Rob Jensen Design

It’s Been Fun

Rob — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 06:41:25 +0000

I just wanted to take a moment and thank all those that subscribed to my blog and read my posts. It meant a lot. I won’t be posting here anymore, looking to simplify life a bit.

Thanks again for the time you took out of your day to stop by.

Wish you all the best on your industrial design endeavors.

Perfecting Your Craft—The Sequel

Rob — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:22:13 +0000

If you remember a while back, I posted a video of Danny MacAskill doing unbelievable tricks on a bike. The real question, do you think you’ve spent as much time designing as this guy has riding?

Well if you weren’t inspired then, maybe you will now…

Jason White’s Old School Viscom

Rob — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:27:54 +0000

I know Jason White from working at Ford. He’s an amazing designer and artist. He also just released a preview of his book, “Old School Viscom: 20 Renderings in 20 Steps”.

Old school rendering is quickly (if not already) becoming a lost art. Sure, many designers still use paper and pen to develop the initial design. But, when was the last time you started a rendering on paper and finished it on paper?

For more pics and info about pre-ordering, check out Jason’s “Old School Viscom: 20 Renderings in 20 Steps” Facebook page. Don’t forget to “Like” it.

Classic CCS Renderings, Models, and More

Rob — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 02:31:04 +0000

Here’s a fun link one of my friends posted on Facebook. It definitely made me look.

I love old school stuff, it reminds me of why I fell in love with concept cars and art.

For the full site and more images visit http://ccs-olsen.com/

Some of my favorites, below:

Sketching with the iPad

Rob — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:00:30 +0000

Using the iPhone to sketch with is fun, but using the iPad is a little closer to the real thing. I told myself I would wait until the next one came out, didn’t last very long. I broke down this weekend and picked it up. Now I’m kicking myself that I waited. Using Autodesk’s Sketchbook Pro feels (may even look) like the first time I used a stylus with Photoshop – like a kid in a candy shop. This thing will never leave my side.

Link to app on iTunes.

Link Day

Rob — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:00:07 +0000

Here’s just a few links I stumbled upon throughout the past week. Thought you might enjoy them too. The first has a few additional links of it’s own, the others are designers I’ve found through Twitter and other sites.

1. http://www.designjuices.co.uk/2010/09/industrial-design-roundup-august/

2. http://www.coroflot.com/hugob

3. http://carindesign.carbonmade.com/

4. http://rbrt.se/

5. http://www.aissalogerot.com/#/projects/lampadair/

Friday Follow

Rob — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:57:12 +0000

Friday, usually is a day where Twitter users recommend someone they follow to those that follow them. I’m posting my Follow Friday here, just for fun. I started a small list of Industrial Designers on Twitter, you’re welcome to follow the list or pick individuals out. If you’re not on the list (and you’re a designer) don’t get offended, I just haven’t added you yet. Let me know in the comments section or by email, and I’ll add you right away.

http://twitter.com/robjensendesign/industrial-design

Finding Time to Sketch

Rob — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:52:15 +0000

…isn’t easy. But sketching, is one of the best tools a designer has to solve problems, present found solutions, and just plain all around communicate. Developing your sketching skill is not easy either, sure some are born with a natural ability, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach the same or higher skill level.

I just started reading a great book, called Outliers. One of it’s grabbing quotes:

“In fact, researchers have settled on what they believe is the magic number for true expertise: ten thousand hours.”
— Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers)

If you take this to heart, it means you’ll become an expert of anything after spending 10,000 hours doing it. If you want to become an expert sketcher/designer, all you have to do is get busy.

Just for fun:

I need to spend about 10,000 more hours sketching, but time is limited, so I’m always looking for new ways to fit an extra sketch in. Lately, I’ve been putting the iPhone 4 to the test. Finger paintings are kind off fun.

Drawn and recorded using iPhone 4 and the Brushes app.

The New 2011 Ford Explorer

Rob — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:00:41 +0000

If any of you missed it, Ford released their new Explorer yesterday. They did the reveal in both LA and NYC, but if you couldn’t attend in person you could watch via Facebook. I thought the new design turned out great, but more importantly I was excited for all the close friends who worked on it. They spent a few years on it, and I’m sure they’re excited to finally talk about it.

Great job, you guys!

For a complete gallery check Autoblog

Find the Perfect Question

Rob — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:09:55 +0000

The need is not always easy to find. It could be for a product not yet created or it could be for a feature on an existing product. Either way, it’s like answering a question.

Some products fail because they answer a question that isn’t being asked. Another reason products fail is because they answer the wrong question. And finally, sometimes products fail because they answer a trivial question.

(INSERT: noise of fortune cookie opening) The only way to create the perfect product (answer), is to find the perfect need (question).

Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design.
-Charles Eames