#2 - Working, Skiing, and Rock Climbing

Work is going well. I'm working on several projects now including a new one at Heavenly, the local ski resort. The mountain is located in both Nevada and California, and there are base lodges on each side. I've mostly skied the Nevada side, but this weekend I went to the California Lodge to ski and get a better understanding of the project area. I've learned that Heavenly's ski slope maps are no help for navigating the trails. I've also learned why locals ski only on weekdays. The lift lines on the weekends are insane. 

We've had three in-person interviews for entry-level designer positions in our office. All of them are graduating from Utah State University. It was insightful to see Design Workshop's interview process and to see how the candidates interacted. Everyone in the office participates in the interview. Each interview began with a 20 minute presentation from the candidate. Then everyone could ask questions about them or their presentation. Then they were given the opportunity to ask us questions. I took notes on the questions asked by both DW and the candidates. Don't be afraid to ask tough/important questions about a firm in an interview. After the interview portion, everyone got together at the drafting table for a design review on a current project. This was to see how they think, design, and interact with everyone. It seemed a little intimidating to be a candidate, but they all did really well. Afterward, they went out to lunch or coffee with one or two younger designers where they could ask more questions. Through the interviews I was also able to learn more about the people in my office and about the firm, so that was neat. 

Living in Tahoe is fun. Snow is still piling up. I learned that in order to protect the clarity of the lake the roads within the watershed are not salted. This just means that ice stays on the road longer.  I'm glad I bought winter tires. 

I got a membership to a rock climbing gym. Several people in my office climb, as well as some people I've met at the church in town. The outdoor recreation culture in Tahoe is like the college football culture in Baton Rouge. On monday mornings, people don't ask if you watched so-and-so game. They ask if you went skiing. 

I hope everyone is doing well. Don't let work become stressful. Get to know your coworkers. Ask them lots of questions. If you're in a new place, set aside time to go explore it. 

-Ethan



View to Nevada and the Carson Valley from the ski resort

View to California and Lake Tahoe

I rendered this conceptual design (drawn by my project manager) for a hotel parking lot that is being transformed into a "revenue-generating flex space" in Denver's art district. I feel very uncreative compared to some of my coworkers. 

One of the more sketchy commutes so far










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