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Interview with Mckella Daly |
Home > Designer Interviews > Mckella Daly |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Mckella Daly (MD) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Mckella Daly 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?
MD: When I was in secondary school, studying for my Leaving Certificate (Aged 16) I studied Design and Communication Graphics. It was while I was working on my project (We were to design a blender) I realised how much I enjoyed the design process. Four years ago, I decided to study Industrial Design and throughout the completion my degree, I have developed an interest in Universal Design and Human-Centred Design. Since studying the course I have become very passionate about Industrial Designer and now have the ability to identify product opportunities and translate these ideas into functioning products through formats such as sketching, prototyping and modelling on CAD software.
FS: What is "design" for you?
MD: I think design is a form of expression. For me it is the ability to create physical or intellectual property of functional, social and emotional value. I get such a feel-good buzz when I observe a pain point in someone’s life, and I have the ability to create something that will either minimise the effect of the pain point or alternatively complete erase the pain point from their daily life. A large part of my design approach and where my interest lies is the combination of human-centred design approached with optimising a product to be created using Additive Manufacturing technologies, in order to allow for quick changes to a product allowing for mass customisation.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MD: In my current job, I am exposed to designing for a wide variety of different clients. I have been working on everything from baby products to construction equipment to power tools. This is great because I learn so much about so many different sectors and I'm never stuck designing the same thing day-in day-out.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MD: The first thing I designed for a company was, part of a targeting system for use in the surveying and construction industries.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MD: I absolutely love 3D printing as a technology, I own a FDM printer and thoroughly enjoy being able to turn around a quickly prototype a product. I think 3D printing allows the client to quickly visualise the real feel of a product. At the company I now work for we have SLA printers and I think it's amazing what they can do. The possibilities are truly endless.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MD: I am very interested in Universal Design and Human-Centred Design and try to ensure I can include these aspects of design in most of my designs. I really enjoy when a product brings functional, social and emotional value to a user's life.
FS: What makes a design successful?
MD: For me, a design is successful if it is solving a pain point. In my opinion it needs to add value to someone's life. This can be one person or one million people as long as value is added to someone's life.
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?
MD: I definitely think I tend to go with a "less is more" approach while designing. A design can become very busy very quickly if you're not careful. I try to think of Dieter Rams when he says "good design is as little design as possible"
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?
MD: I live in Ireland and I love it here. I love looking at Celtic designs and enjoy trying to bring part of my heritage into my designs where possible. I do think one of the cons of living in Ireland is that the design sector is not as advanced as it may be in mainland Europe or America.
FS: How do you work with companies?
MD: I just started working for a company called Zenoz.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MD: The biggest positive is when you see that you've made a difference in someone's life! For my final year college project I helped a 10 year old boy with Cerebral Palsy write his name for the first time in his life and this was just the best feeling ever.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MD: Autodesk Fusion 360, Autodesk Sketchbook, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Dimensions, Ultimaker Cura
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MD: I make lists. I always need a list to follow. It also helps me feel more productive when I get to cross things off the list.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MD: This is a hard question to answer because it really depends on the product. If it is a small product with little or no electronics it could take a few weeks. If it is a more complicated design it could end up taking months. Sometimes clients change their mind halfway through a design and sometimes they spend so long looking at a prototype they thing of new things they want to add to the product.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MD: Everybody, and I mean everybody, asks me what software I use for my 3D CAD models. The answer is Autodesk Fusion 360.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
MD: In the job I am currently in I'm learning so much about CNC machining and injection moulding, which I was not exposed to in college. This for me has been incredible job experience and I know my knowledge will only grow from here.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MD: I enjoy any design work that is has the ability to have a human-centred design approach. I feel like these are the products you see make the most difference in the lives of people and I really enjoy seeing a product that adds value to someone's life.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MD: Next for me is to work at the design company I am currently at, Zenoz, and gain some more experience in the working environment. I'm hoping to become more confident in my designs, my proposals and presentations and also myself.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MD: At the moment I work as the only Industrial Designer in the company but I do work with electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and a CNC machinist to make sure all electrical components fit within the product and that the product is fully manufacturable whether it is injection moulded or CNC machined.
FS: How can people contact you?
MD: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckellasdesign Email: mckella17@gmail.com
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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