Careers in Design & Sustainability: Ruben Anderson

Age 35
Occupation: Advisor on Design and Sustainability, and Freelancer in Industrial Design
Company: Canada’s Largest Houseware Design
Length at position: A year and a half
Hours worked per week: 45 hours part-time
Salary range: $10,000
Potential: $50,000
Best part of job:
I get to do industrial designs for mass-production items or anything made in the factory (office chair, a clock, etc..).
What inspired me to do this was my knack for problem-solving. Before school, I woned a restaurant. I always tried to make things run as smoothly and as efficiently as possible; like figuring out the tools and system of the restaurant.
Back in my school years, my interest in sustainability started to grow. I felt that using the resources on our planet more efficiently and creating less toxic wastes and pollution along the way would be beneficial in my personal cause.
Most of my old jobs consist of me being an advisor in sustainability. The problem was that it wasn’t very tangible. Back in the restaurant, there was always something complete at the end of the day, whereas as an advisor, there’s always more work to be done.


EDUCATION:


Degree(s)
Bachelor of Design at Emily Carr, Bachelor of Fine Arts at UVIC
School:  UVIC, Emily Carr
Advice: When dealing with stumbling blocks, I persevered through my ideals even if the school and teacher said no.
Also, it doesn’t matter about the grades in the end, but the way you focus on the right things to do.
From my personal viewpoint, you will need a degree to get a designer job, and this program helped me get where I wanted to be as well as learn the process thoroughly.


LIFESTYLE:
Favourite activity:
Cooking and eating with friends.


Upcoming
vacation plans: 
I’m not flying anymore, because it is harmful to the environment.


In five years,
I see myself :
Personally, I wish I could do a lot more gardening. I hope to live in a collaborative apartment building with a bunch of friends; where we can cook and work together and have fun in the process.
Professionally, I want to be in a secure advisor’s job on sustainability.

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