Jessye Grundlingh

What Program did you graduate from and when?

I graduated from Industrial Design in 2016

What is your current title or role? (ie. freelance designer, art practitioner, etc.)

I own my own DIY Skincare Brand- and I do everything! I still call myself an Industrial Designer, although on any given day I may do photography, social media, copywriting, fundraising, research, product development, etc. All of which could be considered to be Design.

Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?

I wanted to learn how to make things myself. 

Please briefly describe your current job/practice.

My practice is very much informed by my time at OCAD U and specifically my thesis project. After a course in Sustainability & Systems Thinking, I first developed the idea for a DIY skincare brand that meshed my love of making cute products with my desire to help people live more sustainably. Design is a very powerful way to impact human behaviour, and we can harness it to change habits that ultimately change the planet!

How did you get started in your career? 

I had the opportunity straight out of school to start my own business. My first business was with another student I went to OCAD U with. We designed fixtures, furniture and did larger installation work including build-outs for restaurants and offices. I really learned how to design for clients in that business, and how to sell my designs to them! One thing you learn very quickly once you start working is that it’s not about you or your aesthetic or ideas- it’s very much about the brief, the customer and the price point.

I sold that business in 2018 to start my new business- Make This Universe. MTU is very much based on the lessons learned the first time around. It’s hard to scale a service-based business when you can’t multiply yourself, and it's always going to be hard to find people who are willing to work as hard as you are. So, this time around, I wanted a business I could scale so I decided to go the product route instead, which has its own challenges!

What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work?

I never had the capability to work for free so I never considered internships! I do think design is worth paying for, and that valuing yourself properly is one of the best things you can do for your career- and design as a whole!

What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

I’ve changed my career path enough to know that the real value I bring to any situation is creative problem-solving. Whether that’s designing drool-worthy packaging made locally on a budget, figuring out how to frame the entrance of a new market to attract people off the main street, or even finding a way to hang a sign off a pole without using hardware. I’ve solved all these problems in my short career using design thinking and the problem-solving tools I first learned at OCAD U. 

The most challenging aspect is always the process. There’s always a long time- maybe around 75% of any design job (or problem)- where you have no idea what the solution is, and yet the deadline is still approaching. When I started working, I would only feel good at the kickoff meeting and perhaps a few months after I’ve delivered once all the stress has dissipated. Now I’m learning to enjoy the time in between, as I can trust I will always find a solution. So far, I have solved every problem I’ve set out to. Even changing the initial problem to a new one can still be considered a great solution!

Partially this is about giving myself enough time to play within any project timeline, and accept that not knowing always comes before knowing.

What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently?

I would say the highest value outcome I got from OCAD U was becoming part of the design community. It’s extremely small - and you will either work with or for so many of the people you interact with when you are at OCAD U. In terms of doing things differently, I wish I had maybe chilled out a bit more! I took school very seriously, which in retrospect didn’t set me up well for the amount of work that was to come straight after school. Believe it or not, it gets harder once you leave. Design as a skill, unfortunately, is usually billed out hourly and the only way to over-deliver is to put in the hours. Depending on the type of design you’re doing, you may not get paid for the hours you put in.           

What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice? 

Since I run my own product-based business, I do everything that comes with small business ownership from admin to budgeting to design to production to social media and fundraising. One of the things about your OCAD U skillset is that it has applications in so many different fields, you’ll find your responsibilities will vary greatly on the job compared to other classmates who land different jobs!

What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years?

I would love to grow my business to the point where I could focus on business development and product development. This is where I really shine and so I would love to hand off my other responsibilities to people who excel in areas where I don’t, whether that’s social media, logistics, or graphic design. My dream job- which I am essentially designing for myself as I grow my business- is to focus on research, prototyping, product development and merchandising including designing physical stores and pop-ups Basically the definition of the design process.

I would also always want to be closely involved in creative direction and photography because it’s fun and blends some big aspects of the business- marketing, graphic design, product design- together.