A Designer's Journey

     So, the thing about me is that I’ve always had a plan. I’ve always had a plan for what I was going to be when I grew up; or what I now know to be as what I was going to do when I grew up. I finally have my answer; I am going to be an Industrial Designer.

     While my past career plans changed for various reasons, my curious nature and desire to explore and create has never left. When I graduated high school, I was excited to start college as a marketing student; eager to make a career in advertising. I soon found myself craving a more creative environment and continued my college career as a studio art student. Photography and digital media are where I seemed to excel the most but loved getting my hands dirty and making something tangible, in my ceramics and sculpture classes. I expanded my areas of study by adding minors in art history & criticism and museum studies. I was lucky enough to be able to follow my wanderlust and study abroad in Italy, where I took lessons in jewelry making from a local craftsman.

     While I loved the creativity of studio art, part of me still felt unfulfilled. I struggled with the conceptual side of artistic expectations. I’ve always considered myself to be a left brained person, with right brain inclinations. My problem solving and decision making is based on knowledge and logic. And while I have a creative and innovative nature, my brain thinks about art in terms of patterns and shapes. I think about function and form over deeper meanings and connections. For this reason, I never quite thought of myself as an artist.

     When I graduated with my art degree, I began to look for my next steps. I had long been inspired by my mother, who went to night school while working as a full-time elementary school teacher and earned her master’s degree. I decided that I wanted to go to get a master’s degree of my own, so I started looking at different Master of Arts degrees available. UH offered a master’s degree in graphic design. This was intriguing as digital media had been an interest of mine, however, I wasn’t sure I wanted a career that was that limiting. I felt that there wouldn’t be enough variety in my work to keep me excited about my career. I started thinking about design in general and how it seemed a natural progression from being the artist I never felt I was. So, I expanded my search to master’s degrees in design, and this is when I stumbled upon a Master of Science in industrial design.

     I’ll admit that I had never heard of industrial design before this point; but as I researched and read further into this program and occupation, it was like a light bulb started shining in my head, and I knew this was the career for me. Industrial design was a mixture of so many different things that I was interested in and good at, an outlet for creativity as well as purpose. I could design things that people wouldn’t just enjoy, but that would help them and make their lives better. The more I learned about industrial design, the more excited I got. With my background in art, I felt that it would be a relatively smooth transition into design. I was already familiar with the core principles and processes, and well versed in the high expectations of creative environments. I knew there would be a lot to learn but I was eager to start working my way toward my ideal career.

     Fast forward a little bit, I was accepted into the Master of Science program in industrial design at the University of Houston. With this news, a new plan began to form. One reason I chose the program at UH was the foresight certification offered in conjunction with the college of technology. This certification “is an inter-disciplinary, high-tech program that prepares strategic foresight professionals for careers in long-term forecasting and planning. Foresight uses a wide range of theoretical and practical models to examine the sources, patterns and causes of change and stability in order to map probable, plausible and preferable futures.” This certificate is relevant to my future career because it will provide me with the knowledge and means to observe and study the world around me and make predictions for the future. This directly applies to industrial design in terms of sustainability and predicting which materials will or won’t be available. I believe that having this kind of foresight will be invaluable to me, as an industrial designer.

     While I am only in the second semester of my three-year program, I am looking at the next steps. One thing that has been made clear to me in life is that you have to take advantage of the opportunities that are offered to you. This year, that opportunity will take me abroad again, this time to Ireland. Studying abroad is something that I had always aspired to do and will be fortunate enough to experience for a second time in my college career. Seeing design through the eyes of a different culture will, I’m sure, change my own perspective and allow for me to view industrial design from a different angle.

     Gazing into the future now, I’m thinking of what my specific career in the field of industrial design will be. The short answer: I don’t know yet. While I have industries and specific areas of the field I am interested in, I need to gain more experience before I can make an informed decision. If I had to decide right now on a specific career path within the scope of industrial design to pursue it would be a specialization in CMF (see fig. 1), as this is where much of my excitement lies. During my time as an art student, one of my favorite classes was Color Theory. The way that our minds perceive color and how it affects us; physically, emotionally, and cognitively is something that truly fascinates me. We never have and never will live in a black and white world.  I have always been a very visual and tactile person. Texture and color can alter consumer perception in so many ways, making CMF (see fig. 2) a vital part of the design process. Material choice is perhaps the most important design decision when working on a project, as it often dictates form and how the product can be manufactured. The knowledge I will gain from my studies in foresight will be put to good use in predicting which materials will be available and more sustainable to use in the future.

