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What are good product ideas?

Is being a product designer a good career for a 20 year old man with Asperger's Syndrome who is a visual thinker, whose imagination is always running wild and likes to draw down ideas on paper?

  • I am a 20 year old man living with Asperger's Syndrome, and ever since childhood, as far as I can remember, I liked to draw down ideas for products or buildings down on paper, and I was told I would make "One hell of an artist, someday" by family members. I am a visual thinker/learner. NOTE: My initial plan until recently was to become a web developer/computer programmer, because I want to become a successful Internet entrepreneur. But, after reading a very well informed answer of someone with experience, I realise that I would be getting into web development/computer programming for the wrong reasons: big money, and what I've seen in IT company culture. Instead, I think I'm more of a products & ideas artist than a computer programmer. What I'd like to know is if being a product designer such as using software tools like AutoCAD, drawing on paper, etc is a good career path for someone like me with Asperger's Syndrome who is a visual thinker, whose imagination always runs wild? ALSO NOTE: I used to be mad about LEGO for the first 15 years of my life.

  • Answer:

    Why not? You're young enough to simply give it a go. If you know you're a visual thinker and have good ideas you can present visually, you're halfway there. Most people who get into such a profession don't even know if they have the interest, let alone skillset or talent. Since you say you already sketched some things, I would recommend taking it to the next level of experimentation and grabbing a tablet peripheral like the Wacom Intuos, software like AutoDesk Sketchbook (actually used for product design sketching before proper modeling) or Photoshop and giving it a go. Even Zbrush might be great - it's a 3D sculpting program in which you model digital clay with the stylus of your tablet peripheral (which is why I recommend Wacom, they alone have tablets advanced enough to allow you the perfect motion required for such software). Another great and cheap option is the Inkling - Wacom's pen that lets you sketch on paper normally, but also saves your drawings into the base of the sketchpad so you can just transfer it all onto the computer in vector format once you get home. Put some of your work up and you'll know if there's a future in ti for you within weeks.

Bruno Skvorc at Quora Visit the source

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First of all, it is great to see that you are looking at your passion to find the career you want to pursue. That is the best way to make sure you have success in everything you do. I have had a few encounters with people who have Asperger's. Your challenge will likely be selling your ideas -- which I believe to be an important part of any design process. An idea is often only as good as its pitch. If you are self employed and decide to do freelance work, your pitch will be even more important. Getting new work requires confidence and hard work, but the end result is rewarding when you see your work on their site, etc. As for tools, designers actually start doing work in a sketchbook with pencils. Try to start drawing items you are fascinated with, like a cellphone or a TV or a coke can. Get really good at sketching your thoughts. If you can do that, transitioning to a computer just requires practice. AutoCAD is great for precise stuff, but you can also use Adobe Illustrator or Fireworks to create what we call "high-fidelity mockups" -- things clients or other people could see and appreciate visually.  I recommend you checking out this related question on career paths: Good luck.

Tarun Gangwani

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