INDUSTRIAL DESIGNERS: a clockwork orange

For one year, this year, I’ve made it my mission to become a louder voice for industrial design on this platform. And now looking back on all the posts, all the DMs, and the meetings that followed, I’m happy with what I’ve done. ​ ​ It certainly wasn’t all me, but there is a growing voice from the design community. We are speaking up more, reaching out more, and listening to each other more. At least that’s what I’m seeing from where I sit.​ ​ But there is still more to be done. ​ ​ 2025 was a tough year for ID. Lots of layoffs, projects cut, teams downsized, plans put on hold. But it hasn’t broken our spirit. If anything it’s only pushed us closer together in many ways.

So as we get ready to ring in a new year, I’d ask you to pause, take a breath, and be grateful for the strength that we can find in each other. Go reach out to that design buddy from college that you haven’t talked to for a while, or the coworker who’s no longer there, the student you briefly mentored and haven’t had time to check in with.

I get messages every week from designers who need advice, portfolio feedback, someone to talk through a career decision with. I help where I can, but one person can't scale. I could really use your help.

Reconnect, say hello, and prop each other up. Because a new number on a calendar will not magically make everything better.

But a conversation with an old friend just might.

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