     Fortunately, time is on my side, and I don’t have to rush this major decision. My current career plan is to graduate with my master’s degree and certification and start work at a design firm/consultancy. There I will grow my experience in the professional design world, and work on projects for several different industries. There I will be exposed to the true expectations and demands of being an industrial designer, learn what industries I like designing for, and what areas of the process I both struggle and excel in within a professional setting. My time in this position will either alter or solidify my current thoughts on where I will plant my career roots. After a few years at a design firm/consultancy, and once I am confident in my industry/area of choice, I will become an in-house designer for a company. There is where I would put down roots, and hopefully remain for the rest of my career.

    Looking at the past, present and future, many designers and designs inspire my work. I am a self-proclaimed architecture nerd and so buildings and structures often inspire me as much or more than products. One of my favorite buildings in the world is La Casa Mila (see fig. 3) in Barcelona. The architect, Antoni Gaudi is famous for his use of natural materials and the inspiration of design he took from different natural elements. In the case of La Casa Mila, the marble quarry. A building here in the United States that inspires me in a similar way is the TWA Terminal at JFK International Airport (see fig. 4). The outer façade of this building bares a remarkable resemblance to the famous Sydney Opera House (see fig. 5), which also happens to be one of my favorite buildings. The organic, overlapping shapes that make up the roof of the structure are almost pedal-like and delicate, even though they are made from hard, static materials. This appearance of lightness and fluidity translated from solid materials is an aspect of design that I would greatly like to master in my own design work. Another building design that has always intrigued me is the Pentagon building (see fig. 6) in Washington D.C. The pentagon building is designed just how it sounds, it is a five pointed polygon shape whose internal structure is comprised of layers, or rings, which house different branches of government operations. The design was meant to provide stability, security, and of course, practical use. This was not a structure designed to be pretty, yet I have always seen its execution and resilience as beautiful.

       In terms of product design itself, there are multiple ways to go about designing something new. For the most part, we don’t re-invent the wheel, as it were, however, some do. A designer’s goal is always having a functional, yet beautiful product that fulfills its purpose of solving the user’s needs. Something that is sought after, however, is a value-add; something that makes your design stand out from similar products in the marketplace. This value-add can take the form of extra beauty derived shape along with material choice (see fig. 7 & 8), elements of humor (see figs. 9 & 10), clever packaging/branding (see figs. 11, 12, 13 & 14), conformity within a certain design style (see figs. 15, 16, & 17), sustainability of materials (see figs. 18 & 19), etc. An element that is often sought after in design for the home is a storage, space saving element; this bedframe (see fig. 20) is a great example of that. This is the kind of product that I, as a consumer, would want to purchase for my home. It is also a product that, as a designer, I would have felt proud to have worked on. One of my favorite products discussed in my design history II course is the tandem sling seating (see fig. 21), designed by Charles & Ray Eames in 1962. This is an absolutely iconic design that remains in high use to this day. They may not be the most comfortable of chairs, but their function is unmatched. While they may not be made of the most sustainable materials, the adaptability over time that these chairs have made them an incredibly sustainable design. This product, and its designers, continue to inspire me and my design work.

     It is a sad truth that most people don’t know what industrial design is or are confused as to what an industrial designer does. I explain to them that, broadly, it is the design of consumer products meant to be mass-produced. I tell them that everything that they use/interact with in their daily lives; their cell phone, their coffee maker, their car, their backpack, their hairdryer, their tv remote, etc. are all products that were designed by someone. That someone is an industrial designer. Even explaining the field of industrial design to people now, I’m often told how passionately I speak about it. You know that you love something when you can ramble on about it for hours. I look forward to having a successful and fulfilling career in the field of industrial design. In terms of the impact I will have on the field of industrial design, I’m not really one of those people with the life goal of becoming a famous designer or designing a product that stops climate change or ends world hunger. My aspirations are a lot humbler; I think. I’m not looking to change the world with my designs; I’d simply like to have a fulfilling career that I never get bored in. I’d like to be successful in the sense that I design products that I am proud to have worked on; products that help people and improve their lives. That is what I hope to achieve as an industrial designer.

