How to prepare myself for college

[u/SweatySupermarket748]

I am currently a senior, and will be starting an industrial design major in the fall. Are there any tips or skills I should learn before the school year starts?

[u/Iluvembig]

Change careers.

The current administration is putting us THROUGH IT. Right now. You’ll graduate when this shit show is finally done and over, but the problems will still be there. Never have I logged into LinkedIn and seen so many designers with “open to work”. A year ago? Yeah you saw them every once in a while.

Just a tip, register to vote. Make sure you vote.

Now, in all seriousness, if you can start learning cad, do it. I’d recommend rhino, and learning to surface model. Nothing sucks more than making all of your designs (and sketches) rectilinear.

Once you can command CAD, everything else becomes a lot easier. Sketching becomes free. Because then you know that whatever wild idea you may have…you can make in cad.

Next tip. Learn keyshot. Not blender. Keyshot. Study photography. Look at a TON of product photography. Learn to sell your images. If your college has a photography school, see if they have product photography classes.

THIS WILL HELP IMMENSELY.

Pretty images catch attention, student portfolios with weak AF renders don’t do well. Once you catch their attention, you get to hit them with the rest of your, hopefully, awesome work!

[u/SweatySupermarket748 → u/Iluvembig]

Gotchu, a lot of your info aligns with other tips as well, get into ui/ux, learn a modeling program, etc
Any tips on making an eyecatching and professional photo outside photography?
Rhino isn't free, do you recommend buying it outright to learn CAD?
Also, what is (in your opinion) the relationship and balance between physical sketching and CAD?

[u/Iluvembig → u/SweatySupermarket748]

I’d say yes buy rhino. It’s yours to own. And cheap AF on student license. Once you get your EDU email use it to get keyshot for $95 a year

Tips on making eye catching photos outside of photography? NO. There is absolutely zero substitute for actually DOING photography. 1. It’s fun as hell. 2. It teaches you a LOT about modeling products as you manipulate a REAL light around a REAL object with REAL materials and how it interacts with light. 3. You’ll learn about aperture and focal length, which can help you make much more impactful renders/images, you’ll learn about light fall off, bouncing light, etc.

Don’t substitute actually doing something, with the theory of doing something.

School is a time to explore, it’s not a trade school. Your school will have photo equipment rentals.

Learn it. Feel it. See it.

Take a film photography class too just for the luls so you can get a deeper relationship with photography, and learn about patience when developing film and making a photograph in a dark room. Experiment in the dark room. Read up on famous surrealist photographers and artists.

Let it support and solidify your creative side which will then enable you to be a more thoughtful industrial designer.

Physical sketching (or digital) is paramount. It’s the fastest way to get an idea across. DO NOT become a lazy designer where you say “well I can make a cad model just as fast!” No you can’t.

Don’t shortcut your way to things.

Which is what taking one or two photography classes will teach you.

[u/Shirleysspirits]

spend all your time sketching and working out the kinks in your skillset. Suck at drawing X? Do it non stop for the next few months. Photoshop and manipulating sketches/photos is timeless. I'd also look at perfecting AI to do what you want, not what it wants.

[u/SweatySupermarket748 → u/Shirleysspirits]

I see. In what ways would photoshop be beneficial? (youre the first person to mention it). I know the basic in and outs of photoshop, how would it be utilized in my portfolio?
Same thing with AI, what am I looking for in training an AI program?

Thanks

[u/Shirleysspirits → u/SweatySupermarket748]

A lot of your deliverables will likely be digital, having a photo editing tool to tweak renderings, clean up sketches, add visual effects and texts is invaluable. I use photoshop every day. I’m always blown away when students or grads can’t use basic editing software.

I don’t use anything AI, probably too old at this point. But as a young designer figuring out how to future proof yourself

[u/Isthatahamburger]

I would also consider ways to explore different types of products. See if you can shadow different design studios for a day. Consider whether you might like designing for outdoor, medical, toys, cars, etc. and keep a list of the things you don’t like and like. Ask them about their portfolios and what specific skills someone In their position would need. Certain industries have specialized versions of the general skills of sketching and modeling and research.

The best thing that will set you up for success in this field is knowing what you want early on. That way you will better know what you need to do to prepare yourself for your career. You don’t have to know everything right now, and you can change it at any time, but just starting thinking about it and finding ways to get more information to decide. :)