The memoirs of a Design student

It is now the end of July and I have not posted anything for over six weeks now! The thing is, I am sitting here, thinking of what to write about and a title to go with it. A blank page definitely is one of mans worse nightmares.

The thing is I think I am getting off on the wrong foot here and missing the point. I started this blog to talk about Design related stuff, so I better start talking Design rather than waffling about how I am going to do it (Story of my life sometimes!!). But before you prejudge and think I am some sort of odd job that cant get his life into order then I have an excuse. Its not the usual ’The dog ate it’ one I will have you know. Its called ‘Placement Year’, which in essence is a year of work in industry which will not only help boost my employability after my degree but also gain invaluable experience and knowledge that is impossible to find in the academia world of University.For the benefit of you that don’t know it is sandwiched right in the middle of my degree just before the final year and after the second year. Hence the name ‘Sandwich Degree’.

So where am I working, you ask? Well I landed myself a job for a year in Project Management department at a company that produces Injection Moulded parts. So far it has been great experience, I feel like a sponge that is absorbing information constantly – I am learning something new everyday that is relevant to my degree. Everyday I start work there is always a design problem to solve and a job to do. Without a shadow of a doubt a placement year really does help. My duties as Product Designer are pretty obvious really – developing and creating existing and new products for the company. Well, thats a vague description to be honest, there is more to it than that – but you get the idea.

So far I have been on placement now for over a month now and I am already getting the hang of the way Product Design is approached in industry. Thing is I have been itching to whack something on here which is pleasing to the eye, rather than this black and white text which contains a lot of waffling. So check out these cool bits and bobs that I have come across on my discoveries. Enjoy!

Top: 3D Printer in action.

Bottom Left: Injection Moulders on factory floor.

Bottom Right: My humble desk