So You Want to Be a Product Designer—Matter

JAMIE GRAY, Owner

Ultimate Draw
The first thing I look for is potential. Of course, it’s always hit or miss, sending a portfolio of work to a manufacturer. I get about three to ten submissions a month. And I may not always respond, or have time to get back to them, but I look at everything.

Fresh Perspective
I’m a small operation and run things pretty organically, so I actually like it when designers approach us without a deep knowledge of our company. They’re coming at it from their own perspective. We can always make adjustments to accommodate what they’re doing, or help them rethink their approach. That said, it’s important to have some sense of a company’s direction. Every now and then I’ll receive something so off base that it totally misses the mark, and makes absolutely no sense with what I sell and how I curate.

The Essentials
Look at what we’re already doing and try to imagine your work in the context of our collection. Think long and hard about whether or not it honestly fits there. Then make sure your presentation is right on point and has good drawings, beautiful renderings, and clear descriptions.