Category: Employment

Take a seat: Date for the diary

Postponed from 28th Feb,

Product Design graduate Jonathan Prestwich will be visiting the University this Friday (7th March) to talk about his very successful career as a freelance furniture designer and consultant.

Jonathan graduated from Teesside in 1995 and for 2 years worked as a junior designer for a consultancy in Boston Massachusetts.  From there he worked in France for 6 years as a design manager for Burkhard Vogtherr, a successful German designer, which gave him the experience and contacts needed to set up on his own.

Since then he has produced designs for many well known international furniture companies including Arco (Netherlands), Arflex (Italy), Davis (USA), KlÖber (Germany) and Modus (UK).

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Venue: Centuria Building (School of Health) Lecture Theatre H0.01

Jonathan will then be available during the afternoon to speak with students in the Product Design studio.

Body chair, Davis Furniture (USA) frame lounge, Arco Muebel (NL) Web Tec, Davis Furniture (USA) OS Lounge Chair by Jonathan Prestwich OS_wallpaper

Ben cleans up at Dyson

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Product Design graduate Ben Russi has been succesful in securing a graduate Design Engineering position working for British inventor, industrial designer and founder of the Dyson company, Sir James Dyson. Dyson is best known as the inventor of the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, which works on the principle of cyclonic separation.

On getting the role Ben said:

“Interviewing for a position at Dyson as a Graduate Design Engineer originally made me quite nervous as to be expected. On the day I quickly realised however that this interview was going to be quite different to others, both days where extremely enjoyable based around demonstrating my creativity as a designer and technical understanding and fundamentally my design process and thinking. The Dyson employees where very friendly, answering all of my questions about the role very openly. On getting the position I was understandably very excited, I have not stopped thinking about what I might be doing since and cannot wait to start my new role. The course at Teesside University prepared me greatly for the interview process, I used all of the skills and new ways of thinking I had learnt over the three year course. The product design course also gave me the confidence to apply and push for a role with such an innovative and exciting company. It is a course I would highly recommend to any aspiring Designer or Design Engineer.”

Class of 2013 – part 2

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Graduation was great last week and enabled us to catch up with our graduates and find out what they have been up to since leaving in the Summer.

‘Tees Made’ is happy to report that a many of our graduates had started in full-time work or education. In roles such as product design, packaging design, design engineering, self start-up, teaching in Asia and teacher training.

More news will follow so watch this space.

Tales from the Middle Kingdom

Teesside Graduate Conor Barnes’ ambition whilst a student was to teach in the far east. Since graduating in May Conor has realised that dream.The following is Conors 1st email since starting work.

‘I work at Changsha Foreign Language School as the head of junior two’s (12-14 yrs.) oral English lesson, where for the past few weeks I’ve been teaching them a range of topic’s; from Music genre’s to parts of the human body. Also teaching how to make comparisons, superlatives, spellings, pronunciation, etc.

I found that I’ve adjusted to life here very well and are already considering staying another few years.  I have made many friends here in Changsha and have a busy social life when I’m off duty, I’ve even started a band and we should be starting to play some shows around the pubs and club next month.’

Check back for further updates from Conor.

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Careers in Packaging Design

You may remember reading an earlier post about Abigail Holden.   Abi secured a Silver Award in this year’s Student Starpack Awards.   Well…, to update you on her progress…, Abi went on to develop a retail trolley packing system for her major project.   She exhibited this at the New Designers Exhibition in London during July and caught the eye of Tescos.   Subsequently she was invited to Tescos head office to present her concept.

These projects undoubtedly helped Abi secure her first job in the design profession.   Abi has joined international packaging company Chesapeake as a packaging designer, initially being based in Bradford.

Abi is joining another Teesside Alumni, Richard Turnock, a structural packaging designer who will be helping her to settle into her new role.   We, in Product Design have worked with Chesapeake for many years including through live student projects and Carol Hammond, Head of New Product Design (Pharmaceuticals) gave an inspirational talk at the university last year.   The packaging industry offers some great opportunities for design graduates.   It is sometimes an overlooked area when graduates are seeking employment but Design at Teesside has a long history of success in this area

We are so pleased that Chesapeake selected a “Teessider” for this new post and send Abi our very best wishes.    Don’t forget to keep in touch Abi! 

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Greetings from London

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Just a few images of us preparing for New Designers and our stand at the exhibition in the Business Design Centre, Islington.

What can I say…, the set up went smoothly and we have had some great responses from visitors; professionals and public alike about our graduating students’ work.    New Designers, if you don’t already know is THE national showcase for graduating students from around the UK and is the place to be to get noticed and meet companies looking to employ new design talent.    As always we have been joined by old friends on the stand who work in the industry.    Marek Reichman, Aston Martin design director and great friend to the course dropped by yesterday.   I  also had a couple of really interesting meetings with other industry partners which I am confident will lead to a rolling programme of  one year internships starting next year (so watch this space) and some special guest speakers from the likes of Samsung.   Anyway, there is still time to come along and… and… we even have a few complimentary tickets so e-mail if you are in London and would like to visit us.   p.reid@tees.ac.uk  (the show is open today and tomorrow – 5th, 6th July)

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Teesside Graduates everywhere you look

David FoxI was flicking through a back copy of Blueprint magazine and spotted this advert for a product designed by Teesside graduate David Fox.    It is always nice to see professional work by our alumni.    I should not really be surprised.    Teesside product designers have been making their mark since 1972!   Coincidentally, I also saw this Chair on Newsnight recently.

Michelle’s career continues to accelerate

Please excuse the obvious puns!

Michelle graduated in 2010 and, through a knowledge Transfer Partnership, was employed by Multi National automotive component and precision injection moulding manufacturer, Nifco UK.    Michelle was mentored by Senior Lecturer, Peter Reid (that’s me!) to develop new products for the company and to investigate how New Product Development could be more fully utilised within the company.   At the end of the project Michelle was offered a full time position, now manages accounts with Jaguar Land Rover and Ford and travels internationally… but why not let Michelle tell you the rest…

Student Projects – Submersible Superyacht

Jonathan Pearson – ‘Balena’ Luxury Submarine

Explore coral reefs, ship wrecks, subsea formations and many areas of interest. The Balena presents comfortable viewing without the need or limitations of diving.

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The deck allows the Balena to be used in the same way as an existing yacht when surfaced. The lower deck just below water level provides safe and comfortable access to the sea.

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Travel unhindered by weather. In the case of a storm submerge below the effects on thesurface and continue your journey smoothly and unaffected.

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Hydrogen fuel cells help lower environmental impact whilst increasing range and endurance. Twin jets produce a total power output of 1400bhp.

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Jonathan Pearson graduated in 2008 with a 1st class. He has recently set up his own design consultancy with friend and fellow student from the course, Terje Stolsmo.

Check out their website at: vividnine.com