Ray - Industrial Design Degree

Both my father and my brother are engineers. After graduating from high school I was eager to begin down the same path.

I started electrical engineering at a university. However, it quickly became apparent the program just wasn’t for me, so I left to work full time. The next September, determined to achieve what I believed was my calling, I entered into a photonics engineering technology program at another college. I completed the three year program and received my advanced diploma but was longing for something else. At the time, I believed gaining a bachelor’s degree in engineering was what I really needed. So again, I was off to another post-secondary, this time, in beautiful British Columbia. I thought my passion was in mechanical engineering. After three semesters of studying it was clear it just wasn’t what I needed. I spent a year working in manufacturing and figured out that engineering was not for me.

Confused about my future I travelled to Northern Ontario, Thailand, and cycled across North America to broaden my world view. Returning home with a clearer goal, I completed multiple career tests online including the Humber Career Finder. This test from Humber consists of a quick personality test followed by a comprehensive list of programs Humber offers that would best suit my personality type. Industrial design jumped out at me! I did a lot of research into what industrial design entails. I realized a career in industrial design would allow me to embrace my love of mechanical objects, material properties and manufacturing but also allow me to embrace my creative self.

The only thing stopping me was that I had never really sketched before. To ease my mind I attended Humber’s Open House and talked with current students and faculty where I learned about the Design Foundation program.

The Humber College Design Foundation certificate program is no joke. I think I worked harder in that one year than ever before! Graduating from the certificate program allowed me to feel confident in my skills and helped me build a portfolio for the Industrial Design application.

Soon to start the second year in the Bachelor of Industrial Design program I couldn’t be happier (and my marks reflect this). It’s a long journey but it’s been very rewarding!