Yesterday on January 8th, several professionals and instructors from MSU visited with LHS Design Tech students to discuss possible future paths in industrial design. Douglas Gonzales, who has worked in this field for a while, and Brett Cornish, who just graduated, brought with them plenty of experience, knowledge, and advice for the students.
Gonzales previously worked on designing youth products such as toys, strollers, and car seats, as well as biking equipment. In his opinion, “sawdust therapy” (hands-on experience in the shop) is the ideal way to get into or renew interest in design.
Currently, he is working on creating a high quality wheelchair that brings in a new age of transportation for those who need it. When looking for co-workers, Gonzales says he looks first for passion and a drive to improve.
The second presenter, Brett Cornish, is an MSU graduate. He talked about his journey as an industrial design student at MSU, and all of the opportunities offered there that allowed him to succeed. One of his designs that he mentioned was called the “Conscious Cruiser”, and it was a bike that incorporated a fuel cell for sustainability.
Gonzales also talked about the importance of marketing a real project, no matter how mundane or everyday it may appear. “Basically, we create everyday products… Great design begins with simplicity,” he said.
Because industrial design and STEM in general is very important at LHS, it is a great opportunity to be able to speak with professionals about college in this field. The future of industrial design is looking bright!
