https://www.danieladg.com/about-me daily 0.75 2023-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1586034650264-3JFZJPJIBRUPABX0UXD5/IMG_0371.jpg About Me - Hello! And welcome to my portfolio! My name is Daniela Durón García, and I am a mechanical engineer with a passion for transforming ideas into tangible solutions through thoughtful design, rapid prototyping, and hands-on engineering. My experience spans product development, laboratory operations, fabrication, and cross-functional collaboration, where I've enjoyed solving technical challenges while supporting innovative engineering projects. As a first-generation Latina in STEM, I value expanding access to engineering and creating technologies that improve people's everyday lives. I'm especially motivated by opportunities to design products that are practical, accessible, and impactful for diverse communities. I am currently seeking opportunities in research and development, hardware engineering, and product development where I can continue growing as an engineer, contribute to innovative teams, and help bring new ideas from concept to reality. https://www.danieladg.com/homepage daily 1.0 2026-10-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614800984275-HOQAWOO0OFHMHKT85UQH/Homepage+FLOW.png Homepage - FLOW The Fast, Light-Weight, On-The-Go Washer For Menstrual Cups https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614302086738-OX10SP0PDGFN19HDPMC2/Homepage+Caterpillar+Project.png Homepage - The Caterpillar Project Reshaping 3D Concrete Printing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614228799237-4F1AFVRMGRZGROGH3BE8/Homepage+Math+Racer.png Homepage - Math Racer Count Your Way To The Finish Line https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614211926970-HRL1N9I37TB9ROTKD0M9/Homepage+Neat+Lid.png Homepage - The Neat Lid For An Easy-To-Clean, Easy-To-Cool, Slosh-Proof Drinking Experience https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614300290788-WA5N75BT4DC7UHA9PKXE/Homepage+BrewSpace.png Homepage - Brewspace Connecting Brewers To The World https://www.danieladg.com/flow daily 0.75 2023-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614806519101-UHPH8M3Q4IIZJWYICXV5/Team+Pic+Grad.JPG FLOW - Objective We initially developed the FLOW as part of our senior design capstone project at Columbia University. To continue our work and bring FLOW to the world, Taya, Andrew, and I formed FLOW Period, LLC, a startup devoted to sustainable period care. Our goal is to empower menstruators to make the switch to reusable menstrual cups and ultimately give rise to more financially and environmentally sustainable period care. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614801671001-WEE4LFZH76HQAZ48O5YY/Menstrual+Cup.gif FLOW https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614802922657-0DXAU6PUVX95IYBS8SJ9/FLOW+with+Packaging.jpg FLOW https://www.danieladg.com/brewspace daily 0.75 2023-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/9bd1f9b6-d374-4cc1-9197-59194700313a/Trash+Icon.png Brewspace Little traditional waste is created in the brewing process despite the need for ingredient packaging and disposable plateware. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614372218737-5M3DCC2KQA9SVTOQ1ISW/Journey%2BMap%2B1.jpg Brewspace https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/0d69f906-ca3f-45f4-bf56-91bc0baf9237/Grain+Icon.png Brewspace Grain re-purposing methods are great! But all grain accepting entities are separate and play no other role in the brewing process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614372193635-7SSR8MIGN4L5ZVQYJF2Q/Journey%2BMap%2B2.jpg Brewspace https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/5c38aaf7-53c2-4624-bb47-6825c925932f/Trailer+Icon.png Brewspace The energy required for storage is minimal. Transportation of beer and canning units, however, requires a lot of fossil fuel energy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614372236651-AVAHW37YBHH59TYCMBHD/Journey%2BMap%2B3.jpg Brewspace https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/7beab0eb-88b4-46aa-a354-0d1aae6f1b54/Liquid+Icon.png Brewspace In the brewing process, it seems that more liquid is wasted than solids. Reducing water waste could be beneficial to breweries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/f3401815-fda8-4fba-a8d4-705009c94082/Journey+Map+4.png Brewspace https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614292497248-R9RNXQQ11ABGGN5HD5Q3/Brewery%2BStock%2BPhoto.jpg Brewspace - Objective Columbia University’s Introduction to Human-Centered Design and Innovation course challenge was to create a new product or service that would reduce food waste, i.e. waste incurred somewhere in the supply chain as a direct or indirect result of eating or drinking. As beer drinkers that specifically enjoy craft brews, my team and I knew that we