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Interview with Trevor D. Hirschi |
Home > Designer Interviews > Trevor D. Hirschi |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Trevor D. Hirschi (TDH) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Trevor D. Hirschi by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
TDH: I come from a family of artists, of one form or another. My father is a talented automotive painter, my mother is detailed in painting, drawing, and other crafts, while her parents where painters and leatherworkers, and my father’s parents were craftsmen and tailors. I believe all of these attributes have played a large part in my creativity since my youth. As a boy, I was always tearing things apart to understand them and fix them, while at the same time I was obsessed with creating new things with Legos. My mechanical aptitude and creative curiosity led me to mechanical engineering and machining. As a machinist, I was constantly amazed at the endless opportunities in Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing that would let me design and create whatever I could come up with. This brought me to start my own business in design and machining my own products. A I look back at past experiences, I’ve always wanted to be a creator and designer, but I didn’t always know it.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
TDH: I run Titan Ring Designs as a part-time job aside from teaching machining technology at a college during the day. I started with a passion to create unique and interesting rings for men that are CNC machined from titanium. I quickly discovered that I couldn’t limit myself to just rings, and have since branched out to design and make other products, mostly things that I think I could use in my life or improve upon a design from elsewhere. I utilize CAD/CAM software and CNC mill engineered for the production and prototyping of small parts for the medical, dental, optical, jewelry, and any other industry utilizing micro-machining to achieve extremely tight tolerances in accuracy and finish. I am also a “one-man-band” and do everything from design, machining, finishing, photography, web design, customer service, and shipping.
FS: What is "design" for you?
TDH: Design is creating something that wasn’t there before with the help of engineering and an eye for aesthetics.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
TDH: As I started this journey simply for my own enjoyment and satisfaction, a lot of what I enjoy designing is usually based on a desire I have to make something that I want, usually as an improvement upon a product that already exists and isn’t what I think it should be, or something that doesn’t yet exist and needs to. This is usually in the form of something I use or think I would use often, if not daily.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
TDH: I find great satisfaction in the career of machining, but I learned early on in working at large companies that I didn’t have any say in what needed to be made. However, I knew that the capabilities were there for creative and artistic expression. I now enjoy the freedom to create whatever I feel necessary to share with the world, in a form of art that few have the opportunity to access. With that, I feel each one of my designs is no different that an artist’s paintings or sculptures, and so one of my favorite designs is an expression of aviation art in a compact package for display on a desk, shelf, or table in plain view. It is essentially a fuselage of a jet that houses a carefully machined titanium propeller on precision ball bearings with large display feet underneath. The body is quite complex and larger than the capabilities of my CNC machine to create, so DMLS 3D printing of grade 5 titanium was utilized for production, with some post-printing processes of machining to achieve critical dimensions on some surfaces with final finishing done by hand. A threaded nose cone was also CNC machined to mate to the body through the propeller’s bearing to provide an aerodynamic look to the sculpture. Perfect for the desk of an aviation enthusiast or even Boeing’s CEO.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
TDH: The CP Series of openable machined titanium wedding rings, for Jeff McWhinney of McWhinney Designs in San Rafael, California. This was initially my design that we later collaborated on to modify some aspects for more achievable production goals.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
TDH: I work almost exclusively with titanium because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, hypoallergenic qualities (mostly applicable to my jewelry), difficulty in machining, lustrous finishing qualities, and because it stands out from the crowd of hand worked precious metals.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
TDH: I would have to say that is when I am immersed in CAD software working on a new idea.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
TDH: I focus most on aesthetics and operation of the product. If it doesn’t look good or will not work, it needs more brainstorming to improve the idea.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
TDH: When I am extremely excited about the prospect of a new design, I can easily become so engrossed in the CAD software that I will forget to eat. It is a major thrill and high that is hard to put away, almost as if it were an addiction. That said, I have a wife that helps remind me to take breaks when needed and to remember the world around me. There is a major excitement I have when designing.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
TDH: Little compares to the feel of the success of an accomplished design. To see the idea go from simply a thought to a beautiful product in my hand is immensely rewarding and fulfilling. It is something that brings me a sense of happiness.
FS: What makes a design successful?
