I took a day off from work at the testing center yesterday. I'd looked at the schedule, and it was going to be a light day. We were fully staffed, so I took one for the team and waived my shift. I figured I could get caught up on some responsibilities have a play day. I ended up taking a nice long bike ride, despite the heat, stopped by the library and picked up an indulgent, light-read paperback.
I did have a tutor sesh in the afternoon, so it wasn't a day of total sloth. My high schooler (rising senior) was freshly back from a 2-week summer architecture program hosted by a rather posh out-of-state univeristy.
We were meeting online, so she showed me the models she'd made and talked about how (surprisingly!) grueling the program was. Seems they really put those kids to work! To me, she seemed to have noticeably matured in those two weeks away, like it's hitting her that she has just one more year left of high school before she goes out into the big world.
When I was her age, I'd thought about architecture school. It seemed it would be a fun combination of artsy and mathy, but I ended up not going that route and became an engineer instead. As an engineer, I had dealings with industrial designers, which to me, are similar to architects. Instead of designing buildings to be aesthetically pleasing, industrial designers design consumer products to be aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing.
On one hand, we had design engineers who designed a thing to perform certain functions. On the other hand were the industrial designers who designed the thing to look and feel good. My job was to tweak their combined efforts into a thing that functioned, looked and felt nice, and could also be mass produced at an affordable cost. Oh boo!
The industrial designers had their own building. It was stylish and artsy like the industrial designers themselves. They didn't care to talk about manufacturing costs - too constraining! Who were these nerds (my cohorts, me) anyway!?
Honestly, I enjoyed that job. I don't know if I'm minimal and practical now because I enjoyed the job, or if I enjoyed the job because I was already minimal and practical. Chickens. Eggs.
After our tutor session ended, I was remembering those cool, stylish, industrial designers. Their fashionable clothes, their edgy haircuts, their fancy furniture... jealous much? Maybe. Would I have fit in had I gone that route?
I sketched a Tesla Cybertruck I've seen around town lately. Or it's possibly multiple Tesla Cybertrucks around town - they all look alike, don't they?
Did Elon himself design it? And no one told him , "no"?
9 comments:
Your last line did make me laugh out loud. It would explain a lot, really. As to designers, some years ago now I had to fix on a van.
It was the alternator and required jacking up the engine to get at.
Many long years ago before that the alternator was in the from of the motor and you could just pop it out and change it with just some standard tools. All the while I was working on the van I would say to anybody that would listen, "You know, somebody got paid an awful lot of money to design this..."
I didn't realize you had been an engineer (civil/environmental?) Mom always wanted me to be an engineer, which is why I didn't...
Herb, oh I get it. It's not good when the designers are people who will never use or maintain the final product!
John, Ha! I know a guy who went to work for Dish Network because his dad told him he'd "never get a job watching TV".
My bachelors degree is mechanical engineering.
HA, Elon didn't even develop Tesla. 2 other men did and he put in the money.
You being an engineer explains a lot missy. :-)
You have that brain that I do not and wish I did.
I love what you asked Elon in the lasts sentence. LOL
I didn't know you were an engineer. I always knew you were smart from your blog.
Peggy, I guess I'm not up on my Tesla history😊
Chatty, I "retired" when our kids were little, but I'm glad I chose engineering and would do it again.
That is pretty cool- you an engineer- my brother was and engineer---- on the RR, our oldest sonn is an industrial designer and his approach to life, IN life is aesthetically pleasing- things must work properly too. Good to have one of those folks around- he finds the best cars!!
Glad you took a day off though it was not really my idea of a day off. Do nothing, buy nothing, eat everything- that is good day.
Linda Sue, industrial designers are such cool cats. Nice to have one in the fam, I'm sure!
Those trucks do look dumb.
I'd like to take a day off for me but I have to wait a little. But then I will have all kinds of time.
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