Let’s meet you (Your Name, What You do, where you currently work)
 

My Name is Nelson Odigie from Benin City,Edo state.

I work as a Product Design Trainer at Career Insights TV.

Can you share your journey from Utiva Design School to your current role as a Product Design Trainer at Career Insights TV? 

My journey from Utiva Design School to my current role as a Product Design Trainer at Career Insights TV has been incredibly fulfilling. At Utiva, I honed my skills in design principles, user experience and product development methodologies with other research I did personally. This foundation equipped me with the knowledge and expertise needed to excel in the field of product design.

The knowledge I acquired at Utiva instilled in me a passion for continuous learning and growth, which I bring to my role as a Product Design Trainer.

Moreover, this period taught me the importance of empathy and user-centric design. I emphasize these principles in my training sessions, encouraging designers to prioritize the needs and experiences of the end-users.
 

Utiva has greatly influenced my approach to product design training by emphasizing practical skills and continuous learning. 

I am grateful for the foundation it provided for me

What methodologies or frameworks from your time at Utiva Design School do you find most valuable in your role as a Product Design Trainer, and how do you incorporate them into your teaching?

One of the methodologies I find most valuable from my time at Utiva Design School is Design Thinking. This approach emphasizes understanding user needs, ideation, prototyping, and testing. I incorporate it into my teaching by guiding students through real-world instances where they apply each stage of the process, fostering empathy, creativity, and iterative problem-solving.

As a Product Design Trainer, how do you tailor your training approach to accommodate your students' different learning styles and skill levels?

Well,I would say I adapt my approach by offering various learning modalities that could help the student better understand such as flexible curriculums, collaborative projects, and accessible resources to cater to the needs and abilities of each student.

Can you discuss a particularly challenging aspect of transitioning from a student to a trainer, and how you overcame it to effectively teach product design concepts?
 

Transitioning from being a student to taking on the role of a trainer in product design necessitated a great understanding of the diverse backgrounds and learning preferences of the students, prompting me to tailor my teaching approach accordingly by breaking down complex concepts into manageable segments and providing relatable examples, all while committing myself to stay updated and also to ensure that the teachings remained relevant and impactful.

What are the essential skills or qualities should aspiring product designers focus on developing?

Aspiring product designers should focus on developing a creative mindset, user-centric design, problem-solving skills, communication abilities, teamwork, adaptability, and attention to detail, which can be emphasized through hands-on training sessions incorporating practical exercises, case studies, and real-world projects.

How do you stay updated with the latest trends and developments in the field of product design, and how do you integrate this knowledge into your curriculum at Career Insights TV?

I stay updated with the latest trends and developments in product design through continuous research, studying online publications, and learning from professionals, integrating this knowledge into the curriculum by regularly updating course content, incorporating case studies, and providing resources such as videos to ensure the students receive the most relevant and up-to-date education in the field.

Collaboration is often essential in product design. Can you provide examples of how you encourage collaboration and teamwork among your students to foster creativity and innovation?

I prioritize collaboration in product design education by assigning group projects and fostering a supportive environment for idea exchange. Through teamwork, students learn to leverage diverse perspectives, take creative risks, and develop essential skills for innovation.
 

Can you walk us through your approach to providing feedback and mentorship to students in your product design training courses?

In my product design courses, I provide personalized feedback on assignments. I try to offer one-on-one mentorship to guide portfolio development and product design. Peer-to-peer mentorship opportunities are also encouraged to foster learning from each other's experiences.

As a Product Design Trainer, how do you balance teaching theoretical concepts with practical, hands-on experience to ensure students are well-prepared for real-world challenges?

This is an important aspect of product training. In trying to achieve this balance, the teachings are structured by integrating theoretical lessons with real-world case studies and practical exercises. This allows students to understand the principles behind design concepts while also applying them in practical scenarios. 

How do you impact the learning outcomes of your students?

That will be the project I give them which allows the student to practically apply their design skills and foster their creativity and innovative thinking.

The project usually with the required guidance tends to improve their knowledge on product design and ensure they take the needed approach in product design
 

How do you assess the effectiveness of your training programs, and what metrics or indicators do you use to measure student progress and success?

That would be the feedback I get from the assessment given to the student. This helps understand if their training programs were effective and if they can handle a real project. 

How do you address the significant challenge of the ever-evolving space of product design?

In my role at Career Insights TV, I strive to advance product design education by staying updated while using the needed methodologies, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and consistently refining the curriculum to ensure graduates are equipped for the ever-evolving demands of the field.

What are your final words?

Product design is not just about creating beautiful interfaces, it's about transforming ideas into tangible experiences that enhance lives. As a product designer, you become an agent of change and challenge the status quo. Embrace the journey of discovery, where each challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate. Your unique perspective and passion can shape the world in ways you never imagined.
 

Odigie Nelson is a graduate of Mechanical engineering from Petroleum Training Institute, Delta State

He is also a realtor with a wide knowledge of the real estate market

He also has a passion for aesthetics and design, which led him to pursue a career as a UI/UX designer.

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