This Industrial Design Portfolio Got Him a Job Right Out of School: Ep 3 with Christopher Negrete

In this video, Christopher Negrete and I check out the industrial design portfolio of Aaron Weeks. Aaron and Christopher both graduated in the same year, and were classmates together at California College of the Arts. I had the privilege of teaching both Christopher and Aaron at CCA. This is Aaron's portfolio from his junior year. His portfolio upon graduating was even better!
Make a killer portfolio and land your dream job. Enroll in my online industrial design course, Form Fundamentals. bit.ly/335vsqO .
Check out Christopher's LinkedIn: / christopher-negrete-26...
Check out Aaron's work: www.behance.net/gallery/92137...
Join my mailing list to get notified of special announcements: www.studioello.com/mail
Join my discord channel and talk to me: / discord
Follow me on Instagram: / mauriellodesign
Follow me on LinkedIn: / mauriellojohn
Check out my Behance: www.behance.net/mauriellodesign
Want to learn more about my work? Check out my portfolio: www.studioello.com
Want to work with me on a design project? Contact me here: www.studioello.com/about-1
John Mauriello has been working professionally as an industrial designer since 2010. He is an Adjunct Professor of industrial design at California College of the Arts.

[@ibraheemmonks8866]

You mentioned at the end this is the best portfolio you have seen from a junior level designer, I'm curious what the best portfolio OVERALL that you have seen it must be absolutely insane! I wonder if you could make a video going through it.

[@Smail345]

I created a lot of different projects and soon I will be looking for a job in this field. Making a good quality portfolio does make a difference. I hope for the best.

[@reitencheng4878]

I am here for the clickbait

[@Design.Theory]

SAAAAAAME

[@tjlow3632]

This is really amazing to see. I actually interned alongside Aaron at Western Digital (I was in UX/UI Design) and I wondered why they picked him. WD isn’t afraid of complex designs that call for advanced skills from even the most junior designers, and they made a smart choice with Aaron. This also showed me how valuable schools like CCA are for real-world practicality. My ID program was fine at best, but you really had to reach far to learn the adequate skills to be a competitive professional. Love this video and the series, helps everyone out a ton. Keep it up.

[@Design.Theory]

One thing to remember is that a 4 year school simply does not teach you everything you need to know. It seems absurd to say such a thing because school is so expensive. But the sheer volume of information you must learn is just insane.

[@Reiraseri]

Hey your videos and comments have been so inspiring to me as recent design grad who's found out I have SO MUCH to do/learn although I supposedly finished the undergraduate design program... Going off of what you were saying about how absurd it is cuz school is so expensive, how do you think this might be able to/will change in the future? Do you think college education is still necessary?@@Design.Theory

[@sshlokmishra2967]

Thank you for this ultra informative video, looking forward to more of these...

[@Design.Theory]

Thanks for watching!

[@acexl]

Another great installment to this great Series. Thank you so much for your hard work and thank you Aaron Christopher for their courage to put themselves out there for out collective benefit.

[@Design.Theory]

Thank you for watching!

[@Design.Theory]

Make a killer portfolio and land your dream job. Enroll in my online industrial design course, Form Fundamentals. bit.ly/335vsqO .

[@honestunboxing]

Marc here, checks us out. We've had some rave reviews so far. "Not educational" -New York Times "A very small, small minority of people may find this entertaining." -Rolling Stone

[@stephenwilliams2216]

Great video, helpful as always, thanks.

[@Design.Theory]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaljanovsky8966]

looking forward to more of this series!

[@Design.Theory]

check out the industrial design job hunt playlist for all 6 videos :)

[@michaljanovsky8966]

@@Design.Theory Yes yes I already saw them :)

[@alexflores4458]

holy guacamole, really well executed portfolio and model making from Aaron and Christopher; Does your university have some kind of focus in model making?, or its just special students like Aaron and Christopher? Valuable insight from this one, thanks a lot.

[@Design.Theory]

CCA does put emphasis on model making, and on top of that, Aaron and Christopher happen to be very good at it.

[@3167]

Just a suggestion. You might wanna rethink where the mic and iPad are place, because from this angle, it looks like Chris's view of the iPad is completely obstructed by microphone.

[@Design.Theory]

Thank you for pointing this out, I wish I noticed during recording!

[@Aditya_paniker]

Thank you for reviewing this portfolio How do you arrange your work, best work in the beginning or at the end?

[@Design.Theory]

Ideally it's all excellent. I would start and end with a strong project.

[@untitled.8135]

5:58 I just noticed the Brooks running shoes logos in the middle of the shoes midsole. lol?

[@Design.Theory]

its a nike + brooks collab ;)

[@AlexanderHer99]

I am kind of curious how one makes a model like that? I just graduated from ID school but never was taught that or even shown a model that great like these

[@Design.Theory]

way too long to go over in a comment. Basically, 3D prints, renshape, priming, and painting

[@lnwreal3]

Cool font, could you please let me know what font you used for your thumbnail?

[@Design.Theory]

Futura I believe

[@matthewnour97]

Who else is still trying to get a job after graduating? 😭🙋‍♂️

[@Design.Theory]

Don't give up. You got this. There are plenty of opportunities. It might come down to widening the scope of your search, or upgrading certain skills in order to remain competitive.

[@fededigio7284]

jr level😮

[@MINECRAFTandSEB]

the shoe is fine lol

[@harshithiyer1240]

Can you make a video on how to make a portfolio or slide? Like what software can we can use to make a portfolio like this? How to design the template or from where can we choose existing templates? etc...