Notes

Figure 1. “Trend & CMF — Carlie Barrett,” digital image, accessed April 4, 2023, https://carliebarrett.com/Trend-CMF.

Figure 2. Domestika. “Introduction to CMF Design: Color, Material, and Finish | ‘Introduction to CMF Design: Color, Material, and Finish’ (Lauraperryman),” digital image, accessed April 4, 2023, https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/3191-introduction-to-cmf-design-color-material-and-finish/final_project_lessons.

Figure 3. Araújo, Daniela. “Casa Milà In Barcelona: Best Tips For Visiting In 2023 • Daniela Santos Araújo.” Daniela Santos Araújo, October 22, 2022,” digital image, accessed April 5, 2023, https://danielasantosaraujo.com/casa-mila-in-barcelona/.

Figure 4. “Ramirez, Enrique. “Postwar, Parts 1 & 2.” Lecture, University of Houston, January 24, 26, 2023.

Figure 5. “Ramirez, Enrique. “Postwar, Parts 1 & 2.” Lecture, University of Houston, January 24, 26, 2023.

Figure 6. “Ramirez, Enrique. “Up To Speed : From a Wartime Footing to a Design Footing.” Lecture, University of Houston, January 19, 2023.

Figure 7. Earthbag Building Blog. “Rustic Log Furniture,” March 21, 2012,” digital image, accessed April 4, 2023, https://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/rustic-log-furniture/.

Figure 8. Metall Modern Furniture | Modern Made Affordable. “Metall Modern Furniture | Modern Made Affordable,” digital image, accessed April 5, 2023, https://www.metallfurniture.com/.

Figure 9. “Behance,” digital image, accessed April 5, 2023, https://www.behance.net/gallery/3418609/Kohberg-Fighting-breast-cancer.

Figure 10. Roblin, Amelia. “Udderly Adorable Dairy.” TrendHunter.com, January 10, 2012,” digital image, accessed April 4, 2023, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/milko-packaging.

Figure 11. Pkglove. “Heineken Beer Crate — Createid.” Createid, December 12, 2019, digital image, accessed April 5, 2023, https://www.createid.com/branding/heineken-beer-crate.

Figure 12. Dieline - Design, Branding & Packaging Inspiration. “Doritos Concept,” digital image, accessed April 4, 2023, https://thedieline.com/blog/2010/1/22/doritos-concept.html?

Figure 13. “Nikita Konkin,” digital image, accessed April 5, 2023, http://nikitakonkin.com/portfolio/good-hairday-pasta.

Figure 14. “Behance,” digital image, accessed April 5, 2023, https://www.behance.net/gallery/23607613/Harrods-Honey-Label.

Figure 15. Wayfair. “Rustic Swivel Adjustable Bike Stool-29-37" Kitchen Counter Bar Height-Set Of 2 Industrial Farmhouse Countertop Barstools-Metal And Wood,” digital image, accessed April 4, 2023, https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/williston-forge-rustic-swivel-adjustable-bike-stool-29-37-kitchen-counter-bar-height-set-of-2-industrial-farmhouse-countertop-barstools-metal-and-wood-w008867280.html.

Figure 16. Bullock, Jamie. “New Industrial-Style Furniture Range from BARAK’7 - The Art of Design Magazine.” The Art of Design Magazine, August 25, 2015. Digital image, accessed April 4, 2023, https://www.theartofdesignmagazine.com/new-industrial-style-furniture-range-from-barak7/.

Figure 17. knoxdeco.com. “Industrial Adjustable Height Drafting Desk - Tilting Top - Cast Iron Base,” digital image, accessed April5, 2023,  https://knoxdeco.com/products/industrial-adjustable-crank-height-tilt-desk-drafting-desk.

Figure 18. Estate, Clovely. “Products.” Clovely Estate, digital image, accessed April 5, 2023, https://clovely.com.au/collections/all/evoo.

Figure 19. McQuarrie, Laura. “Efficient Fruit Packaging.” TrendHunter.com, July 10, 2014. Digital image, accessed April 4, 2023, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fruit-packaging.

Figure 20. DesignCafe. “How To Choose A Bed For Your Bedroom | Design Cafe,” May 18, 2022. Digital image, accessed April 5, 2023, https://www.designcafe.com/guides/choose-bed-for-bedroom/.

Figure 21. “Ramirez, Enrique. “Plastic Modernity.” Lecture, University of Houston, February 7, 2023.