r/IndustrialDesign

Hi there! Before my question, here's a little about me: I'm 28 years old, and I previously worked since undergrad (almost 10 years ago now!) in education—specifically social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and tutoring. So basically helping kids emotional regulation, social functioning, executive life skills, etc. Anything short of official certification (outside of being a certified elementary ELA teacher, which I was for 2 years!)

After that, I pivoted basically to a career as a wearable art designer in Los Angeles. Was able to intern under the Academy (aka the folks who run the thing called the Oscars) and work speedily on-set in costume and makeup (I have an extensive portfolio in these two things, and by the time I left, I was making about $3k for a three-day shoot). This was 2022.

However, life hit me hard after that. I experienced a traumatizing divorce, went through the sudden death of my adoptive mother (she committed s*icide), financial desperation (lost my entire life savings due to aforementioned divorce), and various traumas made me move over 8 times across 3 cities in the span of the last 3 years.

The fallout majorly wrecked my credit, and I'm navigating C-PTSD like you wouldn't believe, nightly nightmares, and so much emotional baggage.

It's made me stronger, but also made me realize I want to finally be financially powerful and stable. Hence why I'm looking at a career in ID, which I feel utilizes all my skills but with far greater stability than just teaching (which I hate) or gig-work in Hollywood (too unstable, and on-set work is a dying arena).

My goal is to use what I enjoyed from past work—my artistic design experience, combined with teaching children SEL experience—and become an industrial designer making developmental toys that nurture the social-emotional health of young children.

To me, this feels sort of like a destined path, and I know there are many toy companies that specialize in this. And here in New York, I know LaGuardia (AAS Industrial Design) and also FIT (BFA Toy Design) can help me pivot toward this career.

And I also figure perhaps I can build a second, more "versatile' standard portfolio on the side that's devoted to ergonomics or something like that outside of toy design...

But do you have any advice for me? I currently am thinking of doing an AAS in Industrial Design and a BFA in Toy Design, or (Option 2) maybe doing a 4-year B.S. in Mechanical Engineering first and tinkering with my own creations on the side? What do you think?

I've been reading I should combine ID with a second hard skill, like mechanical engineering or something. Is my career path I described above not enough? What do you think?

I also perhaps want to move back to California not anytime soon, and figured I could use my ID to help prop design on the side if my connections ever need me.

Thank you all for reading, sorry for the vent </3

TL;DR

If my goal is landing a job in a tech industry, designing consumer electronics, which school has the better corporate bridge?

University of Cincinnati DAAP MDes:

-Research-heavy. I’m a bit worried it may be too far removed from 'making' and traditional industrial design

-Offers a single co-op during the summer, which could be a plus for securing a job after graduation

-Financial aid: Graduate assistantship + scholarship

-Still wondering whether living in Cincinnati Ohio, will provide sufficient industrial design job opportunities after graduation

Georgia Institute of Tech MID:

-Stronger school brand and located in a bigger city (Atlanta)

-Focused on making + engineering

-Financial aid is not guaranteed; I haven’t yet received confirmation about an assistantship

- Concerned about finding internships/jobs without a formal co-op system or structured guidance

I’m an international student, so the job placement is huge for me. Both are STEM degrees so its a plus. Any insights would be appreciated!

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For those who would read:

Hello designers,

I’m stuck between two grad school offers and I would appreciate some advice. I need to make a decision by April 15th, so any real world information would be a lifesaver.

My Background:

• Product Design Bachelors

• Strong focus/strength in Consumer Electronics

• Goal: I want to get a job at a tech company, designing consumer electronics. I'm not looking to be an entrepreneur. I ultimately want to work with corporations and get my foot in the door in the US market. (I'm an incoming international student)

The Options:

1. Georgia Tech (MID):

• Pros: Huge brand name and a major hub (Atlanta). I feel like the ecosystem there is better for consumer electronics.

• Cons: No guaranteed funding (assistantship) yet. Also, no formal Co-op, so I’d have to find internships 100% on my own. Is the school brand enough to land a job at an ID industry?

2. UC Cincinnati (MDes):

• Pros: Full funding (Assistantship) already guaranteed. Some of their Labs seems to be deeply connected to corporate experience (P&G, Google, etc)

• Cons: I’ve heard the MDes is very research/strategy focused. As someone who wants to be a hands-on Industrial Designer for consumer electronics, I’m worried it’ll be too theoretical. Also, is being in Cincinnati Ohio a disadvantage to get into Industrial Design industry?

So before I mess things up, I want to look at and analyze how strong portfolios are made, what they have in common and what the do’s and don’ts are. Could you tell me, or send me a link to, what you think is a really well-done industrial design portfolio?

I've always been an art kid, I wanted to pursue fine arts, but ther got burnt out and absolutely despise drawing now, think it's good for me, my obsession with drawing was crazy and I didn't have a life outside of it, Now I do, but I need to go to a college right now, I did humanities in 12th SO I dont have many options, I dont want to liberal arts, I was thinking but just doing business with no experience? Im not sure about it. I was thinking a design and business course and I can't find such, but just the thought of drawing makes me throw up(exaggerated but yes when Im drawing I feel that way) Maybe I should just push myself harder but it feels like I have lost all my skills, I used to be a bit prodigal for my age but now I can't even qualify in entrance exams, I do have the skills but its become impossible to execute them, I don't know what to do, I think I would like to work in problem solving and creating and thinking and working for charities and business in design but it just feels impossible to qualify for universities without sketching, I just physically cant bring myself to practise it anymore. Its making me breakdown like I'm not capable. What should I do