Jamie Agnew
The highlight of my time in Maynooth University was the final months of final year. While this period was challenging for obvious reasons, I received a lot of recognition for my work including winning a prize in the EDEN competition and winning the Combilift Design Innovation competition as a result of the department's collaboration with Combilift. This recognition made all my hard work over the previous few years worth it.
The Product Design course covered a broad range of topics which had us designing chairs in one module and mobile apps in another. This taught me to keep an open mind regarding career options. The aspect of my Maynooth University experience that undoubtedly shaped my career was the industry partnerships throughout the course. Our third year project in collaboration with ESB led to me securing a 7-month work placement working as a service designer at ESB, while our final year project in collaboration with Combilift led to me securing a full-time design engineering role with the company.
The course you choose now doesn't define what you have to do for the rest of your life but rather equips you with the tools to create a life or career that you are happy with. There are parts of your course you'll like and others you'll dislike but this will guide you towards the career path you want to take. Your degree sets you up for life but doesn't lock you in to one career path forever so take this time to learn skills you can use to open doors in the future.
Please tell us about your career journey so far (including your current role/position/field)
I began working in Combilift as a design engineer shortly after completing final year. My first role saw me leading the design of forklift attachments and I was soon trusted to take reponsibility for the design engineering of 2 truck models. With a few years of experience under my belt, I designed a brand new truck model from the ground up. I always enjoyed seeing my designs come to life while finishing off a scale model in the workshop in Maynooth but seeing a full-sized forklift you've designed in Solidworks being manufactured is another level. I've been lucky enough to do some travel for work including visiting customer sites and going to a show in Chicago for the launch of a truck I was the lead design engineer for.
I developed a strong interest in UX design throughout my time in Maynooth University as UX design was a key element of many projects and modules. This skill was further developed during my work placement in ESB and following my time in MU, I began working with some organisations on branding and web design projects in my spare time. In early 2024, I decided to start my own brand and web design company, Formaco Design. We work with clients to create sleek websites and impactful brands which make their businesses stand out. I look forward to growing the company over the coming years.
What do you find most interesting/challenging about your job?
I work with clients across a wide spectrum of industries so it's really interesting getting to know each different industry while working on each project. I enjoy getting to know my clients and their businesses and figuring out what they need from their brand and website. I find myself getting better at managing and delivering projects for clients with each project I do.
What are the key insights gained during your time at MU that have helped you in your career journey? And what advice would you give to someone starting out or interested in your career or field? Please consider tactics such as networking, creative job searches, using the career centre, social media presence etc
I found that the Product Design course heavily encouraged entrepreneurship. The majority of lecturers were entrepreneurs who shared their real-world experience in their teaching. This was something I always found interesting and ultimately, this inspiration has led me to start my own business. I would encourage students to consider entrepreneurship as a career path and to absorb as much as they can from lecturers who've done it themselves.