Skyler Forman

This photo is of me with prestigious Nike and Jordan designer Tinker Hatfield, one of my biggest inspirations for creating and pursuing design in the first place.

Degree: BS in Product Design, Minor in Sports Business

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2023

Spring 2022 Scholarship
AASFP Product Design Award

I Am Originally From Albuquerque, NM

WHY I CAME TO THE UO AND HOW I CHOSE MY MAJOR
I chose the University of Oregon in large part because of the prestige of the product design program, but also because the Pacific Northwest is beautiful and I wanted to be a part of the College of Design. I like being able to express my creativity in the College of Design and I enjoy the freedom that I am given by professors to create what inspires me.

I chose my major because I grew up a sneaker head who spent countless hours on NikeID customizing every shoe I could find. I knew I wanted to be in the design world and UO gave me that opportunity.

UNIQUE QUALITIES I BRING TO MY STUDIES
I have been fortunate enough to travel to many places around the world from a young age. I have experienced numerous different cultures and beauty in these places which inspires much of my work. These experiences allow me to bring a unique perspective to my work and creativity which my peers may not have.

MY INFLUENTIAL PROFESSORS
Tom Bonamici was particularly influential for me in the PD 483 Soft Goods Studio. While learning to sew was not a part of the class, he taught us various important techniques for improving our sewing skills. He is very passionate about soft goods and it showed in his teaching. His passion rubbed off on me and made it one of the best classes I have taken at UO.

MY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
I am involved in the UO running club and UO Hillel. They are important to me because they are community oriented and it allows me to connect with people I would not have met otherwise. It is important that I surround myself with like-minded people who have similar values.

MY GREATEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT UO
Being thrown into the woodshop and sewing lab my Freshman year with zero experience was probably the most intimidating thing I have gone through. I learned so much in just 10 weeks and was eventually able to make two stools and a backpack, which I am so proud of.

AFTER GRADUATION
My greatest hope is to find something I love doing. I love to create and I hope to find an environment where I can thrive and show my passion and skills. I imagine my College of Design education being instrumental in my career in whatever direction I choose because I have learned valuable information about design as well as things about myself.

YOUR GIFT
This scholarship is important to me because it represents a project I became very passionate about over the course of this past spring term. I had never ventured into a product area like solar and lighting before so I learned so many new and valuable things. I wish to make my product as refined as I can and hopefully make it to manufacturing. This scholarship will allow me to pursue creating PCBs that can integrate all elements in my design as well as purchasing materials to prototype further.

Thank you for giving back to students at UO who are pursuing something they are passionate about. It is important to be able to have the resources to prototype and create and you have made that possible, so thank you.