wanted to focus on the brewing industry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614293382720-T56WQ5RS8OFVB4TJR2H7/Brewery+Stock+Photo+2.jpg Brewspace https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614363315823-TG0JL93PDPNEB2I391D4/Mary+Hannah-Big+Alice.jpg Brewspace https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614363244961-RSDXQTHMRG9KNF1IPYHB/Emily-Big+Alice.jpg Brewspace https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614295639930-UWJQM06E6GBLL6MQRV0L/Brewery%2BRooftop%2BGarden.jpg Brewspace - Prototype 1: Brewery Rooftop Garden This idea encourages the use of rooftops as green roof spaces to grow additive ingredients for the breweries’ craft beers. Wastewater from the brewing process would be rerouted to the garden and used to water the plants in the garden. Plus, the scenic rooftop garden could be a great place to host patrons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614295780035-92P1UNROBRP56P8XBR8F/Beer+Subscription+Box.JPG Brewspace - Prototype 2: Beer Subscription Box This product would increase food waste awareness in consumers and encourage them to support their local breweries. The beer subscription box would include 6 different craft beers from 6 different local breweries as well as a baked good made from the spent grains used in the craft beer production. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614295817980-HWMWSKN7FV5NQL8J035H/Beer+Coworking+Space.gif Brewspace - Prototype 3: Brewery Co-Working Space This idea incorporates 6 retail booths and 6 independent brewing stations all within one location. Within this shared space, the brewers would have access to an in-house canning line, group distribution, upkeep, and utilities. This space would give the breweries the opportunity to develop a larger waste recycling infrastructure and encourage resource sharing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614297369933-3T4JRA98DFWOLBUES3PP/BrewSpace%2BMockup.jpg Brewspace - Prototype 4: BrewSpace This social media platform promises to reduce food waste by connecting breweries to local businesses that can use the byproducts from their beer production. Once the connection is made, businesses can direct message each other to begin their partnership. The platform would be available as both a website and as an app. https://www.danieladg.com/theneatlid daily 0.75 2023-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614191227117-C0VA77GGWP5EP4LJ86X5/reusable+coffee+cup.jpg The Neat Lid - Objective The Neat Lid is the result of the first project in our Human-Centered Design Course at Columbia University. The goal of this project was to redesign an existing drinking container that would promote an overall better drinking experience for people. We focused on reusable coffee mugs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614117730038-2N6JYXZ6TIHCSX3USKDC/Students%2Bwith%2BCoffee.jpg The Neat Lid https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614116460373-BV7ZM471SHCICA59LDWY/Jose%2BCoffee.jpg The Neat Lid - José A. Drinks coffee from travel mug with lid https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614116871225-MSZCSCCLF98R1ZII86YV/Sam+Coffee.gif The Neat Lid - Sam J. Sam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614116504981-OCJ9LQCIUCVAOG0SB26W/Lithu%2BCoffee.jpg The Neat Lid - Lithu M. Removes lid when drinking her coffee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614189212797-MOIYAD3CKEKN1Q61YJJH/Dirty%2Blid%2B1.jpg The Neat Lid https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614189341295-4ZTJYY6VPEA31CI6FF1I/Dirty%2Blid%2B3.jpg The Neat Lid https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614189786027-00YG7U3DBD1MM72IKKXJ/Lid+removal+1.gif The Neat Lid https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614189829946-G4SDX0URARB0ZYBLN3FA/Lid+removal+2.gif The Neat Lid https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614199612647-AKM6SZF93J5J1IE6G2LV/Viora+Lid.jpeg The Neat Lid - The Viora Lid This lid uses a vertical opening to reduce spills and to give the user a similar experience to drinking out of an opened-top cup. This lid is currently meant to replace only disposable coffee lids. (Image from vioralid.com) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614199455773-C76VIBN7W78PU0VF492I/Corkcicle+Lid.png The Neat Lid - The Corkcicle Lid Corkcicle allows users to buy lids individually as replacements for broken or defective lids that come with their tumblers. This design needs to be taken apart for the lid to be fully cleaned. (Image from corkcicle.com) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614192444693-XY0664EE3F3HI22PS133/Version+1.png The Neat Lid - Version 1 One of the first designs we considered focused on incorporating a propeller at the bottom of the thermos that would allow for cooling without the removal of the lid. Advantages