2nd Inspirational Designer

Another designer that inspires me is Naoto Fukasawa.  He is a world renowned designer and i admire him and have a lot of respect for him because of all of the awards he has won and all of the hard work he put into his designs which have also influenced other designers.  One of the main reasons why I admire him is because he is very dynamic and has designed products from umbrellas to electronics.  This is important for me because when I graduate there are so many areas that I want to go into and he has proven that it can be done.

Naoto is similiar to Bvlgari because they both appeal to the high end market with their intricate and sophisticated forms and materials.

They are different because Bvlgari is more of a fashion/ accessory designer and Naoto is an industrial designer.  

Inspiring Designer

One designer that I am really inspired by is Bvlgari. I feel like Bvlgari accessories, bags, etc. are very sophisticated but also trendy and cool at the same time. They do a successful job appealing to all ages; it is a high end brand but for those who have the money I feel would really like their products.

I really like the prints, materials, and textures that they use for a lot of their bags and ties. I'm not really a jewelry person but if I were I would definitely shop at Bvlgari.

3 Technologies

One technology that will affect the way we live is digital television. Starting in I think January TV will be all digital and this will affect mainly lower income or older families who are used to analog TV. In general, this will create an awareness that technology isn't just changing for those who can afford "cool stuff" but it's changing for everyone whether they like it or not (no matter how conservative either, lol ;)

Another technology that will change the way we live is the Internet. Pretty soon books, magazines, etc. will most likely cease to exist because these days (and moreso in the future) you can access almost everything on the computer.

A third technology is the mp3. Music is a constant flow of evolution that went from records to a-tracks to cassettes to CDs and now mp3s. Pretty soon all those before CDs will cease to exist as well. This will drastically change the way we live because all of our stereos, cars, etc. will have to all have to change to adjust to the iPods, Zunes, and other mp3 players.

Favorite Movie Trailer

My favorite movie trailer so far is the one for The Dark Knight. I thought this one was a good teaser because they really got people excited about seeing the actors and the way they portrayed their characters. Especially after the death of Heath Ledger, people couldn't wait to see him more than Batman and I feel like the trailer put a little more emphasis on The Joker which I feel was a successful move on their part because of the amount of people they will draw in, while also not exploiting him insensitively. Other than this, one of the main reasons why someone would want to go to a superhero movie like The Dark Knight is to see action and adventure and basically to see a bunch of stuff explode, which is exactly what the trailer portrayed.

Strong Brand

I feel like New Balance is a great example of a brand that communicates a clear and strong message. They stand for a genuine shoe company that stresses the importance of the actual performance of the shoe above aesthetics. They communicate to their consumers and fans that they are there to help them with their issues related to their feet for everday walking as well as being active with sports. By focusing on the overall stability, stress relief, etc. of the insoles as well as the shoes themselves, New Balance has successfully remained a trustworthy brand that consumers can return to for comfort.

Interesting Blog Post

I read a blog about portfolio design entitled "Portfolio day might make you cry, but it's worth it".

This blog talks about AIGA portfolio day and how it's a great way to network yourself with local designers who may be hiring at the moment (which is important for me especially because I will soon be graduating and looking for a job).

I love the quote "you are more than your portfolio".

This basically applies to the fact that even though your portfolio is amazing there should be so much more to offer to a company.

Erik Spiekermann's quote in the blog, "Portfolios don’t matter. You hire the person, not the portfolio" may be going a little too far but I can kind of see where he's going with that. My portfolio shows what I already know and what I have done thus far but doesn't explain my full potential for growth and adapting which may be beneficial to a certain company. The portfolio may get me an interview but I have to rely on my personality, determination, passion, etc. to show the employer that I have what it takes to take things to the next level.

INTRODUCING: MEEEE :)

My name is Stefan Martin and I am a 4th year industrial design student. So far my design experiences have consisted of school projects such as toys, concept art, power tools, computers, etc. In terms of co-op, my first professional practice was with the Live Well Collaborative working on a Pur water filtration project. This was a good experience to mainly learn about marketing, business, and overall research within the design process. My second co-op was at New Balance which I enjoyed a lot because of my passion for shoe design. I just returned from GE Appliances this passed summer and I feel like I have progressed a lot in terms of my sketching ability, Solidworks skills, communication skills, etc. during my time there.

I would say that my interests relating to design are endless. Part of the reason why I am in this field is because there are so many opportunities. I'm interested in shoes, furniture, consumer electronics, and appliances but I'm also interested in graphic design and fashion design as well. I think my passion in design will give me a great platform for when I am searching for a career.

As far as this quarter goes, my goals are pretty much centered around producing better final products than I have in the past. I feel that my process is good but I will need to deliver much better. Also, I plan on progressing in my sketching and communication skills while having well thought out projects to put in my portfolio.