hey designer, thanks for your reply; your comments were very helpful…
Also, sorry if me asking about “royalties”, etc.–before actually being involved in ID–sounds a bit presumptuous… I’m not looking for the glory, but think I am drawn to it for the process…
Your answers are helping me more narrowly define the “area of work” that I may best “fit” into this industry…so pardon my asking of more questions!
So first, let me bore you with a little background of myself, to let you know where I’m coming from:
In my varied work experience I have always enjoyed (and been fortunate enough to be in environments that facilitate) collaborative problem solving. This process, along with the reward of “realization”, of bringing a concept to reality, is extremely satisfying to me.
Although my undergraduate degree is in business, my “real world” experience includes: working several years as a scenic carpenter, set designer, and prop builder (first for a “large-chicago-based-theatre company”; then for a small independent set builder for commercial shoots; then for a few years running my own studio, designing and fabricating sets for small theatre and local tv stations, and doing the same with furniture and cabinetry…)
And finally–for the past 4 years–I have been working for a small, creative, adjunct of a large business consulting firm. This job is a bit difficult to describe, but let’s just say that it is comprised of a great group of diverse and arty folk where skills in graphic design, web development, illustration, video production, facilitation and more are nurtured, encouraged, and sharpened. (Whew. That was a mouthful.) Needless to say, I’m not just fresh out of college, and I’d like to believe that I am no longer as naive as I once was (even if my ignorance of ID shows otherwise!)
Even during college (when I was a young naive pup), and since, I have come up with various furniture/home furnishing designs. A few (I’d like it to be more) I have “realized” by making for myself, friends, and family.
I have also, over the years, had a few ideas for designs/inventions that I was close to marketing/patenting, but have always lacked the focus or gumption to follow through. However, I am now in the process of filing a provisional patent for a novel consumer cleaning device, after an encouraging discussion with my lawyer. (further research/testing/prototypes will prove if a full patent, or even the product itself, is worth a damn…)
SO MY QUESTION IS THIS: Where does one, with the above “inclinations” fit into the world of ID? On one end of a given spectrum, I don’t see myself solely stylizing beautiful objects, and on the other, I don’t see myself as a pure mechanical (or other type) engineer. I know ID is a mixture of these, and many other, things…but what are the various positions/jobs one could have that fall within this spectrum?
BTW, I totally agree with you on having the skills to render clearly; there is nothing more frustrating than having a client not able to “see” or understand what you are talking about… I’ve learned early-on that the responsibility, of course, is mine to communicate that “idea” effectively; rough sketches, or even verbal discussions, among like-minded co-workers are quickly thrown around and understood…for clients, though, it’s important to really “spell-it-out” in terms of a clear visual depiction to get them on-board. Even with that said, though, I must admit that I do not have the skills in illustration that you showed in your link (yet?.. I hope?!)
Again, thanks for your reply… and if you’ve read this far, you are commended, sir!