Interview – Selina Jiao – UTS

We had the pleasure of talking to recent University of Technology Sydney Industrial Design Graduate Selina Jiao. Selina outlines some of the innovative features of her final major project titled DooLiper. To find out more information about Selina including her latest work please visit: www.miyni.com!

University Questions

Hi Selina welcome to Embody 3D it’s great to have you with us! Congratulations on finishing uni! First tell us how did you find the industrial design course at the University of Technology of Sydney? Did you enjoy it?

The Industrial Design Course at UTS was an enjoyable and educational experience which incorporated a diverse and unique range of design problems. You are constantly presented with new problems and challenging briefs. This is rewarding when reflecting on the completion of designs and achievements.

How do you think the industrial design course prepared you for the workforce? How do you think the course could be improved?

I think the course was practical in terms of what it offered and delivered to the students. An improvement for the course I suggest is to introduce an additional CAD software such as Autocad rather than focusing on Solidworks alone.

That’s an interesting idea bringing in Autocad, that;s definitely something I would like to learn! Just recently you had your universities End of Year Design Show (Design ’10). Could you tell me a little bit more about Design ’10? (were there many industry contacts? any vandalism? too expensive? really high standard of work? heaps of people checking out the work?)

Unfortunately there was vandalism during the exhibition. Industry exposure is great, it is definitely a positive experience. However due to the delicacy of our models; it would have been nice if there was increased security. An idea such as clear acrylic casing would better protect the models other than just cables.

That’s a real shame to hear that. I would have thought the university would have gotten their act together this year to improve security, especially after what happened the previous year! Do you think 4 years of design education at university is too long, too short, or just about right?

I think for a design course, it may have been a bit long for certain subjects. However the length of the course has provided more practice opportunities such as the Major project and client based design projects.

Did you get the chance to do much work experience whilst you were at university? Or alternatively are there any favorite projects you worked on?

Unfortunately I did not have the opportunities to do work experience; however I had opportunities to design for friends and myself, where I was able to use some of the communication skills learnt at uni during the design consultations.

Major Project Questions

Your major project aims to make the waste of dogs more manageable, which I think is a great idea for all parties involved including dog owners and people who like to enjoy clean public areas. Tell me a little more about your major project?

My major project topic was chosen because I have a dog at home and the waste was an issue for me from day one of ownership. I would have serious discussions with my family in regards to how to clean and maintain dog waste at home and during walks, and neither of us could come up with the perfect solution (and no one wants to pick up dog poop at home till this day!)

What gave you the idea to look into animal waste as it is something people don’t think about often, but when we do think about it, most of us get pretty fired up about?

Yes thats definitely the most important part of the issue, it is an soemthing we don’t like to think about. It is like a social taboo. However I believe this is an important issue because of the reluctant attitudes we have, yet it is one of the most important bodily parts of any living organism! There are some serious environmental and health issues related to management of faeces therefore it is important that we do look into this and ensure our environment is clean and sustainable.

So is this something that a local council would buy? Do you think there’s a good market for this kind of product?

Yes the target market of the DooLiper system are initially aimed at the councils. It will be expanded into international markets and maybe even down sized for individual use. I think the market for this type of automated system is expanding and is one of the most important tool for dog owners.

Any product that is located in public areas, especially parks, has to be pretty vandal proof. How have you addressed this issue in your design solution?

The DooLiper was designed with those elements of design. Some of the design elements include the requirement to withstand daily use and would need to protect itself from the weather. Therefore the DooLiper is made out of re-enforced sheet metal and metal rods to improve durability.

Could you please show us through some other projects you have done in the past?

WAITING!!!

Looking Forward Questions

What are your hopes for the future, are you still keen on design? what is the the general perception of the job market by yourself and other colleagues in your year?

I think at the moment, the job market is very competitive and due to the reduction of manufacturers in Australia. However, I also believe that passion about design would eventually lead to correct path and break into the field.

Are there any particular industries you would like to work in, or any particular design specializations you want to target (CAD, sketching, engineering)?

I enjoy design in general, whether it is graphics, web or industrial. At the moment I am beginning to venture into Fashion Design and hopefully I will be able to bring all my design skills together.

The Embody 3D Quick 4!

Is Wikileaks Good or Evil?

I’m leaning towards good.

What’s better Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook because of the games.

Favorite food?

Steak

Why is Industrial Design awesome?

Diverse, exciting, full of experience, and challenging.

Thanks Selina, it was great to learn more about your major project and all the best in the future of your design career!

Embody 3D is proud to promote and support industrial designers and consultancies from around the world. If you would like to be featured on Embody 3D’s interview section, please send an email to [email protected]!