TDH: To me, it is having a functioning, beautiful product in my hand at the end of the day. To share it with the world and find those that appreciate it to the point of buying from me, is something else entirely, but it drives me forward to do it again and again. To me, that is successful.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
TDH: Aesthetics are an obvious first aspect that speak to me. How pleasing to the eye is the design? Without aesthetics, a design is really just an object alone.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
TDH: Designing is an expression of art. Without that creativity in the world, we would live in a boring existence. It can even drive economy and culture when done right.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
TDH: Technology is constantly pushing us forward and I believe it plays a great part in design. It gives way to new ideas and capabilities that weren’t around before. It’s hard to see what will come next, but I think design is driven by experiencing the world around us and letting ideas come. As technology allows the world to see what everyone else is doing, it opens doors for those who create to be inspired by more that what is immediately around them.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
TDH: I’ve never been on display in an exhibition before. I would love to be a part in the future, whenever possible.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
TDH: I try to analyze the world around me and see how things are made and how they function, both in nature and in the man-made world. Being open to new ideas and different design mediums lets me see how I could incorporate something new into my style. I try to follow other creative individuals and companies on social media. Pinterest and Instagram make invaluable venues of creative expression. Following those puts me in the path of the creativity tornado.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
TDH: I would put myself in the industrial category of designing gear and jewelry for men. I have access to my own machine shop and the products I wanted were best made using the tools I have there. I’m always looking for lightweight, strong, intricate, functional, interesting, and innovative for my designs, so I favor titanium a lot, thought other materials have strengths I need for a certain component or part of the design.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
TDH: I live in a small town about an hour north of Salt Lake City, Utah. I don’t think the culture here has influenced my design much. I would say my family heritage has more so than anything, coming from creative parents and grandparents. Living where I do in the United States has benefitted me with access to education, training, tooling, and job opportunities that have provided the steps to become more involved in design. If I ever need tooling, a quick internet shopping session brings me what I need in only a day or two. The cons of living in a small town is that some things aren’t always readily available first hand nearby. Online shopping usually solves that problem though.
FS: How do you work with companies?
TDH: I typically don’t. The one exception was working with a previous employer on the sale of one of my designs for use in his company. This was the CP Series openable titanium rings I have referred to previously. For the most part, I have the opportunity to work directly with customers in purchasing from me.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
TDH: Being unexperienced in this field, I don’t have much to offer. I would suggest companies search out the styles of design they appreciate or are in need of and try to find designers in those fields for collaboration.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
TDH: I start at the same place everyone else does, with an idea. I use an app on my iPhone or iPad to sketch out what the design in my head looks like. Once I’m happy with the sketch, I’ll attempt to sketch and model it in CAD software. This step traditionally takes a while. Some things come together real quick, but not often. I usually need to play around with the design more to get the kinks worked out, and once that is complete, I will 3D print the parts using my FDM printer that I have at home so as to keep an eye on progress and get the prototype in my hands as soon as possible. If I like how the printed prototype looks, feels, works, etc., I will begin the machining processes, assembling of parts, finishing, and testing.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
TDH: I’d rate number one as my MacBook Pro Retina laptop. Seriously, Jonny Ive is a design genius. Number two goes to my iPhone X. The phone is just brilliantly designed. Number 3 goes to a pair of shoes by Vibram FiveFingers, the KSO shoe. I’m a big fan of natural, barefoot movement and Vibram has provided the best in that class. Number 4 goes to another pair of shoes, by Vivo Barefoot, the Primus Lux. The leather provides a little bit more class, but it still has the same benefits of feeling barefoot while offering protection from the elements. Number five goes to my Select Tech Dumbbells by BowFlex. The functionality of having a full array of weight in just two dumbbells is a fantastic design idea.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
TDH: Like many people, I get up early to go to work first thing in the morning. I am more of a night person, so what some people try to accomplish early in the morning before work, I accomplish later in the evening. I teach machining technology at Bridgerland Technical College in Logan, Utah. I’m in charge of the few high school kids that come from around Cache Valley and beyond, to fill an elective, essentially like a shop class teacher in high school. I’ve really enjoyed being able to share and pass on my knowledge of the machining trade, and I try to encourage creativity and design for those that are interested at joining that career field. After work, I stop at home for an hour or two to see my wife and play with my one year old daughter before going to my shop to catch up on customer’s orders for products I’ve designed and sell on my website. I’m usually at that for the majority of the night and will come home in time to read and study scriptures, make lunch for the next day, and get ready for bed.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
