DESIGN
COMMENT
Michael Paloian, Integrated Design Systems, Inc.
Top 5 Qualifications to Consider When Hiring Designer? Hiring new employees is always fun, isn’t it? NO! It is always a gamble and it’s risky business. You never know what you will end up with. So, what precautions should you take to minimize your risk and employ the best designer for your company? I will share a few suggestions in this brief article. Below are a few of my suggestions for qualifications and verifications during the hiring process. Qualification #1 – Honesty and Integrity I place these two traits as #1, above all others. If you hire a knowledgeable, creative, experienced, and productive person who is dishonest, you’re planting a bomb in your business. A dishonest person will eventually leak confidential information and steal as well as sabotage your business. You can verify a person’s integrity by cleverly phrasing questions during the interview and evaluating the candidate during a one to three-month probation period. Qualification #2 – Intelligence and Inquisitiveness A great design candidate should possess high intelligence and an inquisitive mind. High intelligence is beneficial for solving complex problems, retaining a great wealth of knowledge, and applying these skills creatively. A curious mind initiates questions, inspires research, and leads one to consider the potential pitfalls of a proposed design solution. These traits can be evaluated by careful observation of one’s behavior. If the interviewee asks a limited number of questions, it’s a sign they are not very curious. Qualification #3 – Imagination and Creativity Designers are required to create something from nothing. They must comprehend abstract ideas and concepts that must be converted into tangible physical products. Designers must often understand complex technical concepts or marketing objectives and translate that information into several possible solutions. This process requires one to relate diverse facts and ideas to each other and combine them into many innovative design solutions. You can test a candidate’s creativity by presenting them with a simple problem that they must solve within a specified period. Qualification #4 – Technical knowledge and Skills Qualified designers should possess an extensive technical knowledge foundation. If they are designing rotational molded parts, they should understand the process, secondary operations, tooling, and materials. This background will provide them with the necessary information to effectively transform their ideas into realistic designs that can be easily manufactured. Well-educated designers familiar with the rotational molding process will be
much more effective in creatively developing designs into highly innovative products than designers unfamiliar with the process. Evaluating a design candidate’s knowledge of these technical facts is relatively simple and needs no further discussion. Qualification #5 – Open-Mindedness and Flexibility Exceptional designers exhibit flexibility and adaptiveness in their thinking. Designers who are insecure and egotistical are typically much less willing to accept ideas from others and are stubborn. This attitude always leads to inferior designs and difficulties in project management. Designers who are resistant to change quickly become outdated and counterproductive. You can test a candidate’s ability to accept ideas and change their perspective by having them interact with others in your organization. I hope this brief editorial was helpful for those of you anticipating the hiring of a designer in your organization. I know it’s not easy, and your choice will significantly impact your business. Your alternative is to contract with an outside design expert with a proven track record. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at paloian@idsys.com www.rotoworldmag.com 51