[@Design.Theory]

Go look up InDesign tutorials online for how to create a portfolio. I'm sure there are many here on KZbin

[@MegaChickenmuffin]

What would you say are the limits of industrial design, would for an example more complex machines like electric bikes or cars still be in the realm of an industrial designer?

[@alandiego7794]

muchos diseñadores trabajan con automóviles

[@Design.Theory]

Transportation design is its own subset of industrial design, although it is highly competitive.

[@dznr723]

@@Design.Theory Now there's an understatement!

[@amitkumarmahato8352]

What are the softwares that he used to do these renderings ??

[@Design.Theory]

Some of it is Keyshot, some of it is product photography of actual physical models.

[@amitkumarmahato8352]

@@Design.Theory thanks a lot.. i will be looking forward if you help us with rendering using keyshot videos too

[@Design.Theory]

@@amitkumarmahato8352 check out will gibbons and esben oxholm on youtube

[@lemonstrangler]

does he have a background in engineering?

[@lemonstrangler]

what job did he get ?

[@mostlymessingabout]

It should be called "very shallow depth of field" inlieu of "very high depth of field"

[@Design.Theory]

Yes good point.

[@narcis3720]

holy f*ck the real-world models wow

[@Design.Theory]

The crazy thing is that the models that Christopher makes (the guy sitting next to me) are arguably even higher fidelity.

[@narcis3720]

@@Design.Theory amazing! His model of a microscope seems painstakingly detailed and almost production-ready, although I find Aaron's more beautiful. Guess I won't be setting my portfolio's focal point on my models if these are the competitors, haha. - I'm going to take the occasion and thank you for the uploads, it's highly appreciated as there isn't that much content out there for Industrial Designers + I think you consistently make plausible arguments.

[@Design.Theory]

​@@narcis3720 Thank you very much! I appreciate those kind words. It means a lot. One thing to remember any time you see work that is exceptional is never to get discouraged. Instead of seeing it as the gap between your skills and someone else, instead look at it as how much room for growth you still have. If someone else did it, you certainly can too, and that path to learning is the most exciting thing in life. Never get discouraged by good work. Be inspired by it.

[@neemann6705]

Hmmm

[@Ben3_11]

I've never been this early to anything in my life.

[@Design.Theory]

Congrats :)

[@Ben3_11]

@@Design.Theory thank you! I love your videos!

[@TPV07]

could someone tell me why product design starts with the look of the product rather than the internals.dont get me wrong these items look nice. but I'd bet that shoes are extremely uncomfortable with that huge heel drop. microscope looks great but how does it actually work in that small body? I am a layman at design but to me it seems that if desgn or looks come first you just ending up creating shitty products like the unrepairable phones of today, or nice looking washing machines which only last a couple of years. Why is not engineering first and design secong. I am not having a go, ijust would like to understand. I personally do not care how a product looks as long as it works. Dont get me wrong I would like a nice looking product but it should last as long and function as well as my grandmothers fridge for example which was purchased in 1962 :)

[@Design.Theory]

You have to remember that this is a teaser portfolio. The unfortunate reality is that flashy renderings get more attention. It isn't fair, but it's how it is. I can't speak for the other projects in his folio, but at least in the project that Aaron did for my class (the vacuum cleaner), there was consideration put into internal components. He just chose not to show it.

[@alandiego7794]

No comienza por la apariencia, pero si es lo que llama mas la atención para el comprador y por eso es lo que se muestra en un portafolio. Los mecanismos internos siempre son analizados y evaluados (pensando que se adapten a la forma deseada o definiéndola). Ante dos productos con mismas características y mismo precio gana el mas agradable a la vista

[@luckiitobii1557]

I also believe that the aesthetics of the product, grabs the user attention to prompt them to find out what the product is hence why the visual appeal is so important. As a recent product design gradate I have found that an impactful visual portfolio stands out more, then a long winded portfolio where protentional employers look through it who may find it dull and boring!

[@thirstyear7]

How long a washing machine lasts is on the engineers and the business decisions of the company, not the designers. I have a beautiful looking Miele S7 vacuum I bought 10 years ago and is still performing amazingly. They are built to last 20 plus years and look good doing so. A portfolio like this one shows the potential of a student to sketch, model make and render products. Once in a company they will generally be able to call on senior designers and engineers for integrating function into the design. And I would argue that for this student working at Western Digital, where external hard drives are a big part of the company, internal workings are so basic (rectangle box with ports) that it is the eye catching external design that sells units.

[@prakritigarg3524]

WHAT IS THIS A HIGH SCHOOL PORTFOLIO?

[@Design.Theory]

University level. Third year

[@sorinalexandrucirstea1994]

wait, hold the fuck on... so a product designer that's fresh out of school is expected to be good at 3D modeling, rendering, sketching, graphic design, photography, typography/layout AND creating product concepts? What planet are you guys living on cause were I'm from, a 22 year old kid is barely decent at one or two things out of all of those...

[@Design.Theory]

Yes

[@Design.Theory]

It’s insanely competitive out there.we all feel the pressure sometimes. Just get good at your own pace. I didn’t start to get good at design until a few years after I graduated. Everyone progresses at their own pace

[@dznr723]

yes

[@sorinalexandrucirstea1994]

@@Design.Theory That's ridiculous and excessive. No student is good at so many disciplines right out of school. Being good at something doesn't mean being able to emulate it. It means understanding it at a deep level, something that requires a few thousand hours of practice. You guys should seriously reconsider your skill level if you think copying from other people's work online constitutes you doing "design".