Looking Back Upon
IDSA Parsons Experiences
When we look back at what our IDSA chapter has accomplished and cultivated, we can see how much our community consistently shows up for each other to share their love of design and exhibit dedication to learning and growing within the field of Product/Industrial design.
2026 Smart Design Guided Tour
[03-30-2026]
In late March 2026 our IDSA chapter was invited to tour the Smart Design workspace in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. We discussed design philosophy, a day in the life of a Smarty, and other intersting facets of a strategic design consultancy on the human focused cutting edge of consumer product design.
Design Philosophy Discussion
The first section of this guided tour was a presentation and discussion on the key ways that Smart Design formulates design strategies for the projects that they are tasked with. In particular the two main subjects of this discussion were their work with Gatorade and OXO where we were able to discuss not only the iterative human focused prototyping processes but also the higher level design considerations and constraints which must be considered for seamless scalability and circular manufacturing. Such a design framework is key in maintaining the responsibilities present when working with continuously evolving clientele. We were able to understand Smart Design as more than just a product design firm, but an industrial systems design consultancy company which comprehensively strategizes and constructs frameworks built around and intertwined with the products themselves.
The Smart Design Environment
The next phase of our experience at Smart Design embodied a guided tour of the workspaces and common areas within the Brooklyn Navy Yard location. We were able to glean important insight into the various creative mediums that Smart Design uses to create meaningful prototypes which are important in creating proven systems of design which can seamlessly enter the current market of their respective clients.
Key Takeaways
Smart Design offered us true understanding into the intersection of humanity and industry when designing for the globalized and continuously variable landscape of post-modern industrial constraints and requirements. We were introduced to the value of multifaceted systems design and the importance of properly offering both the highest quality circularly designed product, and formulating the system within which the product will live and operate within its respective market. Our discussion and observation of the responsibility we as designers have to uphold comprehensive product/industrial design is something which is invaluable for us to consider and implement within our own individual practices.
2026 Parsons IDSA Professional Advice Event
[04-23-2026]
In April 2026 our IDSA chapter hosted a panel discussion to gather insights from industry professionals about what current employers are looking for, how to clearly communicate your design process within your portfolio, and how to ideally position yourself for internships and early career opportunities when navigating the student journey.
Portfolio
The majority of the conversation centered around the curation and construction of a well-rounded and professionally successful portfolio document. The starting line was the basics of graphical design and structure. A successful portfolio has clean, clear, and consistent formatting which displays an honest account of the problem, the story, and the designed product solution all within the first three pages of the document. The layout should be focused on speaking through imagery and maintaining visual hierarchy to control the reader's attention. It was said that "people don't read" and to prioritize visual storytelling within the layout. Where there is text, it should be almost literary in nature, and it is imperative proofread the words that are present, ensuring the absence of spelling and grammatical errors. Finally we discussed branding and the importance of including it if that is a strength in one's skillset.
The more nuanced discussion after the physical and graphical layout was established was surrounding the intent of the portfolio and the flow of the subject matter. We discussed the importance of tying loose ends and explicitly ensuring that every single proverbial door we have opened within the context of our design is fully explored. We went over the technical aspects of CAD and how effective texture mapping, lighting, filleting, and graphical layout are key in evoking the most realized vision of the product design. We also went over the importance of manufacturability and holding reverence for the real world constraints of the proposed product. To cap the discussion it was wonderfully stated that one should never change their portfolio to suit another person's wishes, if you vehemently disagree with any feedback, do not try to change your portfolio half-heartedly in search of specific validation.
Career and Professionalism
A sizeable portion of our discussion was based on professional practices and aspects of one's character that yield a blooming career path. We started with a foundation of discussing the keystone skillset that a young professional should hold. A critical and deep design process, Rendering skill, CAD proficiency, and teamwork skills were emphasized as requirements for a young entry level professional. The most important thing to do as a young professional to to display a range of relevant and symbiotic skills and to demonstrate the extent to what you can achieve within any given timespan.
We moved along to professional strategies for success which touched on the importance of being easy to work with, an empathetic and responsible teammate, being honest about your capabilities, and curating a specialized skillset that will be valuable to any design team. It was mentioned that internships often lead to full-time positions if these practices are maintained. Along the professional pathway it was said that adamantly keeping up with your peers, maintaining avid curiosity for what they are up to, and meaningfully engaging with others was touted as extremely important for continued career advancement.
Key Takeaways
This panel discussion offered key insights into two key areas of the Professional product/industrial design world that are important for students of the craft to consider when entering and maintaining success in the field.
A successful portfolio holds a strong, clear, minimal formatting and focuses on telling a product's story succinctly with images rather than text. The designs within a portfolio must not only be rendered to the best of one's ability but also express a proven consideration of feasibility, manufacturability, circularity, and provide a simple and effective solution for the given problem.
In the realm of professional design holding and maintaining a symbiotic specialized skillset, being a pleasure to work with, and being sociably curious will bring about a fruitful career path from the ground up.
