C.D.C BLOG WEEK 8: Design in the 'Real World'

I was excited to discover our 7th week we were joined by two very experienced and talented designers as they shared their insights. The designers in question were one James Ryan is Product Design Director in Dolmen Design Consultancy. Since graduating NCAD in 2000, James has had a broad ranging career in product design, including nearly 10 years as a Design Manager in Point of Purchase company Kleerex, and the last decade in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) at Dolmen.

And Robert Stevenson as he describes himself “I’m an observer, a thinker and a maker. With 21 years of experience defining business & customer relevant insights and developing them into meaningful opportunities and products.

I’ve gained In-depth experience in both front end and back end product development and in delivering innovative products for major global companies in consumer electronics, home furnishings and automotive industries,”

Both speakers were excellent and I found it very interesting on the variety of work they’ve both done and the locations also surprised me Taking Rob first for example he has done a lot of abroad in Europe, starting off in Madrid working for a Korean phone company designing the next best flip phones in the early 2000's. He was then working for Samsung in Spain and this took him to London also, so there is a lot of travel involved with the work he doing and even up until today where he is working for a D-Ford in America.

Then with James who is currently working for the Irish design company, Dolmen currently his work ranges from working on bathroom design like modern style showers to other household items. But his work has taken him to over and back to China when the company was getting a product produced they would of course have to go over and see how the product is coming along in the manufacturing process.

The idea I could one day be traveling the world working is very attractive to me and is what I hope to do when I finish my degree here in UL I cant describe to you my ambition to leave our little island and see the world not just through a phone screen but to experience it myself and the fact I could explore this avenue while also working is brilliant.

Both designers were more than helpful and answered any questions asked at the end of there talks , James gave some very insightful and beneficial to us on the matter of the first project or job we undertake as designer we will strive to excel at and go above and beyond for the client . one fact he said was to undersell yourself set achievable goals and the completely outdo anything the client thought you could deliver. This would leave you with not only a satisfied client but the foundation and beginning of a good reputation in the design world. I couldn’t agree more on that advice don’t bite of more than you can chew. I understand the fact that Rome wasn’t built in a day I shouldn’t be focused on one outrageous project that propels me out of obscurity but instead concentrate on the steady creation of consistent good work that’s ever improving. I understand ill be young when I finish my degree hopefully still in my early twenties all going well. Ill have plenty of time to stay in my own lane and build myself up . I hope my peers also recognise the importance of patience and while also learning from others not to be side track in comparing themselves to other designers, im a big believer in the importance of competition and a drive to be better but at the end of the day its not you vs anybody else its you vs you and you should always focus on yourself or your own projects.