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enter the field in the late 1980s, which means that I have never had to experience "hand tap- ing" a PCB design. e role of the PCB designer and the PCB design process have come a long way from manual hand-taping and draing to sophisticated computer-aided design. Today's designers are part of a high-tech field requir- ing technical expertise, collaborative abilities, and creative problem-solving. If I were to look into a crystal ball, I would see that the next 10 years promise even more profound changes in the tools, responsibilities, and challenges PCB designers will face. The Changing Role of PCB Designers PCB designers of the future will create not just layouts or place components; they will serve as system-level architects. eir work will encompass a broader range of responsibil- ities, requiring collaboration with hardware, soware, and mechanical engineering teams. Key shis include: • AI-augmented creativity: AI will handle routine tasks like auto-routing and opti- mization, freeing designers to focus on system integration, trade-offs, what-if sce- narios, and innovation. • Sustainability advocacy: Designers will prioritize eco-friendly PCBs by selecting recyclable materials, optimizing layouts for energy efficiency, and balancing layout solvability, performance, and manufactur- ing with environmental concerns. • Interdisciplinary expertise: Combining knowledge from electrical and mechanical engineering, materials science, manufac- turing, and soware development will be essential to navigate the complexities of next-generation technologies. Skills for Future Designers In the early days of our industry, the individ- ual who performed PCB layout was typically not a degreed engineer, but an individual with a diverse and oen non-technical background and/or no formal technical education who possessed a knack for puzzle solving, attention to detail, an innate aptitude (or grasp) for all things technical, along with the ability to work with limited direction and under pressure. Since most colleges and universities did not offer a curriculum in PCB design specifically (and sadly, to this day, most do not), an indi- vidual seeking to gain the necessary skills had to rely on self-education by attending industry conferences, trade shows, and hands-on learning from others. With all the PCB design content available online, today's PCB design- ers learn and perform their cra in a much different way than in the past. PCB design professionals are transi- tioning from non-degreed to techni- cal-degreed individuals, due to the high complexity and advancement of electronic systems design. Yet, this transition does not necessarily mean that a technical degree is required to be a PCB designer; it just means that the profession of PCB design requires a high level of technical education, professional development, and train- ing specific to this domain. Add in 22 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2025