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E. Balniūtė: "Visual language is the most effective form"
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2024-07-22
E. Balniūtė: "Visual language is the most effective form"
Emilija Balniūtė, a graduate of Industrial Product Design studies at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), is now a designer at Ergolain Group and is deepening her knowledge in the Master's studies at VILNIUS TECH. We asked Emilija to share how the day of designer looks like and what are her thoughts about previous bachelor studies.
- Who is an industrial product designer and how does a day look like?
- I always thought that working from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m. was the worst thing that could happen to a creative person. But a designer's day is different every day. My main mission is to create furniture designs that all my colleagues will then use in their own projects. The process is like a circle, because I get the need for new furniture from those colleagues, then after the design decisions have been made, I collaborate with the design department, the calculations and finally the internal sale of the furniture. So my day can start with an initial drawing, a meeting or a trip to the factory to see a prototype.
Another very important part of my day is communicating with the material suppliers, who are constantly bringing me news. Knowledge of fabrics and panels is an area where I am constantly increasing my knowledge and sharing it with others. Often the materials themselves dictate the design, so you just can't close yourself off in an already familiar field. I also develop the habit of not only seeing the whole environment but also feeling it with my fingertips.
I often like to end the day with a fully creative activity - looking for inspiration and solutions, putting up Mood boards. Visual language and searching is one of the habits I developed during my studies, because no text or just putting thoughts in my head is as effective.
- What are you creating today?
- It's a very unexpected coincidence, but I am currently working on a modular storage system. I had the same assignment in my third year, I was working on a storage piece of furniture, which was also modular. Of course, with more experience, the furniture looks completely different, more technical and more practical, but it's also nice to remember the old furniture, which I believe helps me in my current project.
- How does the year after your bachelor's degree look like, do you feel a connection to your studies?
- As I am currently studying for my Master's degree at the Faculty of Mechanics at VILNIUS TECH, the year after graduation looks very similar to the 4 years before. The main difference is that I remember with a smile the Faculty of Architecture in the Old town and its spirit and all the course projects. I think that's what makes the Industrial Product Design programme so special - the coursework is not just a long written paper. I had to roll up my sleeves and make prototypes, learn how to speak visually with the help of tablets, drawings and at the end of each semester, after seeing the whole group's exposition, get motivated for the next project.
In addition to my studies, I am also currently working in my acquired speciality as a designer. In fact, my work is completely overlapping with my bachelor studies, as I design furniture and carry out "mini course projects" on a daily basis. And it was my final bachelor's thesis that helped me find a job.
- Since VILNIUS TECH is a university of people who have the courage to change the world, when did you need to have the courage?
- It took courage to have the confidence and knowledge to call myself a designer. I realised that to become a designer, firstly, you have to make small changes every day.
Photos: Emilija Balniūtė and her final bachelor project.
- Who is an industrial product designer and how does a day look like?
- I always thought that working from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m. was the worst thing that could happen to a creative person. But a designer's day is different every day. My main mission is to create furniture designs that all my colleagues will then use in their own projects. The process is like a circle, because I get the need for new furniture from those colleagues, then after the design decisions have been made, I collaborate with the design department, the calculations and finally the internal sale of the furniture. So my day can start with an initial drawing, a meeting or a trip to the factory to see a prototype.
Another very important part of my day is communicating with the material suppliers, who are constantly bringing me news. Knowledge of fabrics and panels is an area where I am constantly increasing my knowledge and sharing it with others. Often the materials themselves dictate the design, so you just can't close yourself off in an already familiar field. I also develop the habit of not only seeing the whole environment but also feeling it with my fingertips.
I often like to end the day with a fully creative activity - looking for inspiration and solutions, putting up Mood boards. Visual language and searching is one of the habits I developed during my studies, because no text or just putting thoughts in my head is as effective.
- What are you creating today?
- It's a very unexpected coincidence, but I am currently working on a modular storage system. I had the same assignment in my third year, I was working on a storage piece of furniture, which was also modular. Of course, with more experience, the furniture looks completely different, more technical and more practical, but it's also nice to remember the old furniture, which I believe helps me in my current project.
- How does the year after your bachelor's degree look like, do you feel a connection to your studies?
- As I am currently studying for my Master's degree at the Faculty of Mechanics at VILNIUS TECH, the year after graduation looks very similar to the 4 years before. The main difference is that I remember with a smile the Faculty of Architecture in the Old town and its spirit and all the course projects. I think that's what makes the Industrial Product Design programme so special - the coursework is not just a long written paper. I had to roll up my sleeves and make prototypes, learn how to speak visually with the help of tablets, drawings and at the end of each semester, after seeing the whole group's exposition, get motivated for the next project.
In addition to my studies, I am also currently working in my acquired speciality as a designer. In fact, my work is completely overlapping with my bachelor studies, as I design furniture and carry out "mini course projects" on a daily basis. And it was my final bachelor's thesis that helped me find a job.
- Since VILNIUS TECH is a university of people who have the courage to change the world, when did you need to have the courage?
- It took courage to have the confidence and knowledge to call myself a designer. I realised that to become a designer, firstly, you have to make small changes every day.
Photos: Emilija Balniūtė and her final bachelor project.
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