That’s me
I'm 24 years old and currently enrolled in the B.A. Interaction Design at the HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd. Originally I'm from Cologne, where I did an apprenticeship as a design assistant before studying. Since I was a child, I have been part of the scouts in the child and youth welfare department, which helps me to look beyond the boundaries of the table.
Beeing a designer
Our role as designers will change over the next few years and it will continue to be in a state of increasing change. That's why I believe that one of the key components of a designer is the mindset. Whenever I learn something new, I first focus on thinking, values & attitudes, then the skillset & only then the toolset.
My special interest in the field of interaction design is the design of user experiences. I like to look at our everyday situations from a new perspective and possibly look for new innovative solutions.
Not only are the skills of a designer useful for creating new products and services, but process design is an important aspect of every team. That's why I try to apply this knowledge in an interdisciplinary manner.
How did I get into Design
Before I started my studies I did an apprenticeship as a design assistant. My focus was on graphic design and print. Even if it didn't quite match my understanding of design, I learned a lot there and was able to gain valuable experience. The most important thing was to recognize the diversity of design - then I did an internship as a UX / UI in Ireland to get to know a completely different area. During the internship it was clear to me what I would like to do later on and decided to study at the HfG.
Important things about me at a glance
I have been a scout since I was seven years old
Being in nature helps me find inspiration
I have flown a plane once
I enjoy photography
I love cats
I have a fable for Lists
“In some scouting projects Tobias has already been able to prove several times that he can spontaneously, imaginatively and very actively perform and that he enjoys creating and helping to shape.”
Books and audiobooks that I'm currently devouring
In my free time, I like to read books or just listen to them. It helps me to reflect on my day-to-day basis or to distract myself from everything else and dive into another world's story.
Austin Kleons books are amazing, I highly recommend these to everyone who is interested in creativity in the digital age.
Whenever I need a distraction I like to hear the harry potter audio books read by Rufus Beck. It's super easy to dive into a completely different world and leave everyday life behind.
Recognitions
I am very grateful for the opportunity that the Hans Böckler Foundation gives me with the help of a scholarship to support my studies and my further development.
In 2017 I took part in a competition organized by the city of Cologne, which was about a new look for municipal school social work. I took first place and the logo is still used today.
Toolset
For my every Design tasks I got familiar with quite a few digital tools. I could gain a broad range of knowledge in the tools currently on the market but these are the ones I prefer to solve problems with:
- Protopie
- Cinema 4D
- Figma
- Miro
- Adobe Suite (Id, Ps, Ai, Xd, Pr, Ae, Au)
- JavaScript
- React, Vue, TailwindCSS
I also got familiar with some coding languages and frameworks over the years. I use them in order to do more advanced prototypes but mainly learn them for fun. My focus is currently on javascript, node.js, python, and next.js - some of which are more fun to learn than the others but overall it's a relaxing hobby if you're doing it for yourself.
I created this portfolio with Kirby CMS and it is amazing!
That was all about me, I hope I could introduce myself properly. If you have any further questions about my projects or myself, don't bother to reach out.