Being Part of the Design Consortium

If you had to describe 3-4 things that you learned, what would they be?

1. Collaboration leads to design solutions that neither designer would have figured out on their own.
2. Working with other designers demands that you can communicate your work to others before the stakeholders encounter it, which helps refine your presentation and theory behind the work.
3. Your best resource as a designer is another designer.”
 Tiffany Hale

“The art of give and take in a collaborative setting. Good work ethic is valuable. How to deconstruct and critique work in a progressive and helpful way.”
Tinhinane Khelifi

1. Team collaboration
2. Working with a team of designers
3. Time management
4. New fields of design
Rochelle Bernal

“Importance of punctuality/deadlines. Importance of craft. The nuance of presenting ideas to clients.”
William Gilligan

What made this experience different from a regular class?

This setting is closer to a professional studio that one might see when they graduate. It gives the student responsibilities that a regular class often won’t. The stakes are high and real, which will propel the student to see their work and its effects in the real world.”
Tinhinane Khelifi

“The assignment parameters came from our partner’s needs rather than a general creative-brief. Everyone’s opinions/criticisms were held in equal merit, therefore it felt less like a student/teacher dynamic and more so like a hierarchal design team.”
William Gilligan

“It really is two different worlds based on being ‘out of the classroom’ and part of the Express Newark environment.”
Susanna Seery

What was it like for you to work within a collaborative group/studio setting?

“I enjoyed it. I believe it is imperative for a designer to experience it early on.”
Tinhinane Khelifi

“It was valuable practice at bouncing creative ideas around a group. The project was like a ball of clay, being shaped and moulded to the client’s needs as we passed it around, narrowing its shape with our individual contributions.”
William Gilligan

What was it like for you working with community partners/collaborators on a real project?

I loved that component, knowing that what I was working on or thinking about would contribute to a tangible change in the world.
Tiffany Hale

Exciting! It presented a challenge that many of us never experienced before. Putting the student in a position where they tackle real-world problems is quite rewarding.
Tinhinane Khelifi

It was exciting working with Anne and Victor, since the project I was part of was Express Newark-related, as well as sitting in on the presentation with the Chancellor. It felt truly gratifying to be a part of this collective, as we were thanked by these notable individuals for the contributions the DC has collectively made towards EN.
William Gilligan

Would you recommend other students become part of either the Design Consortium or Visual Means Internships / Studios? And Why?

Yes. I think it gives a great taste of the way the design process can look in the workforce. I think it also helps break down the perception that it’s all on “you” as a designer. Instead, it helps you realize that in your career you’ll be a part of a larger design dialogue. It prepares you to set aside ego in service of a project’s success.
Tiffany Hale

Absolutely! The competition is high out there! The opportunity to be in either of these studios is one you must take! It will push you to become the designer you want to be. It will help you speak about your work and how you collaborate to future employers!
Tinhinane Khelifi

Yes! Honestly, it gives you a hands-on experience on how its like to work with others in a creative environment. It’ll definitely prepare you for a more corporate job or a job where you’ll have to work with a team.
Rochelle Bernal

DC and VM are tremendously valuable experiences for students to work with real clients on projects that have exposure beyond the University. Meeting general project expectations within the classroom can become redundant and formulaic for students who have been pushed through standard education their whole lives… DC and VM exposes students to the challenges of being a paid problem solver and critical thinker, and acts like a stepping stone between higher education and the professional workforce.
William Gilligan

Yes! Because they will have a better understanding and different point of view within the design world that is outside of class. Your dealing with real clients which helps students build a better vocabulary and understanding of working with clients. While helping student build a better knowledge of different things/topics they did not know about!
Susanna Seery

How do you feel about what the design team accomplished during your time as part of the Design Consortium?

I look at the work we created together with pride.
Tinhinane Khelifi

Very successful and productive ! Plus amazing teamwork throughout the entire semester.
Susanna Seery

What was your favorite part of this experience?

Working with new clients!
Tinhinane Khelifi

What was your least favorite part of this experience?

Not getting into it earlier!
Tinhinane Khelifi

What was your least favorite part of this experience?

That the semester ended…
Susanna Seery

Please share any other thoughts or comments you would like us to know. Thanks!

It’s a very cool opportunity to bring Rutgers Newark’s ACM department into a position of service for the community, and I love that! It helped me grow appreciation for the city.
Tiffany Hale

Hope these classes last for a long time coming! 🙂
Rochelle Bernal