minor details 36 - Michael Ditullo part 2
Dec 10, 2018
Michael DiTullo, an industrial designer and founder of his own studio, shares insights from his impressive career, including his transformative work at Sound United. He discusses the importance of mentorship and how to elevate lesser-known brands into dream workplaces. Michael emphasizes creativity and empathy in design feedback, while also diving into the evolution of design in the digital age. He offers valuable advice for younger designers on honing their skills and building professional relationships, illuminating the path to success in the industry.
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Finding The Client You Can Change
- Michael describes meeting mentor Jerry who advised him to join clients who "don't know shit about design" and teach them everything.
- He later recognized DEI Holdings (Polk) as that client and seized the chance to transform it.
Design Should Reflect How A Product Feels
- Michael realized Polk's product strength let design simply "tell the truth" about how the products sound.
- He aligned materials and forms (woods, curves, warm finishes) to communicate the audio character visually.
Start With Users, Not Wrapping
- Put research and user needs before cosmetic styling; involve engineers and designers together early and work in parallel.
- Talk to real users first to create relevant product plans and speed up development.