TDH: Be creative. I am frequently told by others that they don’t have the creativity to design things like I do. But creativity breeds creativity. I used to feel that I had a hard time coming up with ideas and being creative when I first began this journey, but I just dove in and started thinking, drawing, and dreaming and I was able to keep coming up with new ideas. I’d compare it to exercising. When you work at building muscles, they continue to grow, but as soon as you become passive and stop, the muscles begin to weaken and atrophy. I believe it is the same for any endeavor, really.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
TDH: For me, there is great reward in design, in seeing an idea come to fruition and completion. Being able to share that with others is an extension of that satisfaction. The hard part of design, for me, is not having enough time to create all the things I design.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
TDH: I think the obvious following of the golden ratio helps to create geometry that is more appealing to the eye, but aside from that, it’s crucial to find and stick with your style. If you don’t do what you like, you’ll eventually get burned out and give up.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
TDH: Creativity is number one on the list of most important skills for designers. Knowing how to work with and be well versed in your tools is also imperative.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
TDH: An important tool to have for design is a way to capture your ideas. I’ve simplified and consolidated my that to my iPhone with the help of the camera and high quality sketching apps, such as Concepts, SketchBook, and Paper to get those ideas into a more visual representation. My most useful and important tools are the CAD softwares SolidWorks and Fusion 360. I most often work with designing small parts so I also keep a set of Mitutoyo calipers at all of my desks to use for reference of size. I also have a Prusa I3 MK2S 3D printer for prototyping, and a Haas OfficeMill CNC mill for production of final products.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
TDH: I’m actually really bad at this. Because I don’t design as my day job, I really have no constraints for sticking to a schedule or a budget for my own work. I can spread my time out and design something over a longe period of time, but I prefer to stick with the task once I’m engaged and excited about the project. I do have to remember to eat and take breaks sometimes, which can be difficult on my own, but my wife will often remind me to get off my computer for a while when I’ve been at it for a long time. I’m quite passionate about my hobbies.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
TDH: This is probably my most frequently asked question, and I don’t have a straight answer for it. In short, it depends. Some projects take days or weeks, some take weeks to months, and some take even longer than that. It all depends on how I feel about the end result, and if I feel that I am completely finished.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
TDH: That would be how long it takes me to design or make a product. It just depends. Some things come together rather quickly, and others take more time. It all depends on what I feel when I get to the end.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
TDH: The first and most obvious for me would be learning in the machining trade, but aside from that, the most beneficial design job experience I had was while working for Jeff McWhinney of McWhinney Designs. I helped him improve his manufacturing techniques and he greatly improved my experience as a designer, CNC programmer, jeweler, and machinist.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
TDH: I sell products on my website, so not so much clients, but customers. I sell worldwide, to anyone who is interested in what I do.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
TDH: I enjoy my own type of jewelry and accessory design the most. It falls into an art category of products that not many people will have, which means they mean more to me and to those who buy from me.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
TDH: I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. I keep dreaming up product ideas that I want for myself, and if I happen to find others that appreciate my work and are willing to pay for my time, that makes me happy and drives me forward.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
TDH: I work completely solo.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
TDH: I have been playing around with a belt buckle design that will be made in the same fashion as all of my other products, CNC machined from grade 5 titanium. It will be different from most other belts out there, and may not be for all, but the design is one that I find to work best with my style. I have another titanium ring that has been in the works for a long time as well, I just have had other things get in the way and it has been left on the back burner for a while.
FS: How can people contact you?
TDH: I prefer to be contacted by email, trevor@titanringdesigns.com. I try to get back to inquiries within a day.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
TDH: I believe art is subjective and relative to each individual person on this earth. That means one man's garbage is another man's treasure. Art and design fall largely into the same concept. I know that some things I make may not be appealing to all, but they may be to some, and to that end, I enjoy creating things that do not yet exist, or aren't up to my standards or visions.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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