Michael Cusack
Chief Sustainability Officer, ACS Clothing Ltd
Michael is Chief Sustainability Officer at circular fashion B Corp, ACS Clothing Ltd. They use engineering - including AI, nanotechnology and advanced repair - to keep clothing in use, cut waste and reduce demand for raw materials. A Chartered Engineer, he champions trial and error, inclusive talent and real-world problem solving to help young people see themselves in engineering.
Why trial and error beats perfectionism in engineering
Most people think engineering is about getting it right first time. In reality, it’s the opposite: it’s about building, testing, breaking, and learning — on repeat.
Most people think engineering is about getting it right first time. In reality, it’s the opposite. It’s about building, testing, breaking, and learning — on repeat.
At ACS, our teams work on circular-fashion technology: robotics that handle returned garments, AI that detects defects, and low-impact cleaning systems. None of these worked perfectly on day one.
On a recent project, our camera system kept misreading dark fabrics. Early attempts to “fix the code” didn’t help. The breakthrough came from trial and error in the setup: adjusting lighting angles, swapping lenses, and changing the distance between the camera and the garment. Software mattered, but only after we iterated on the basics. That cycle — try, learn, try again — is the real engine of progress.
Trial and error also builds confidence. When students see that failure isn’t the end, it becomes easier to ask better questions. What variable did we miss? What constraint changed? What does the data actually say? The skill isn’t avoiding mistakes, it’s learning how to learn from them.
Three lessons we share with young engineers:
- Prototype early: A quick model beats a perfect plan
- Change one variable at a time: You can’t learn from noise
- Document as you go: Your notes are tomorrow’s debug log and someone else’s starting point
If engineering is about improving the world, it’s also about improving yesterday’s attempt. Trial and error doesn’t slow the journey - it is the journey. And anyone, from any background, can take the next step.
Most people think engineering is about getting it right first time. In reality, it’s the opposite. It’s about building, testing, breaking, and learning — on repeat.
— Michael Cusack, Chief Sustainability Officer, ACS Clothing Ltd
