45 episodes
The Variable Design Podcast Russ Cluff
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- Arts
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5.0 • 14 Ratings
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The Variable Design Podcast is an innovator's guide to all things related to product design, industrial design and manufacturing. It's a collection of interviews with industry experts who share their uncensored advice in order to help the next generation of designers and entrepreneurs take their ideas from conception to fruition. Episodes cover aspects of industrial design, graphic design, marketing, engineering, and manufacturing to give listeners key insights on how to successfully develop and sell a product in today's marketplace.
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Top 10 questions of young designers ANSWERED with Jon Bennett
This is the first of many episodes where we dive into addressing the top 10 questions young industrial designers face.
What skills are most important for a successful career in industrial design?Students are keen to understand which technical skills (such as sketching, CAD software proficiency, and model-making) and soft skills (like communication, teamwork, and creative thinking) are crucial in the industry.How do I build a strong portfolio?Guidance on what constitutes a compelling portfolio, how to showcase different projects, and what employers look for in a portfolio are common concerns.What are the typical career paths in industrial design?Information on the various roles an industrial designer can pursue, such as product design, user experience design, automotive design, and furniture design, and the progression paths in these areas.How can I gain real-world experience while still in school?Advice on securing internships, freelance projects, or participating in design competitions to build practical experience and a professional network.What is the job market like for industrial designers?Questions about employment prospects, industry demand, and geographic hotspots for industrial design jobs are common.How do industrial designers stay current with industry trends?Strategies for keeping up with design trends, technological advancements, and materials innovations to remain relevant in the field.What role does sustainability play in industrial design today?Understanding how sustainability is influencing product design and what designers can do to create eco-friendly and sustainable products.How can I develop my own style or design philosophy?Guidance on how to cultivate a unique design voice that stands out while meeting the needs of clients and consumers.What are the challenges of working with clients and managing projects?Insights into client relations, project management, and navigating creative differences or budget constraints in professional settings.How does industrial design intersect with other disciplines?Curiosity about how industrial design collaborates with fields like engineering, marketing, and psychology to create holistic product experiences.LINKS:
Follow The Variable on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVariableDesign
Support The Variable
www.patreon.com/thevariabledesign
WEBSITE: www.thevariable.design
UPCOMING EVENTS: https://www.thevariable.design/qna
NOMINATE STUDENTS FOR SPOTLIGHT: https://www.thevariable.design/spotlight
BLOG: https://www.thevariable.design/podcast
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DISCORD ►► https://discord.gg/vpypTgPEvY
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/thevariable_ID
FACEBOOK ►► https://www.facebook.com/thevariable.design/
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/thevariable.design/
LINKEDIN ►► https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-variable-design
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Stand Out!- How to be more memorable and more valuable to companies as a designer.
There's a sea of industrial designers out there, how can you stand out? Everyone is trying to stand out... but how can you actually do it?
Skill Stacking
We talk about the ins and outs of skill stacking with the help of Sushant Vohra. You can read his LinkedIn post on the topic here.
We also address the question "should I show it all?" when it comes to your portfolio.
Are you interested in a fix the 'folio program? Be sure to reach out to us at info@thevariable.design to let us know your thoughts!
LINKS:
Follow The Variable on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVariableDesign
Support The Variable
www.patreon.com/thevariabledesign
WEBSITE: www.thevariable.design
UPCOMING EVENTS: https://www.thevariable.design/qna
NOMINATE STUDENTS FOR SPOTLIGHT: https://www.thevariable.design/spotlight
BLOG: https://www.thevariable.design/podcast
_____________________________________________
DISCORD ►► https://discord.gg/vpypTgPEvY
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/thevariable_ID
FACEBOOK ►► https://www.facebook.com/thevariable.design/
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/thevariable.design/
LINKEDIN ►► https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-variable-design
Support the show -
YOU - the problem and the solution. Breaking out of a rut as an industrial designer
I used to enjoy my job, and now it's terrible. I aspire to be a great industrial designer, but I feel like I'm pigeon holed in my current role. I'm not growing as a creative. I feel stuck but I don't know how to get out of my rut.
Sound familiar?
Well.... there's good and bad news. Bad news is, you're the problem. Good news- you're also the solution. That's right, when it comes to getting where you want to go in your creative career, there's only one person behind the wheel YOU.
In this episode we talk about specific steps we've taken to get out of a rut and see positive progress in our career development and share advice on what you can do to get the momentum you're looking for.
LINKS:
Follow The Variable on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVariableDesign
Support The Variable
www.patreon.com/thevariabledesign
WEBSITE: www.thevariable.design
UPCOMING EVENTS: https://www.thevariable.design/qna
NOMINATE STUDENTS FOR SPOTLIGHT: https://www.thevariable.design/spotlight
BLOG: https://www.thevariable.design/podcast
_____________________________________________
DISCORD ►► https://discord.gg/vpypTgPEvY
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/thevariable_ID
FACEBOOK ►► https://www.facebook.com/thevariable.design/
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/thevariable.design/
LINKEDIN ►► https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-variable-design
Support the show -
Banger actually a bust? How to handle times when you're not proud of your design work.
