An Interview with Scott Noh
If you've ever been to our studio you know the Nova team is prettyyy awesome (we may be biased??). We wanted to give our readers a little insight about what goes on at Nova by highlighting people around the office that inspire us, and there is no one better to start with than Scott. He’s been with Nova from pretty much the start. Moving his way up from industrial designer to principal designer and studio lead, while also teaching at RISD and holding the vice-chair position for Providence IDSA chapter. It’s safe to say he’s a cool guy. We could talk to Scott forever about his design experience and all the stories that come along with it, but for now we’ll keep it to these highlights:
Nova:
How did you get into design?
Scott Noh:
I've always been the most curious kid in my class growing up. One day in my childhood, I tore down every single clock in the house because I wanted to figure out what was inside it that made it all work. I was never able to put them back together.
Still to this day, I'm curious about many things. I love to explore. My desire to continue asking questions and solve problems gravitated me towards becoming a designer
N:
What would be your dream project?
SN:
I wouldn't say it's a dream project, but I've been curious about upcycling and eco-friendly materials. Excited to explore this more—it’s more important than ever!
N:
What gets you inspired?
SN:
I get inspired by so many things, but I'd say the biggest inspiration is people. There are people behind everything.
When I see a product, system, or design of any kind, I pretend to know the creator and tell myself a story of how this product came to be. Then think of the audience or the end user and grade it. It's like a game to me. Then I try to redesign in my head.
Since I was a 10-year-old boy, I was lucky enough to study abroad in multiple cities and countries, which trained me to adapt quickly and have the sight to observe and digest. Exposure to these multi-cultures from a young age naturally taught me to think in other people's views. People I've met, the cultures I've experienced, places I've visited all become the fuel to my imagination.
This is why I constantly try to go to new places, new things, and new people.
N:
Describe your dream client.
SN:
“The next one” as Tom Brady would say… jk!
N:
Favorite way to caffeinate?
SN:
Black iced coffee with double shots!
N:
Favorite snack during the work day?
SN:
I always have some tree nuts on my desk, but I also have a secret stash of gummy bears in my file rack so no one can see them. Now everyone knows. 😲
N:
Do you usually pack lunch or go out for lunch?
SN:
Half and a half - you've gotta mix it up. There are so many good places around PVD.