My Ikigai: Product Design
Ikigai is an intersection of what you love, what the world needs, what you are good at, and what you can be paid for.
My STEM journey started with me pulling an all-nighter as a 9-year-old to build a 16+ Lego Technic race car just because somebody at the Lego store told me I was too young to build it. Little did I know, that my stubbornness and love for building things would lead me to pursue an engineer and a designer career.
Art is a medium to express the unique and creative ideas running through my mind. My table is always covered with a plethora of different materials, from wire mesh and electrical wires to dismantled headphones and cardboard boxes. I thrive on creating art from what most people would consider waste. It is exhilarating to bring my ideas to life.
I was always a creative child and enjoyed painting, drawing, and sculpture. I loved mathematics and physics in high school but did not want to pursue a traditional engineering course as I felt it wouldn’t quench my creative thirst.
Choosing whether to study art or engineering at university was a difficult decision, although it turned out I did not need to. My first exposure to product design came during a STEM workshop in school, where we were tasked with designing and 3D printing our own toothpaste dispensers. This hands-on experience was transformative and solidified my desire to become a Product Designer. It was the perfect fusion of creativity, engineering, and technology. I was also impressed by its potential to make a difference in people’s lives.
Another pivotal moment was visiting the Daimler-Benz car museum during a student exchange program in Germany. Witnessing the evolution of design there sparked my interest in pursuing a career in product design.
Since I did not have the option to study design in high school, I explored this field on my own by completing courses in 3D modeling and teaching myself digital sketching. I also watched YouTube videos to understand what a career as an industrial designer involves as well as its scope in the future. I discovered I really enjoyed designing products and could envision myself working as a designer in the long run.
Product designers can evoke emotions and influence change. Even though design is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives, it remains elusive to most people. My goal is to create future-driven, empathetically designed products that offer innovative solutions to problems, no matter how small. Product design is an excellent opportunity for me to help people with their daily struggles while staying true to my passion.
Reflecting on my journey so far, I realize that the blend of creativity and engineering has always been my true calling. As I continue to navigate my STEM path, I am eager to contribute to a world where thoughtful design meets innovative technology, improving lives one product at a time. The future is bright, and I can't wait to see where this incredible journey takes me.
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