How can Industrial Designers build resilience to adapt to new technologies?

The best growth advice I have ever got was from my days playing high level sports. Our coach told us: Make a different mistake. And that really says it all. It is OK to make a mistake. As long as you learn from it.

In my experience, embracing a growth mindset has been a game-changer in navigating the challenges of industrial design. ?? Setting achievable goals ?? Welcoming constructive criticism. ?? Celebrating progress ?? Enhance skills ?? Fuel creativity and innovation. ?? Learning from those who’ve mastered new technologies

Always keep your head up - look around, keep your eye on the big picture and stay proactive. By nature, industrial designers are problem solvers, and we very rarely follow the status quo. Technology and its application to our profession should be no exception. The best advice I can give is (at a minimum) try to understand the value that the technology can bring to you - but more importantly the value it can bring to everyone else around you, including your end users and even your competition. When you start with a non-biased vantagepoint, new opportunity will start to become visible, and at minimum you'll be more prepared for what might be coming down the road.

In my experience, cultivating a growth mindset in industrial design has been transformative. ?? Set achievable goals that align with your industrial design aspirations. ?? See constructive criticism as a learning opportunity to refine your skills. ?? Engage with industry experts to absorb insights for your growth in design.

In my experience, prioritizing well-being is pivotal for a balanced life. ?? Ensure ample rest for improved performance and resilience. ?? Adopt healthy habits—nutrition and exercise are key to overall well-being. ?? Take breaks, express emotions, and pursue hobbies for reduced stress and enhanced focus.

A key aspect of the Industrial Designers role is to be a generalist with a broad range of experiences and knowledge about the kind of things they might be developing. keeping an eye on new manufacturing, technological, research etc advances is super important so that you can bring as much to the table as possible and design things that can both be made but that include cutting edge thinking to deliver value to the project.

Embracing new technologies is a game-changer for design innovation. ?? Follow tech trends for design relevance. ?? Explore diverse tools and platforms. ?? Partner with designers for fresh insights.

A simple trick I use is to mark my work with the date it was created. On my sketches - will write the date in the bottom, for my digital files - my file name will have the date it was created/last modified. What this helps me to do is 1) quickly access the file - because its much more easier to locate 2) more importantly, a year or two later, i can look back at those files/sketches and see how much I've improved. Some new skills/tricks that i may have picked up recently, how they can be applied to the project. A common example is a then vs. now comparison of: how i create the surfaces in CAD, how my sketching style has changed (use of line weights, markers, perspective etc.).

Positive attitude is important especially during the more uncertain early stages of a design project. This trait is especially important when developing new technologies or designing with new technology that other team member such as engineers or project personnel might be less comfortable with. This kind of optimistic / creative confidence is important in driving the team forwards during these uncertain phases and is a skill that Industrial Designers can bring to many project teams.

I would say that most industrial designers, if they have stayed in the field, are very aware of the changes brought by technology and by the challenges that diverse projects can bring. That is the part that I, for instance, enjoy. The more difficult challenges are commercial; keeping the work coming in and getting paid fully and on time. That requires a different set of skills and resilience. Marketing yourself and your skills, dealing with clients and ensuring that they reward you for your knowledge, insight, creativity, and your abilities to communicate are what require stamina, strength, and some charm.