During this time of a pandemic with Covid-19 around us, the world is in a panic. You may get sick, you may not, we are in lockdowns and quarantines. 

Since schools and some work places are closed, a lot of us are stuck at home with not much to do. Of course, many of us are finishing up the end of our semesters. I was planning to look for a job, an internship, or any opportunity that helps me in my life as a designer. For the first 2 weeks I had been quarantined, I was just sitting around, waiting for something to happen or for everything to be better so we can go back out. My job and internship search has come to a halt and I have even let things affect my motivation for school. 

Now that I am through with my overly extended “spring break”, I have been communicating more and looking for opportunities again. While finding a job isn’t really realistic right now, finding opportunities has been surprisingly easy. 

There are so many opportunities to actually help people and make a difference. The first thing I think of when I think of Industrial Designers is problem solver; and this virus has suddenly created more needs, more problems to solve. 

• Designers are 3D printing filters and bands for face masks.

• Designers are sewing fabric face masks.

• Grocery stores designed things to implement into the stores (social distancing markers, face shields in front of registers, extra barriers for check-out lanes)

• People are looking into different bathroom habits, people who have never considered it before are looking into installing bidet attachments in their homes. (A foreign concept for some) 

These have all been design opportunities, and suddenly necessities. These are things that people use, these are things that make a difference. 

So after this virus passes, whether it be a long time or a really long time, things will change. We will try and go back to how things were. As designers, how can we though? 

If you think of the book “Design for the other 90 percent” by Cynthia E. Smith, it talks about how designers usually focus on designing for the top 10% of people in mind, 90% of people in the world actually need improvements on shelter, health, transportation and resources. During this virus, a lot of people can actually relate to that 90%, especially with lack of paychecks. 

With that, I think moving forward it will be even more important to focus on that 90% in the future.