Statement

Hi. My name is Daniel Smitasin. I am a first-generation born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I come from a background in public education where I learned patience and empathy from the students and parents I worked with. This helped as I transitioned to a career in Industrial Design where empathy has become the core value in my design philosophy.

I am a maker. Before I refine and iterate, I need to feel an object in my hands, bringing it to life. Through quick sketches, foam mock-ups and rapid prototyping, I create sculptural elements that allow me to experiment and see a project in multiple perspectives. I am deeply interested in knowing who the object is for and how it can help them. It’s personal. I have to live the experience in order to understand what people need and how my project can connect with them on an emotional level. By crafting meaning and purpose, the objects I create have the opportunity to have a heart.