E. Balniūtė: "Visual language is the most effective form"

July 22, 2024
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.

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When starting your studies, it is not always clear during the first week where you can park your car or bicycle, which building your seminar will be in, or where you can eat or heat up your own food during breaks. To make settling into the academic year easier, we have prepared this memo. Student Car Parking: Students attending lectures at Saulėtekio al. 11 can park their cars in the lot located on Šatrijos Raganos Street. There is no barrier in this lot. How to find the lot: Driving from Saulėtekio al. – going up the hill past the roundabout and the university buildings. Or entering from Pragiedrulių, Mileišiškių sodų, or other streets onto Šatrijos Raganos Street – going down the hill before the roundabout and the university buildings. Students attending lectures on Plytinės Street can park in the lots located there. Students can enter the gated lot by tapping their activated student ID card at the terminal. Entrance to the lots is from Plytinės Street. Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute (AGAI) students, lecturers, and students or staff arriving at "Linkmenų fabrikas" can park in all lots. The barrier opens by tapping an activated student or staff ID card at the terminal. There are no dedicated parking lots for students attending lectures at the Old Town Campus (Trakų rūmai). Canteens and Cafes: Saulėtekis Campus: "Maisto imperija" (Building S2, 1st floor) – weighed food (you can build your own plate) – 1.70 € per 100 g, lunch of the day – 7.50 €, snacks, coffee, and other drinks. You can also heat up your own food here. Working hours: Monday–Thursday: 08:00–16:00; Friday: 08:00–15:00. "ARC BISTRO" (Building S3, 1st floor) – a menu consisting of a multi-course selection and daily lunch at a fixed price (up to 10 €), as well as snacks, coffee, and other drinks. Working hours: Monday–Friday: 11:00–15:00. Plytinė Campus (P2, 1st floor): "Confetti" – a menu consisting of a multi-course selection and daily lunch at a fixed price (up to 10 €), as well as snacks, coffee, and other drinks. You can also heat up your own food here. Working hours: Monday–Thursday: 09:00–16:00; Friday: 09:00–15:00. Old Town Campus (Senamiesčio rūmai): "Confetti" (Islandijos str. 3) – a menu consisting of a multi-course selection and daily lunch at a fixed price (up to 10 €), as well as snacks, coffee, and other drinks. Working hours: Monday–Friday: 07:45–15:00. Places where you can heat your own food in microwaves: When using microwaves, please maintain cleanliness, follow safety rules, and respect others: do not put in or heat items with shiny surfaces (e.g., cutlery, aluminum foil, etc.), do not slam the doors or other surfaces, wipe or clean the inside of the microwave or other surfaces (including the kitchenette) if needed, do not cut in line, and do not stop someone else's food from heating without permission, etc. Saulėtekis Campus: In the "Maisto imperija" canteen (Building S2, 1st floor), as well as in the Sustainability Centre (Building S5), and the 5th and 6th-floor kitchenettes in Building S6. Plytinė Campus: In the "Confetti" cafe (Building P2, 1st floor). Old Town Campus: In the Faculty of Architecture's 2nd and 3rd-floor kitchenettes (at the end of the corridor). AGAI: In the 2nd-floor kitchenette of the old building (near the Dean's office). 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Department/Building Abbreviations: Saulėtekis Campus (Saulėtekio al. 11, Vilnius): S1 Central Building (Administration, International Studies Centre, International Relations Office, etc.) S2 Classroom Building S3 Educational Building (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Business Management) S4 Classroom Building (Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Sustainability Centre, Food Laboratory) S5 Educational Building (Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Sustainability Centre, Food Laboratory) S6 Laboratory Building (Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Information Technology and Systems Centre, Academic Support Centre, etc.) S7 Laboratory Building Plytinė Campus (Plytinės str. 25, Vilnius): P1 or P Laboratory Building P2 Educational Building (Faculty of Electronics, Faculty of Mechanics, Faculty of Transport Engineering) P3 Educational Building Linkmenų Campus (Linkmenų str. 28, Vilnius): L1 Building (Institute of Building Materials) L2 Building (Road Research Institute) L3 Building L4 Building L5 Educational Building (Linkmenų fabrikas) L6 Educational Building (Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute) Old Town Campus (Trakų str. 1, Vilnius): T1 or T Educational Building (Faculty of Architecture) T2 Educational Building (Faculty of Creative Industries) T3 Educational Building T4 Educational Building T5 Educational Building Old abbreviations that might still appear in some contacts: SNR – Senamiesčio rūmai (Old Town Campus) SRK-I – Saulėtekio rūmų pirmas korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus First Building) SRK-II – Saulėtekio rūmų antras korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus Second Building) SRL – Saulėtekio rūmų laboratorinis korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus Laboratory Building) SRL-II – Saulėtekio rūmų antras laboratorinis korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus Second Laboratory Building) MAC – Saulėtekio centriniai rūmai (Saulėtekis Central Building) AGAI TLK – Antano Gustaičio Aviacijos instituto Treniruoklių ir laboratorijų korpusas (Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute Simulator and Laboratory Building). Other Addresses: Kyviškės Airfield: Lakūnų str. 7D, Kyviškės Sports and Art Centre: Saulėtekio al. 28, Vilnius Library: Saulėtekio al. 14, Vilnius Lithuanian Maritime Academy: I. Kanto str. 7, Klaipėda. Thematic Reading Rooms in Faculties: Architecture and Creative Sciences Reading Room (Trakų str. 1, T1, 1.15, Vilnius) Technology and Management Sciences Reading Room (Saulėtekio al. 11, S1, C03, Vilnius) Mechanics, Electronics, and Transport Sciences Reading Room (Plytinės str. 25, P2, 179, Vilnius) Maritime Sciences Reading Room (I. Kanto str. 7, Klaipėda)
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