Yellow Goat design (YDG) is an internationally renowned design firm that has been creating award-winning lighting, screen, and sculptural art designs for over 20 years.YGD predominantly create incredibly detailed and complex high-end lighting installations ranging from large budgets and large public spaces such as shopping centres to smaller budgets and smaller feature lighting pieces in homes around the world.

I decided to apply for WIL with Conrad at YGD because I thoroughly enjoyed the university course that Conrad taught and knew it would be a great way to push myself out of my functional design comfort zone and more into the creative design world. I would also have the opportunity to spend more time working with Rhino's CAD modelling software.
       
Over the 14 weeks, I  spent one day a week at the YGD Bundall-based gold coast office. Each week consisted of a new brief, a new design challenge and new 3D modelling techniques to learn and apply in the Rhino Software. After a chat with Conrad about the brief, I would then go off and respond to the brief with sketch ideation and CAD modelling using current materials and manufacturing techniques used by YG.
If I didn’t finish up a design in the day, I would take it home and continue working on it or finish it up the following week. Once I was happy with the design, I would prepare the file at home to be Rendered in software called Keyshot. Examples of this final work are shown here in the slides. I believe that I still have a lot to learn in both the 3D modelling and the 3D rendering realms but I believe I have come a long we in just 14 weeks.

 

The final component of my work placement was the task of researching and putting together a list of sustainable materials that could be used in future by  YGD and even potentially replace current materials being used in current catalogued designs. This is still a work in progress but below you will see my work thus far below.

My key Learnings from my WIL experience with YGD include:

• An in-depth understanding of how to use Rhino CAD modelling software

• Advanced Lighting manufacturing techniques

• Improved design problem-solving skills

• What it is like to work alongside highly talented and creative Industry persons

• New and Emerging Sustainable materials suitable for design and manufacturing

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My Work experience with Yellow goat has been very important for me gaining experience in what working in a design studio feels like. I've gained critical experience working with the Rhino software and have learned so much from being around industry professionals.

It was unfortunate that YGD had only just recently moved their manufacturing overseas, so I wasn’t able to experience that side of the company but Overall I believe it was an excellent opportunity for me and it was a great experience and learning environment with YGD.