2019 Fall
Thursday, September 5, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department Duncan Anderson Gallery
Eric MacDonald
Product Design Manager, OM Seating
Contract Furniture Design Market
Eric MacDonald is the Product Design and Development Manager at OM Seating, helping to bring thoughtful functionality, style, safety, and originality into the contract furniture design market. Based in Ontario, California, OM designs and manufactures award winning seating solutions with an extensive portfolio of chair families that fit nearly every work mode and work space. OM always strives to show some personality, while encouraging the influence of architects, designers and ergonomists.
Eric graduated with an industrial design degree from California State University Long Beach in 2009. While in the design program, he won the Wilsonart Challenges design competition, displaying at his first furniture tradeshow, ICFF in New York. He was also awarded a Cortona Design Retreat Scholarship, founded by Joe Ricchio and Michael Kammermeyer, which took him to the Milan Furniture Fair. Since graduation, Eric has designed and developed products for companies like Apple, Belkin, and Peter Pepper Products. His current role at OM has taken him to Europe, Asia, and all over the US, working with development partners and introducing new product designs.
Thursday, September 12, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department Duncan Anderson Gallery
Gamal Prather
Founder/Owner + Minister of Culture, The Instead Company
TRAJECTORY
The Instead Company's mission is "to use Design to facilitate engaging, compelling discussions about our relationship to food."
Leading all efforts related to design, sales, marketing, supply chain, production and distribution for the "Be The Change" cookie product, which is intended to encourage consumers to consider eating more plant-based foods.
He will be discussing the trajectory of his career, important lessons learned thus far, specifically having to do with:
1- organizing a freelance business ... tracking time, managing cashflow, accounting & bookkeeping, networking, file naming & organization, managing clients, developing business.
2- developing an enjoyable workflow ... Airtable, Pen & Paper, Blender, Rhino, Unreal Studio, Sketchfab.
3- balancing personal & professional wellness ... nutrition, sleep, exercise/movement, finding/creating community.
Thursday, September 26, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department Duncan Anderson Gallery
Kenji Okada
Director of Design, Soft Goods, InCase
TRANSITIONS
TRANSITIONS
Navigating a design career post graduation and my transition from traditional Industrial Design (hard goods) to a soft goods designer. Becoming more specialized in skills as my career developed.
I want to touch on how school provides the base of technical skills put within each job you develop your skills further and with more focus. As careers progress it can feel like you are becoming pigeon holed but it is possible to leverage those skills and make a transition into another area of design without starting over completely. In addition I will talk about how good fortune has played into my career and how I capitalized on it.
I am the current Director of Design, Soft Goods at Incase designing products focused around the Apple ecosystem. From an early age I had a fascination with product that eventually led me to CSULB Industrial Design. Upon graduation in 2014, I have designed numerous tech accessories with a focus on mobile phones. Through the Incipio Group, I have worked with both in house brands, licensed brands, and collaborations across the fashion, automotive and lifestyle channels. Now with Incase I concentrate on continuing the 20+ year legacy the brand has created by designing useful, intuitive products with the creative in mind.
Thursday, October 10, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department Duncan Anderson Gallery
Trenton Williams
Footwear Designer, Adidas
Lecture title
Copy to come.
Thursday, October 17, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department Duncan Anderson Gallery
Kristine Upesleja
Founder & President, MADISONS - Innovative Materials
Lecture Title
Copy to come.
Thursday, October 24, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department, Lecture Hall 112
Trish Abbot and Sarah Stein
Brand Discussions
Copy to come.
Thursday, October 31, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department, Lecture Hall 112
Various
Discussion Panel
Design Horror Stories
Copy to come.
Thursday, November 7, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department Duncan Anderson Gallery
Christian Dotson
Owner, Dotson Design
Lecture Title
Copy to come.
Thursday, November 14, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department Duncan Anderson Gallery
Samuele Montorfano
Industrial Designer & Styling Center Manager, CIFA
Lecture Title
Copy to come.
Thursday, December 5, 7:00-9:45pm
In The CSULB Design Department Duncan Anderson Gallery
Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar
Dirctor of Education, Cooper Hewitt
Lecture Title
Copy to come.
