Orlando Novoa is a Product and Industrial Designer with an eye for capturing the aesthetic and vision of brands he works with around the world. KeyShot allows the ability to create quick, quality rendering to communicate ideas and move projects along. Here, he provides more insight to his process and tells us why KeyShot is such an important part.
What sparked your interest in product/industrial design?
Since I was a child, I have been interested in how the products that we have in our daily lives are manufactured. I remember that I disassembled (damaged) my toys and was curious about the parts, the plastics, and the mechanisms that made everything come together in one piece, so my first and only option was always industrial design, at the beginning as an “artistic or artisanal” feeling but later as a feeling of creating things to help a better life. In my first steps as a designer, I had the opportunity to design a lot of health products, and this made me research a lot about the science of ergonomics and materials; it was a great experience that now helps me to get involved in design projects in different categories like, furniture, devices, plastics, babies (my favorite category), wearables, etc. I really appreciate what I do; I want to continue evolving my skills and improving the context where we live through new products.
What was the turning point in your career?
My first big highlight was winning a design award sponsored by Istituto Europeo Design in 2015. With this award, I had the opportunity to study in Europe for a few months and learn about different cultures and design thoughts, but my turning point in my career was when I became a featured freelancer on Upwork. There, I gained clients from all over the world with different thoughts and with very inspired ideas. Today, I have been a freelance designer for five years, ready to be involved with projects, across industries and around the world.
What is unique about your approach to a project/design?
My approach is always to think of the product as a ready-to-manufacture design. I always design something viable that can be manufactured on a reasonable budget. the process begins with a talk to learn about the dreams and ideas that my client has in mind, and then put myself in his head and dream about that product. From here, I make concepts, prototypes, and finally cad files and production drawings; everything is a process that over time becomes automatic.
What is your primary 3D modeling software?
Inventor is my main 3D modeling software but, along the way, I have designed products in SketchUp, SolidWorks, and others. It is essential to use CAD software in industrial design and I believe, for this reason, options such as Inventor or SolidWorks are the standard of our community. They are very flexible, intuitive, and easy to learn.
Where in the process do you use KeyShot?
The first impression is the most important and KeyShot is an impressive software to obtain quality results and in a reasonable time. I use KeyShot throughout the process, to present quick ideas and final designs. At the end of each project, I usually also use the animation option to make simple videos of the product.
What makes KeyShot an important tool to have?
KeyShot is a program that adapts to the capacity of your PC. There are no excuses for not getting a good render in a short time. KeyShot is really a vital tool for my work, showing the products with a realistic touch is essential to “sell” your idea. A good quality renders that only takes 10 minutes using KeyShot can be the difference between being a category designer or an inexperienced designer taking screenshots of the 3D model. I think that in addition to this, KeyShot has a list of materials and sufficient resources to make the presentation of any type of product, it is a complete software that adapts to your time.
What advice would you give to someone interested in doing what you do?
To be a good designer and have success and pleasure with what you do, go out into the world, be an observer and identify opportunities. Everyday, the world offers opportunities to design and use new products that improve our lives. Studying is important, but theory without practice is nothing. That’s why I invite my colleagues to design for pleasure if they don’t have clients. Always keep your portfolio updated because, at any time, someone may see your work and want you to work with them.
See more at novoadi.com