Propeller enhances cooling of the drink Disadvantages The propeller mechanism may not be air-tight Multiple small components would make this design difficult to clean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614192504008-G3Z266YATQTA4F3MJ9HK/Version+2.png The Neat Lid - Version 2 The second design was our first attempt at including a vertical drinking hole to make the cup slosh-proof. This design, however, would still require the user to fully remove the lid to cool down their drink. Advantages Screw-top lid is easier to clean Vertical drinking hole makes the mug slosh-resistant Disadvantages Not air-tight No mechanism for affixing lid; cooling drink requires more space https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614192616041-DBV1GNCRST6515YMABBI/Version+3.png The Neat Lid - Version 3 Our third design incorporates two holes within the lid, one for drinking and the other for cooling. The design also includes detachable elements that are easy to clean, but consistently removing the pieces could wear down the components making the lid unusable. Advantages Vertical drinking hole makes the mug slosh-resistant All elements detachable; easy to clean Disadvantages The cooling hole is small in comparison to when the entire lid is removed thus cooling process would be longer The pin holding the spinning mechanism in place will loosen with time Not air-tight https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614193047711-PUAUVL9MC1RQZRR8XAKD/Version+5.png The Neat Lid - Version 4 Advantages L-shaped vertical drinking hole makes the mug slosh-resistant Removable dark rubber ring to hide coffee stains & clean easily Easy cooling thanks to the inclusion of magnetic strips Sliding cover for the drinking hole makes it spill-resistant Disadvantages Expensive to manufacture compared to previous designs due to magnetic elements https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614193021186-CYNW9XOEVVDSDKR7COMU/Version+4.png The Neat Lid - Version 5 The fifth design was one of our simplest and sleekest designs. By including a magnetic strip on the side of the coffee mug, the magnetic lid could easily be removed and placed on the side for easy cooling. Advantages Easy cooling thanks to the inclusion of magnetic strips Vertical drinking hole slosh-resistant Removable dark rubber ring to hide coffee stains and clean easily Disadvantages Not air-tight Tight angle for drinking hole means the flow of coffee will be low Expensive to manufacture compared to previous designs due to magnetic elements https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614194766645-MTOYPQE5PUD81VEP3S1O/Neat+Lid+Prototype.png The Neat Lid https://www.danieladg.com/mathracer daily 0.75 2023-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614793710764-C01FNUMVC75TPBJ4O7L7/Toys.jpg Math Racer - Objective In our Computer Graphics and Design course at Columbia University, our final task was to design and produce project documentation for a fully portable educational toy that could be used to teach kids how to add and subtract single digits (from 0 to 9). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1614794066782-DO68GR2IIOWIZ3UUL6C8/Hands%2BOn%2BExperience.jpg Math Racer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1586147511808-C3J9AE5QF0LJZKU07LXK/Brainstorm2.png Math Racer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1586148002673-G5VDM74Y8UN89QJ6PJIZ/LoFi+Design.png Math Racer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1586148146753-RQZ8515ADVF7JUC8SILG/Details.png Math Racer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1586147168524-0A9C2MN90XJAFMVWK5CN/MathRacer.gif Math Racer - How it works TO ADD The child chooses two numbers to add (e.g. 1 and 1 as shown in the gif) The child pushes 1 car from the left track into the winner’s circle Then the child pushes 1 car from the right into the winner’s circle Lastly, the child counts the total number of cars in the winner’s circle and learns that 1 + 1 = 2 https://www.danieladg.com/thecaterpillarproject daily 0.75 2023-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1586023986254-IPC1597LTMF1HOOA7RDB/Jolie.jpg The Caterpillar Project - Prototype 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1586023927903-JF1VOTO5T1ZRHMRXPHCL/Jolie%2B2.jpg The Caterpillar Project - Prototype 2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8264dad4dbaf107ee83049/1586032764633-JPYPLZLWY82TK6O7TBYN/Extruder+Assembly.jpg The Caterpillar Project - Expanding SolidWorks Skills We submitted two final reports (one for each prototype) explaining our design decisions and documenting our work through engineering drawings. The image to the left is one of the fifteen drawings we submitted. This experience not only highlighted the importance of creating neat and clearly labeled drawings, it also left me feeling more confident in my SolidWorks abilities.