Jack is from Idaho, USA, and is a second year student on BA (Hons) Product and Industrial Design at Central Saint Martins.
Why did you choose to study your course and why Central Saint Martins (CSM)?
During my time on foundation, I was interested in many different disciplines. I enjoyed learning how things were made and going; “Okay, how do I do that in my own way?”. Then truly immersing myself in the subject until I was satisfied with the outcome. I was particularly interested in architecture, tailoring, and design, three fundamental aspects, I believe, of how we interact with the world. I knew that whichever course I went into, I would do it to the best of my ability because of my desire to make and work with my hands. I ended up choosing Product and Industrial Design for my BA because it allowed me to work within the fluid space of my various interests.
Numerous reasons drew me to CSM, but one of the main ones is the teaching style. Not only teaching you how to design but also how to think like a designer, be reflective, and really understand what it is you're doing. Being very independent with your practice forces you to push yourself. And gaining access to many exceptional facilities with constantly updated processes and tools makes it feel like you're not limited but encouraged and provided a lot to work with. London is also a fantastic city; with CSM being so central and interconnected with creative and design culture, you're given a real insight into the zeitgeist and exposed to multiple cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints.
What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on so far? What made it so interesting to work on?
During my first year, I created a hi-fi listening lounge chair. Working with anthropometrics to understand how the body fits around objects and the psychology of design was a whole new and exciting challenge. I'm drawn to objects that enhance people's well-being and appreciation of the space around them. This project, in particular, allowed me to explore that deeper, and I plan to continue in the homeware space for my final year project.
What important piece of advice would you give to students thinking of studying this course?
This is more than just creating pretty things; it’s teaching you how to think, work, fail, adapt, and execute. Be open to learning various tools/skills, try everything, and at the same time play to your skills. Utilise what you’re really good at and showcase it in your work. With all that, fall in love with the design process. Then, no matter what happens, you’ll still be pulled back into it despite everything. (Oh, and use as many workshops as possible since you have increased access to them as a product design student!)
What has been the highlight of your CSM experience so far?
The connections I’ve made with my tutors/technicians. Since arriving at CSM, I’ve gained invaluable confidence, support, and advice. I feel I’ve grown in ways that can only be done in this environment.
What are your career aspirations? Where would you like to be in five years time?
I aspire to have a small personal studio where I can design freely. I’m not quite sure where I would like to be in five years, but I love working with my hands, so wherever I go, I want to still be able to work with model-making. I’m driven to stay in London and/or work in Japan for some time.
What is the most important thing you've learnt on the course so far?
Just keep going. Ask for help/advice from your tutors and technicians, and keep working on that project even if you don’t feel confident or are unsure of the outcome. Things have a way of working themselves out!
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