Absolutely, people in the ID field aren't engineers per say. Yet they still have to have an understanding of what can fit where. They get input from the engineers, and the marketing teams, and make a working prototype before going into full scale production. They are responsible for making a product look a certain way, will still making sure it will have enough space to house the parts needed to work. I'm on an iBook right now, ID guys make sure that while it's a sleak and nice looking package, you can still fit everything in it to allow me to type this message. They are the fabricators, the dreamers, the guys that get to turn the engineer's numbers, and the marketing teams words into a real, working model. Typically there is a team of designers, and the different ideas are put in front of the concerned parties, and one is chosen to go into production.
Honestly, I studied engineering for a bit, and this is what I say, in a nutshell.
Engineers get to crunch numbers, and deal with paperwork, ID people get to have all the fun. They are trained to do EVERYTHING, and I mean it. Weld, work with wood, fiberglass, foam, plastics, rapid prototyping, concrete, whatever. And sure, engineering is cool. But think of it like this. You work in the ID field, and you design say...a chair, of some type. And you walk into a restaurant, and there it is, your fuking chair. It would be an amazing feeling I think. And since I love building things, and fabrication, and not math and paperwork, I think I might enjoy it.
BTW, Tampa people, I have a thread on this elsewhere, but I am looking for a job out there, let me know if you know of anything, or have heard of anything. I think I'm going to move out there, and get some of the super fun gen-ed stuff done before moving out to CO.
Well gee you just made me feel like my last 4 years that I've spent studying engineering is setting me up for a boring life. But seriously, everyone has reasons for enjoying what they're into and justifications for why it is more important than other areas. I try not to view any particular area as less important or less full-filling because every person has a different view of why they're doing what they're doing. I chose engineering because I honestly enjoy it. It provides a way for me to intuitively understand how and why things work as they do. The math part isnt easy but its an essential way to make those intuitions predictable and understandable. There is a rewarding feeling to solving problems that require a deeper understanding than just whats gained from experience. Thats my reasons for what I do. Some do it for the paycheck and that makes them happy. Nothing wrong with that. We're all just squirrels looking for a nut. Sorry, end rant.
Well gee you just made me feel like my last 4 years that I've spent studying engineering is setting me up for a boring life. But seriously, everyone has reasons for enjoying what they're into and justifications for why it is more important than other areas. I try not to view any particular area as less important or less full-filling because every person has a different view of why they're doing what they're doing. I chose engineering because I honestly enjoy it. It provides a way for me to intuitively understand how and why things work as they do. The math part isnt easy but its an essential way to make those intuitions predictable and understandable. There is a rewarding feeling to solving problems that require a deeper understanding than just whats gained from experience. Thats my reasons for what I do. Some do it for the paycheck and that makes them happy. Nothing wrong with that. We're all just squirrels looking for a nut. Sorry, end rant.
It's not that I'm trying to put down engineering at all. I applaud the people that can handle it, and do it well. Without engineers, well, pretty much nothing would advance in this world. It's just not for me unfortunately, since I did already try and go to school for it. And hell, without engineers, there would be no design folks. Engineering is the jam, I just suck at it.
