She developed a prototype based on a hunch and a whim. Great work, no doubt, but engineering isn't based on intuition and some experience. Real engineering has a goal or specification in mind, and then proves through modeling, analysis, and _finally_ testing that it meets those specs.
Whipping something up and then seeing what it's capable of doesn't qualify.
"Whipping something up and then seeing what it's capable of" in simulation or prototype is also known as "modeling and analysis". Prototypes and testing are definitely a valid, even central, part of engineering.
kragen|5 years ago