I've recently embarked on a new design adventure! While continuing to design body worn products for my many clients, I've taken a day-time gig teaching industrial design to high school students.
Traditionally, industrial design education has begun at the college level. But recently, the principals, skills, and methodologies unique to industrial design have been discovered by school districts nation wide, as curriculum that can energize, inspire, and motivate high school students as well.
The Regional Occupational Program in Central Orange County, California has begun a pilot program in each of its three school districts (City of Orange, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana) called "Product Design Studio". A project based learning program, students embark on real world industrial design projects that include: designing for a real client, doing upfront product research, mood boards, concept sketching, model and prototype building, and final presentation to clients.
In the upcoming weeks, I'll describe my new design (teaching) adventure in detail (which takes place at Valley High School, in Santa Ana, California). Spoiler alert: My students are simply amazing!
