Talent Spotlight on Carter James, Mechanical Engineer
Talent Spotlight is a regular feature profiling the employees of Product Creation Studio. See the Talent Spotlight archive for more interviews.
What led you to a career in product development?
I grew up attempting to become a professional race car driver, competed in karting when I was younger, and then moved into cars in my early 20s.
It was from these experiences that I grew very interested in becoming a mechanical engineer for motorsport.
After an internship at Skullcandy in college, my dream kind of morphed away from motorsport as I realized how cool it was to get to have a hand in creating a product that thousands of people would use and enjoy every day.
What excites you most about your job?
In the product design industry, I am always surrounded by extremely creative and knowledgeable people.
It feels like college never stopped! I’m learning so much by being immersed in this industry every day and applying all my knowledge to new ideas that have the potential to radically change people’s lives.
For example, one project I was involved in was working to improve sepsis blood testing. On products like that, you realize if you’re successful, you could save hundreds of lives every year. That’s what keeps me going and keeps me excited about my career path.
Describe your most rewarding work experience to date.
Our senior project at the University of Utah was to develop a pediatric prosthetic. Even though I was only a small part of a large team, being able to see kids run and jump on our improved design made me realize the impact an engineer can have on the world.
Where is the best place you’ve traveled to, and why?
In May of this year, I went to Japan on my first-ever solo trip to a foreign country. I was immersed in a culture so different from my own for almost an entire month (by myself)! This was as far out of my comfort zone as I could get, and it was one of my favorite experiences to date.
What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
In stereotypical PNW fashion, I’d have to say my Nalgene water bottle. I carry one with me everywhere I go, and it’s also one of my favorite product designs. Extremely durable, reduces my plastic water bottle consumption, and only costs $15.