Alumni Profile: Andrew

Head designer for a commercial lighting manufacturer

BFA in Industrial Design, 2003

When you first came to UIUC did you know for sure what you wanted to do as a major/career?

Yes.

How many majors/careers did you "go through" during your years here and how did you finally come to a choice?

I knew that I wanted a career in a design related field, but was unsure of exactly what was available. I realized that there are infinite possibilities for a creative thinker in today’s job market.

What was one UIUC event, memory, person, class that made a substantial difference in your career choices?

In general, I think it was all of the elective classes that I took. Not just the art electives but classes like sociology, advertising, plant pathology, statistics, and astronomy. I realized that I was interested in many different things, and that helped me broaden my understanding of art and design.

What was your first job after you earned your degree?

Waiter

How did you land your first career related job?

Word of mouth

Please list the positions you have held since graduation.

Waiter
Product designer

What is your current occupation and how did you come to it?

I am currently working for a commercial lighting manufacturer as head of new products and design. My duties include research, and market analysis, concept generation, product design and engineering, cost analysis, and prototyping.

What advice would you give to an FAA student who might be interested in your current or past careers?

Open up your options by broadening your activities and knowledge.

What advice can you give an FAA student who is currently undecided about their future career?

Get creative, the possibilities are limitless.

Comments

One of the products that I have recently designed will be featured in a full page ad in the May issue of Metropolis, I also designed the ad for it.