About two weeks into the fall semester I started to consider the 3+2 Dual Degree Program with an interest in pursuing it alongside a more creative major hoping to get a taste of what a career in Industrial Design or Product Design might look like. I struggled with finding individuals who are currently in the field, however, I remembered that in high school as part of our Junior year class days, one of the panels hosted talked about Industrial Design and Engineering. I’d always liked looking at models, sketching, and thinking about how things work/are made, so I knew it was something that I might be interested in pursuing during my time in college. Being unable to find many connections within the Wesleyan Alumni regarding what I was interested in looking into, I decided to reach out to one of the panels who had graduated from my high school.
Talking with Josh Morenstein was my very first, first-hand experience and exposure to a career in Industrial Design. I was able to inquire about what work entailed daily as well as grasp an understanding of how he got to where he was. This included his education, what he studied, as well as all the job titles that he possessed. He was able to speak directly from experience which made the interview so informative.
Going into the conversation with my limited knowledge of Industrial Design I was able to pick his brain on the basics as well as complexities around the industry which allowed me to gain a better understanding of where I currently fit into the field. He also provided me with practical guidance as well as. This was helpful particularly because it felt like a reality check. The interview allowed me to reassess and think about how I could reposition myself to fulfill my goals.
Speaking with him and seeing his pure excitement about working every day on projects that fascinated him made me excited. While the industry itself seems a bit hard to break into, the prospect of working on something that engages me every day is inspiring. Furthermore, through his experience, I was able to cultivate/model what my potential future might look like and in more detail than ever, be able to think about the tweaks and alterations I might want to make to tailor my career even more.
While our interests are similar, my conversation with him confirmed that we have taken very different paths. Despite this fact, I’m determined to find a way to get to where he’s at in my own way. In doing so I’ve been thinking about how I can adapt my situation to achieve what I want to achieve. In thinking deeply about this, I’ve considered constructing a University Major incorporating Art Studio and IDEAS with a particular emphasis on the cultural and social aspects of design. Ideally coupled with the completion of the 3+2 pre-engineering requirements, I hope to construct my own study to provide me with the skills and ability to think critically about industrial design and mechanical engineering.
