Within a week, IDEO has become my new comfort place, my place to create funny cute storyboards like this:
This was my depiction of the extreme awesomeness that happened on my first day, starring the infamous Shirley Fang and the cunning Abraham Nyei.
Everyday I can feel how calm and relaxed the atmosphere is at Ideo. The designers are not only concerned about the work itself but also about the mood. Even as a newcomer, I can feel the freedom.
On my second day, there was a group gathering to distribute and share the current status of the upcoming, current, and completed projects. It was well organized and informative; also, both Abraham and I were able to join some of the projects we were interested in (Confidential information blocked here).
I learned about the art of speech and how essential it is to voice out your ideas coherently. If not, then you won’t learn anything. The designers are open to new ideas as well as new voices, even if you are a high school student working for the summer.
Communication is also a key trait for a designer. Both my mentors, Islam and Jason, emphasized the importance of telling them our interests so that we can make the best out of this experience. Their advice had a positive effect on my attitude towards work and in life. A timid approach to the world is like not eating the best part of the sundae that is evidently available for you. Now I see the world and work as a sundae with unrestricted grounds that just need to be unlocked by me.
Remember, every opportunity is a chance to see another spec of big, big, world. Never let your fears and hesitations get the best of you. One thing I must remember. I look forward to seeing the designers work some magic.
Strangely, I ‘ve never really experimented my potential as a designer until I started working for Youth Design so the word design is really fresh and opens so many closed doors in my art world. On one of my free days, Islam encouraged me to create my own mini book. Daringly, I dove right in without a second to hesitate.
Thanks for reading! I hope that when I visit this again, I have become a new and improved designer.
Shirley Fang, Youth Design Class of 2012
Jason Robinson, Mentor, IDEO