation with Customer Needs in Tech Startups
🔄 17:35 – Embracing Iteration and Accepting Being Wrong for Faster Success
🛠️ 20:01 – Embracing Simplicity and Iteration in Product Development

Resources:

Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
Aurora Holiday Dance

Font Awesome on the Socials

• First LEGO League
• 🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
• 🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
• 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
• 💼 LinkedIn:  

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!