Life Experiences

"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino." You've Got Mail.

Starbucks is a company familiar to everyone. Not only do they create quality coffee, but also they have evolved into an experience. With their italian names, forcing people to conform to their naming qualities, they have created another world. The coffee world. Now when ordering a cup of coffee people can feel elite, as if they are in this club. Although Starbucks is a coffee company, designers can learn a lot from them. They have created an experience without a physical product like a chair. Just by naming your cup of coffee as something outrageous as a tall low-fat decaf carmel machiatto. Using products should be like ordering a cup of coffee from Starbucks, a memorable experience.

Starbucks philanthropy is also very admirable. I think everyone should focus on helping the community. And I mean more then just your family and neighbors, I mean helping people you don't know, who live millions of miles away.

Portfolio

Everyone has read a magazine- whether it be Martha Stewart, Vogue, or Turbo. A successful magazine informs and tries to sell the reader of something whether it be recipes, cars, or fashion. A portfolio is much like a magazine. You need to sell your ideas to the reader. Portfolios are a bit tricky because you want to pull the reader in long enough that they care enough about what your product is. One of the biggest things I found helpful was showing my portfolio to other people- usually in an interview, and talking through my ideas. This allowed me to see the holes in my product so that next time I could fix it and continue to improve it. Hopefully you do this before the interview, but interviews are very helpful to get over many fears. I also strongly encourage people to have the money shots large and clear. Also keep it simple. If you pollute your portfolio with too many extraneous graphics. Clarity is success.

Awesome Portfolio links:

http://www.coroflot.com/public/help_portfolio_tips.asp

http://designm.ag/inspiration/portfolio-sites/

http://freelanceswitch.com/designer/9-insane-portfolio-designs-to-make-you-drool/

The Dream Begins

Name: Jenni Fearing

Age: 21

Occupation: Industrial Design Student

Life Goal: To live a fun filled life

The last 4 years of my life have been the beginning of my design focused life. Growing up the daughter of an architect, and sister- in- law to a Graphic Designer, I have been around art and design since I was born. My family often took trips to Frank Lloyd Wright's houses, and would hear the history behind every detail of the house. I learned to appreciate the design of everyday things at an early age. I always admired Wright's ability to design every piece of furniture in the house to continue the design language from the exterior of the house (despite how uncomfortable, or functional it ended up being). Another place I get inspiration is from Hollywood. I try to go to the movies once a week during the matinee and watch something new. I love movies that push the limits of ideas, or just make me laugh. Movies also allow me to see parts of the world that I never would have imagined. My love for the movies is less of a hobby, and more like a relationship. I get disappointed when I see a terrible movie that had potential, and feel like I’ve been cheated. When I retire I want to own a movie theater so I can attend for free.

My inspirations have helped guide me in the type of person, let alone designer, that I want to be. I strive to always push my own limits no matter the consequences. One of the continuous goals I have for myself is to make sure every detail of the product speaks the same design language like Wright. I also want to try to broaden my design style by focusing less on geometric shapes, and more on style seen most often in cars like a Ferrari. This want for more, came about when I visited Pininfarina in Turin, Italy. Every car, every drawing, every piece of furniture, is designed not only for function but also for style. I hope to incorporate this into my designs. Another goal I have for the quarter is to continue improving my drawing skills. They are not where I want them to be, however they are much closer then where I started.

I believe that industrial design is the design of the people, and for the people, by the people. I think that the only way to truly design is by experiencing as much life as possible- living each second to it’s fullest. I can’t wait to see what this quarter brings! :) Good luck!