Many of our alumni from various programs at the Wilson School of Design work in positions and industries that were forced to adapt to an unprecedented situation last March. Whether by actively making masks and medical supplies in response to PPE shortages or by shifting their focus in other ways, these resourceful individuals and the companies they work for have found opportunities to lighten the burden on the world of a global pandemic, and changed their perspectives along the way. Luisa Patino, Technical Apparel Design alumni and Sales & Operations Manager at Peak Performance, discusses the way COVID has affected her job and the industry as a whole.
Luisa Patino
Sales & Operations Manager, Peak Performance
Technical Apparel Design Alumna, 2017
“I believe that function and aesthetics are the key to all successful designs. Although both can work on their own, it is by their combination that a design can truly succeed. My background in both industrial and technical apparel design has honed my attention to detail, collaborative mindset, and dynamism. Having lived in different countries has made me very receptive and observant, and to be unafraid of the unknown. I am always willing to learn and am excited to be able to collaborate as a technical apparel designer for the outdoor industry, where functionality can change people’s lives for the better!”
How have you responded to COVID-19 in regard to design?
At the company I work for, many of our customers were reducing production order quantities. We saw a drastic drop in revenue. However, by quickly adapting and enforcing social distancing measures, we were able to continue running a small manufacturing operation to fulfill active orders. We also gained projects from companies which had their overseas or local factories closing or halting production. We rapidly noticed the lack of PPE availability and urgency in acquiring them. Thanks to the variety of products we are able to provide, reaching certified and specialized PPE factories was possible for us. We constantly researched, verified, and informed ourselves. Thanks to this meticulousness, we are now a licensed distributor to health service authorities in BC.
How has COVID-19 impacted your design perspective?
Since Covid began, most companies we hear in the news that are being forced to close retail points are mainly fast-fashion brands; known for outsourcing manufacturing to developing countries, paying below-poverty line salaries, and still making a hefty margin. On the other side, the companies that I have noticed are keeping afloat; are those that reacted fast to re-analyze and re-localize their operational, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution channels. Many of the still-thriving vendors are those that had local manufacturing already in place and were incorporating PPE into their product lines. It’s the survival of the fittest out there. A very Darwinian situation if you ask me, and it is happening in most, if not all, industries Worldwide.
How have you been able to stay positive?
Professionally, the fact that we have been able to continue operating is extremely positive itself. I’m am so thankful to still be employed and be able to help in some measure. Personally, so thankful for technology! Just to know that I can reach people I hold dear albeit the distance is comforting.
Thanks Luisa for sharing your design insight during these times! Luisa is one of the many people in the design industry who have demonstrated their resilience and hope in difficult circumstances. Check back in the coming weeks and months for more inspiring stories about our alumni using their creative thinking and problem solving to make a scary world a little better.
This interview was conducted by the Wilson School of Design Alumni Chapter. They are a passionate association of creative individuals dedicated to strenghening ties between alumni and to support current students of the Wilson School of Design. To learn more about their initiatives, follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.
