Designing and creating has always been a way of life for Thomas. This coupled with his love for hands-on learning drew him to Penn College. His eclectic coursework fused industrial design concepts with practical skills in 3D modeling, 3D printing, molding and casting, and traditional fabrication and finishing—all of which he uses today in his dream job with Monkey Boys Productions where he crafts props and puppets for the entertainment industry.
I loved how hands-on the courses at Penn College were. I learn best when getting to work on projects using real skills, materials, or programs and the majority of the courses I took at Penn College encouraged students to learn and utilize hands-on skills that would be applicable in their chosen fields.
The industrial design program really stood out to me because of the diverse range of practical skills that are available throughout the course. I was able to take more hands-on artistic classes like ceramics and wood sculpture as well as classes in 3D modeling and design principles. Industrial design opened the world of design opportunities to me and prepared me to make functional and beautiful designs and products.
I loved having the opportunity to take classes in so many different and creative subjects. Dr. Tom Ask was my industrial design professor as well as my advisor. He encouraged me to take creative classes like ceramics and wood sculpture and later in my college career Blender 3D sculpting. I felt that being able to explore my interests in those subjects and then applying the design principles to my major classes really helped me to grow as an artist and a designer and truly enhanced my college experience as a whole.
Yes, absolutely! I have been making things and tinkering for as long as I can remember. In the past, my free time has been filled with making props, costumes, and miniatures. I feel that having filled my free time growing up with hands-on hobbies gave me an excellent base understanding of form and design before even taking any classes in the subject. The hands-on nature of the courses offered at Penn College definitely influenced how effectively I learned and retained the skills of those courses.
I honestly just sent them an email and asked if they would be interested in taking summer interns! I knew the general area where their office was and I thought the worst they could say was “No”. So, I prepared my resume, portfolio, and a cover letter and sent it in and hoped for the best! I was thrilled that they took me on as an intern and to this day I am grateful to have had the opportunity!
I wanted to get practical on-the-job experience on top of getting my Industrial Design degree. I knew that a degree and college level of knowledge would look good on my resume, but I also knew that practical experience and showing initiative and motivation would show potential employers that I'm happy and willing to work and learn! I think this show of initiative gave me a leg up on landing internships and future positions and I would encourage any current student to research companies in their respective fields and don't be afraid to reach out and ask about learning and internship opportunities!
Since graduation, I had the wonderful opportunity to work at Hanger, Inc. in Jefferson City, Missouri making prosthetic legs, corrective footwear, and ankle foot orthosis. I was able to help so many people in the seven months that I got to work there and it was an incredibly rewarding experience. It also took me out to the Midwest for the first time which was a super exciting and fun adventure for me!
I have since moved back to Pennsylvania to follow my passions and take a job at the amazing Monkey Boys Productions designing and making props and puppets for the entertainment industry! I have worked here as a fabricator designing and sculpting in 3D programs as well as more traditional foam fabrication and sewing. I have been here for over a year now and it really is my dream job.
That is a super hard question. I have worked on so many projects both in work and in my personal life, but I think my capstone project remains one of my most proud projects to date. It was a culmination of all the skills I learned during my time at Penn College. I got to use 3D modeling, 3D printing, molding and casting, and traditional fabrication and finishing work. All of the skills I poured into my capstone project are skills that I use daily at my current job and are a testament to the skills and knowledge I gained during my college career. I have it on display in my house currently and it serves as a reminder of where my skills were when I finished college and just how far they have come since and to continue to design wonderful things.
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