I was listening to a designer talk about the differences in being a designer and a problem solver and it really resonated. I hadn’t had the realisation that my background had affected my design style so much, and how it makes my style of design different. I studied Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, the first two years covering civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, the last two specialising in mechanical. Now my course was very academic and was sometimes truly mind boggling (I still find it hard to get my head round that electricity is electrons moving to holes at a tiny level). It was the practical labs and design classes that I really enjoyed.
When I finished uni I was drawn to Lean Manufacturing and became a specialist in Continuous Improvement. This logical approach to me always felt like common sense (not so common) and is the same way I approach all problems – even garden ones! If will look at a situation, investigate solutions and research how they can be implemented. I feel very lucky that I have a career now that combines my problem solving and my creativity.
Since my transition to
