Design in the industry

[Bngi]

I am currently studying for my masters degree in Industrial Design, and have an ambition to work in the action sports industry in the future. Since i have a passion for paintball and the kind of products affiliated with it, I have become more curios about the inside of the business.

I know paintball is still a small market compared to sports like skate, snowboard etc. But i would like to know if anyone has any inside information about it.

Would it be possible to get employment with my degree in this business? Ive tried to discretely get answers from people in the industry that i know, but they are pretty tight lipped i tells ya. The answers i've got so far are pretty negative, in which i mean that no real new employment takes place, and that the R&D part of the production is pretty much controlled and performed by a few people whos been in the industry for a lifetime or two.

As the industry grows, im sure this will change, but i cant really see that kinda of change in the near future (2-3 years)

Is there really any need for this kind of comptence in the business, considering the state right now?


Tell me what you think or know. Am I right or wrong?

 

[RainbowShooter]

Someone last year designed a new marker and I think they got a job at planet for it

 

[Bngi]

Hmm, I saw a thread about a Kiwi-bloke who made a purely cosmetic gun, and he sold this concept to some brand. But thats all ive heard.

 

[Mario]

There was indeed a guy (can't remember his name) who designed a marker for his final year. And he did indeed get a placement at planet. I met him at an exhibition last year.

Bngi - i would guess you would find it extremely hard to get in a paintball company to design things. Most companies by international standards are small and as such will have a design team which is well established and again reasonably small. I would suggest just sending your CV off in a prospective fashion to the companies of your choice. I'm not down with who designs and manufactures in europe apart from planet but i would guess sending off your CV might at least get the ball rolling.

When Dye had their old website they had jobs for industrial designers advertised. I finished my degree last year and its a pain to get a job in the design industry anywhere let alone paintball.

Good luck

 

[sumo89]

Hmm, I saw a thread about a Kiwi-bloke who made a purely cosmetic gun, and he sold this concept to some brand. But thats all ive heard.

you could be thinking of the guy from PbNation who designed the "Vanguard". He just made a CAD drawing of it and some small UK company (I forget the name) picked it up and designed the internals for it. Theres a video of it in the new Welt mag. It should be released very soon.

 

[Bngi]

you could be thinking of the guy from PbNation who designed the "Vanguard". He just made a CAD drawing of it and some small UK company (I forget the name) picked it up and designed the internals for it. Theres a video of it in the new Welt mag. It should be released very soon.

Yeah! Thats the guy I was thinking about.

There was indeed a guy (can't remember his name) who designed a marker for his final year. And he did indeed get a placement at planet. I met him at an exhibition last year.
Bngi - i would guess you would find it extremely hard to get in a paintball company to design things. Most companies by international standards are small and as such will have a design team which is well established and again reasonably small. I would suggest just sending your CV off in a prospective fashion to the companies of your choice. I'm not down with who designs and manufactures in europe apart from planet but i would guess sending off your CV might at least get the ball rolling.

When Dye had their old website they had jobs for industrial designers advertised. I finished my degree last year and its a pain to get a job in the design industry anywhere let alone paintball.

Good luck

Yeah, my guess was that the design culture im familiar with, has not really found its place in this industry yet.

OT: Where did you get your degree, and have you tried to get in to the paintball industry or just "window shopping"?


Thanks for the replies!

 

[Lucky_Tech]

I would be the small UK company !!

Pm me and will get in touch.

the paintball industry is fun (honest)

 

[Mario]

Yeah! Thats the guy I was thinking about.




Yeah, my guess was that the design culture im familiar with, has not really found its place in this industry yet.

OT: Where did you get your degree, and have you tried to get in to the paintball industry or just "window shopping"?


Thanks for the replies!

I got mine at Leeds Met. My speciality is in fabrication and ive done some freelance for a consultancy in Leeds. Trying to find something more permanent. Always looking/window shopping. Like i said though - its hard.

 

[PortoX]

The person with the placement at planet is Matt Mahoney, his user name on here is shocker 666 (yes i know it probably needs changing but he used to own one). Great lad and he the marker you mention Mario was one that combined loader and marker into one and it worked!

Hope thats any help?

 

[Bngi]

I see..
It would be awesome if he would swing by to give his opinion and experience in the thread. Come on in Matt