KIM MACKENZIE-DOYLE / INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER

KIM MACKENZIE DOYLE is a force of nature. An internationally esteemed PRODUCT DESIGNER and FOUNDER of IDI iniatives – WHY DESIGN and MIND OVER MATTER – Kim is also the brains behind the world’s best selling computer mouse the LOGITECH M305.

@WHYDESIGN @KIMMACDOY @WHYDESIGNDOTIE /

WHYDESIGN.IE

I am an Industrial Designer by nature, design advocate and instigator. I was pushed into the Sciences at third level by my parents, dropped out (had a great time in ‘1st year’) and then found my feet in Industrial Design.

I paid my way through college and took a year out before completing fourth year designing customisable tanker trailers in an Engineering firm. I could tell you a thing or two about kingpins. I worked three jobs through college which instilled a very strong work ethic and competitive streak. I knew exactly what I did not want to do in life.

I grew up in Design Partners, ran a research centre in Carlow IT, dabbled in tech startups and was President of the Institute of Designers Ireland (yes I signed my Christmas cards ‘The President’) Now I am driven to build my own company and to take over my world.

My very first project that went into production was a USB overmould in my first few months in Design Partners. No design awards there, but for me it was really significant, it was a big improvement to the bog standard design and it worked well to blend the industrial USB to the free and simple cord.

It had a grip for ease of use and the textures guided the user to which way was up. It was on hundreds of Logitech products which in turn was produced hundreds of thousands of times. It was even copied by the competitors – imitation is definitely a form of flattery.

OH that’s a tough one – I am lucky to have worked on some brilliant projects with some amazing people.

At a push, it would be WhyDesign. I think is has a massive potential to inspire the next generation and also highlight some of the inspiring women we have in our industry who simply have had it harder and don’t get enough credit.

My challenge is time – it’s one of my after-hours projects so it all happens in the dark hours. But the highlight is the team behind it and the craic on the WhatsApp group. They are a great bunch of women and we have had some incredible people involved over the years!

I guess I have always been inquisitive and had a real need to find out how things work and why they do what they do. I used to take products apart to figure out how they worked (and got in trouble for it). I liked to solve problems, I remember when I was in school fixing doors and making handles that would work for the cupboards. There was no real or clear route to design, I remember the school guidance counsellor suggesting art or science (as I was strong in both).

I fell into design after beginning science in college and hating it. I (or my parents) could not afford for me to study in Dublin so I went to the closest college Carlow IT (RTC back then) – luckily I was hanging out with designers and knew I would rock it. It was a pivotal moment, so I am reminded that it’s OK if something does not work out. There is a different path that will.

By far that was one of the hardest years of my life. I had been an IDI member for years, an award winner and a judge. That gave me a real insight into the organisations workings. As soon as the opportunity to become President arose I said yes. Immediately I got a huge experienced the disadvantages and the advantages. It was frustrating to me that no one else thought it was an issue, and why would you if you were getting paid more and had more chance of advancement and already had a management seat. This was a common thread in most of my career. I do want to stress this point though, some of the best feminists I know are men. They are out there, we just need more.

dose of imposter syndrome, asking myself ‘why me?’ I became resolved in the challenge and thought if I was going to do it I was really going to do it. I knew what I wanted to work on, two issues I am really passionate about and lived through. Having the platform was a real change maker, it enabled me to realise both initiatives alongside some of the best creatives in the country.

In college! Day one, I noticed there were all male lectures bar one female teaching design history.

Most of my class was male too, I studied Industrial Design and I did not know one practicing female industrial designer. There are still very few only 5% in the industry and its dangerous for everyone (that’s a whole different interview). Then when I got ‘the’ job I was the only female designer in the building and I

That’s a tough question, hopefully a male leading the initiative. That’s when real change will happen when our male peers make the change we need. I would like to see males represented on the platform in female heavy disciplines, but in saying that the pendulum has swung the other way for so long I think we are OK to feature a few more women before that happens. I feel strongly that we need to get into schools and talk to students about creative careers. I would also love to see a study done on where females go in the creative sector – why is there a drop off from college into industry, why is there only 100% female creative KIM MACKENZIE-DOYLE / IDI ©

a lot for collaboration, Indesign/AI/ Photoshop as standard practice, EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL too many emails, and then you have all the conferencing software from Zoom to Google Hangouts. Trello can be useful as is Assana, so glad I am not using slack anymore – it’s a big distraction. Later for social media management, Last pass for storing passwords safely its brilliant. Keynote and all the other usual Apple app suspects.

Did I mention EMAILS… so since the whallop of Covid (that was not in my plan) I now juggle some different hats in addition to my normal creative hats; teacher, chef, cleaner, dog sitter, bouncer (to my lovely kids), delivery service, director of IDI, CEO of a creative startup, mentor, sometimes guest lecturer to name but a few. Days are busy and go fast, it has been a struggle. I am doing my best and at the moment that is good enough.

Books?! What are books? I would love to get back into reading books. But if and when I carve out the time I will read books that will challenge me not just feed my creative soul. Think entrepreneurial books or publications on societal impact. I have 10 books on my desk I want to read – but time is my enemy. Here are two of note that I frequently of note; How I built this with Guy Raz – some inspiring conversations here. How to Own the Room with Viv Gos– great for women who would like to get more comfortable with public speaking. I do like the odd Design focused podcast and drop in and out of them.

‘Don’t eat yellow snow’ but seriously I have two. ‘You get what you put out in life’ and ‘Surround yourself with the people you want to be’ So I have tried to live both. For the latter - I am not shy, possibly a bit socially awkward. I tend to make a bee line for the people I want to meet, even if they are mid conversation. They may think I am rude, but in essence, I am seizing the opportunity. I know for a fact if you don’t back yourself nothing happens. On the other side of the coin addressing the first bit of advice, I believe if you have the experience and the ability you should support someone else on their creative journey. We should treat people how we would like to be treated and I would have loved to have someone in the industry to check in with for words of support or a steer. Us older heads might just have that one nugget, that one work of advice that can support someone is ways that could change their lives. After all, we are only keeping their seats warm.

Mac – but I run Parallels so have the PC side if and when I need it, so I run both sides of the track. I am a frustrated Apple fan, loving the usability and design of their products with eternal jealously of the budgets the designers had to play with. I use Google Doc’s/Dropbox Take over your own world,

Be more ambitions, knock on doors earlier and don’t be afraid of ‘no’ it’s just a word. Learn if you don’t ask you don’t get, but in the ask you should always reciprocate. Don’t just take, make sure and give too and it will come back to you. Relationship building and your emotional intelligence will be your super power – build on those skills as much as you can. Ask for help if you need it, and feel uncomfortable more. That’s when great things happen, that’s when you’re at your best.

Own it. Take over your own world. directors. If we understand the “why’s” – we can work on a solution.