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Been lurking here for a while and thought I'd finally share a bit about my path into the gear design world. It started with a fairly common story: tinkering in my garage, trying to fix and modify hiking equipment that just wasn't cutting it for my needs. I started with small projects, like reinforcing backpack straps and adding custom pockets to climbing harnesses.
From there, I slowly started learning the technical aspects – materials science, CAD software, and manufacturing processes.A big turning point was taking a few online courses on 3D modeling and then dedicating time to practicing that skill. At frist, everything looked clunky and amateurish, but with persistence, I started to create designs I was proud of.
Eventually, I landed an internship at a local outdoor gear company. That experience was invaluable. I learned the importance of user feedback, the realities of mass production, and how to balance innovation with practical considerations. It also taught me that some of the best ideas come from the simplest observations in the field.Now, several years later, I'm a full-time gear designer. Anyone else made a similar leap from hobbyist modifications to professional design within the outdoor industry (or any industry, for that matter)? What were some key moments in your transition?