You won't always be able to give something 100%... heck sometimes 50% is all you've got. What do you do when you want to hit a home run, but you feel like you've struck out? In this episode we breakdown strategies for handling these kinds of situations with professionalism and share a few takeaways that will help you make those lemons into lemonade.
LINKS:
Follow The Variable on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVariableDesign
Support The Variable
www.patreon.com/thevariabledesign
WEBSITE: www.thevariable.design
UPCOMING EVENTS: https://www.thevariable.design/qna
NOMINATE STUDENTS FOR SPOTLIGHT: https://www.thevariable.design/spotlight
BLOG: https://www.thevariable.design/podcast
_____________________________________________
DISCORD ►► https://discord.gg/vpypTgPEvY
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/thevariable_ID
FACEBOOK ►► https://www.facebook.com/thevariable.design/
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/thevariable.design/
LINKEDIN ►► https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-variable-design
Support the show -
You don't know what you don't know- with Jack Marple
In this episode we jump on a call with Jack Marple, the Associate Director of Industrial Design at Enlisted in Salt Lake City Utah to discuss design education and the top things that keep young (and old) designers from having job-winning presentation in their portfolios. We discuss eye-opening realizations we've had as educators and best practices on how to not only be able to identify good design, but apply it to your work.
LINKS:
Follow The Variable on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVariableDesign
Support The Variable
www.patreon.com/thevariabledesign
WEBSITE: www.thevariable.design
UPCOMING EVENTS: https://www.thevariable.design/qna
NOMINATE STUDENTS FOR SPOTLIGHT: https://www.thevariable.design/spotlight
BLOG: https://www.thevariable.design/podcast
_____________________________________________
DISCORD ►► https://discord.gg/vpypTgPEvY
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/thevariable_ID
FACEBOOK ►► https://www.facebook.com/thevariable.design/
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/thevariable.design/
LINKEDIN ►► https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-variable-design
Support the show
Support the show -
Design traps we fall for and how to navigate feedback with professionalism.
In this episode of The Variable Design Podcast we dive in and discuss Sushant Vohra's LinkedIn post:
If you are a design student in 2023 don't fall for these 12 traps ↘
1) Being first in your class and thinking that design life is gonna be easy.
2) Copy pasting ChatGPT responses to comment on a post just for 'networking' sake.
3) Having those slider scales for each software in your CV (seriously drop it).
4) Writing a wall of text in a cold email to a potential employer.
5) Only having college/academic projects in your portfolio.
6) Having no internships because you want to work on your thesis, or because you didn't get your dream studio.
7) Not putting yourself out there for the fear of being judged.
8) Strong arming your peers who might eventually be in a far better place than you.
9) Only looking at design in your own country. (Yes, even if you are in a western country)
10) Not having a website or a landing page as a student.
11) Not having opinions or curiosity around things because you don't have domain authority.
12) Blaming your professors (feedback) for how a project turned out
Not only should we avoid these pitfalls, but we have to be able to be a good person and work well with team members... even if they give us feedback we don't really like.
How can you leverage interpersonal skills to come out on top? We discuss this and more with Andre Cotan.
LINKS:
Support The Variable
www.patreon.com/thevariabledesign
WEBSITE: www.thevariable.design
UPCOMING EVENTS: https://www.thevariable.design/qna
NOMINATE STUDENTS FOR SPOTLIGHT: https://www.thevariable.design/spotlight
BLOG: https://www.thevariable.design/podcast
_____________________________________________
DISCORD ►► https://discord.gg/vpypTgPEvY
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/thevariable_ID
FACEBOOK ►► https://www.facebook.com/thevariable.design/
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/thevariable.design/
LINKEDIN ►► https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-variable-design
Support the show
Customer Reviews
Outsider
So I’m not a designer or a product engineer or even an entrepreneur for that matter, but this has been an interesting podcast even for an outsider to see how design and product development take place and how creatives approach their work.
Helpful, Informative, and Entertaining
As an Industrial Design undergrad, finding this podcast has been beyond helpful. Russ himself is an accomplished designer with a unique story to share. He brings on professionals from essentially every industry in design to talk about their approaches to solving problems and helping people through their work. Russ also has an episode targeted towards design students, like myself, to help us understand how to best present ourselves to the professional world, what to include in our portfolio, and other helpful insights that I would not have figured out on my own.
Real, applicable knowledge from CURRENT professional designers.
My longtime friend and former coworker Russell Cluff started a new Podcast recently about the professional field of design where he interviews CURRENT (hurray!) industry experts. This is a great location to find unfettered, real-world applications of design. This podcast goes beyond the scope of, "This looks nice, and oh, could we make that part green?" client work, into what designers *actually* think and do while practicing their craft, and how it is not only viable in today's world, but necessary.
Awesome work, Russ! Cheers to the new endeavor, friend!