Shania Taite

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Product Design

Galway City – Wellpark Road

Where are you from?

I’m from Virginia, Cavan. I attended Virginia College and did my leaving cert in 2018.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to choosing your course

I recently completed my degree in Product Design at ATU, Wellpark Road. Back in secondary school, my favourite subjects were Art and Technology. I’ve always been naturally drawn to hands-on, practical work, especially when it combined creativity with problem-solving. I loved understanding how things worked and finding ways to make them visually appealing. Painting and drawing have been my favourite hobbies since childhood, and I still enjoy them in my spare time.

For my Leaving Cert Technology project in 2018, I designed and built a robotic arm for the food processing and packaging industry. I entered it into the Young Technologist Awards and was honoured to win first place nationally among all Leaving Cert Technology projects. I later brought this project to the Virginia Agricultural Show, where I received a €2,000 bursary award towards my studies. I also placed second in the same competition with a handmade Irish puppet I created for my Leaving Cert Art project.

My path to studying design at ATU wasn’t straightforward. After graduating from Virginia College, I began a hairdressing apprenticeship. I enjoyed aspects of it, but deep down I knew it wasn’t the right long-term fit for me. I then enrolled in the QQI Level 5 Art and Design course at Cavan Institute, thinking I wanted to become an art teacher. I started preparing a portfolio for NCAD, but I missed the submission deadline. At the time, I was disappointed, but missing that deadline turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened.

Tell us why you chose ATU

While looking for a plan B, I came across the Product Design course at ATU. What appealed to me most was that it didn’t require a portfolio and offered the opportunity to explore four different areas: Animation, Textiles, Graphic Design, and Industrial Design. I wasn’t sure which path would suit me best, but once I got to try each of them, Industrial Design stood out. It was the perfect blend of art and technology, the same two subjects I had thrived in during school, and I knew I’d found my place.

What do you like about life in your campus location?

I really liked studying at ATU Wellpark Road for many reasons. One of the main things that stood out to me was the tight-knit, supportive community. The campus gives you access to lecturers across a range of disciplines, not just your own. In my final year, this was especially valuable. Even though I specialised in Product Design, I often needed input from the Textiles and Graphic Design departments. The lecturers from those areas were incredibly generous with their time, tools, and ideas; they were always willing to help improve my projects and guide me in the right direction.

Another great advantage of studying at ATU Wellpark Road was its location. Being within walking distance of places like Woodies, Chadwicks, HomeSense, Hickey’s, and Cregal Art was incredibly helpful, especially during deadline season. When I needed materials last-minute, I could easily pick them up without losing valuable time, which made a big difference in managing project workloads.

Another major advantage of studying at ATU Wellpark Road was being located right beside CREW. CREW supports entrepreneurs and enterprises across areas like Game Design, Animation, Immersive Technologies (AR/VR/XR), Digital Design, Digital Art, Film & TV Production, and Content Creation. They regularly host talks and workshops with founders and industry professionals, which really helped me understand the potential of turning a creative idea into a viable career or business. The people at CREW were incredibly approachable and supportive; they offered valuable advice and guidance that helped me figure out my next steps after graduation.

What advice would you give to a student thinking about coming to ATU?

If you’re planning to do a creative course, don’t feel limited to just the creative campus. One of the best things about ATU is how approachable people are across all departments. Whether it’s reaching out to engineering students for advice, meeting with the Student Entrepreneurs Officer, or connecting with the Technology Transfer Office, there’s so much support available beyond your own course. All of these people are just an email, a chat, or an in-person away, and they’re more than willing to help if you take the initiative to ask.

What do/did you enjoy most about your course?

I loved learning so many new skills on the course. The workshop had everything: 3D printing (even ceramic), welding, casting, laser cutting, CNC, and more. We worked with a huge range of materials like clay, wood, and metal. I also learned the value of simple materials like cardboard and paper for quick, effective prototyping. The drawing classes were another highlight, being able to sketch and clearly communicate ideas made a big difference throughout the course.

If you were speaking with a first-year student about to start your course, what advice/information would you give them?

One piece of advice I’d give to anyone starting the Product Design course at ATU is this: you’ll only get out of it what you put in. In the early years, it’s completely normal to need guidance as you find your feet with the modules and projects. But as you progress, especially in your final year, it’s important to take ownership of your learning and push yourself beyond the basic requirements.

Confidence comes from action. Whether it’s asking a technician to show you how to weld metal, learning to use a sewing machine, or creating a business plan to enter a competition, the support is there, but you need to take the initiative. Things won’t just happen for you. You have to make them happen by putting in the effort.

And when things go wrong (which they will sometimes), don’t panic, problem-solving is one of the most valuable skills you’ll develop on this course. It’s something you’ll carry with you long after college, no matter what direction you take.

If you are/were involved in sport, volunteering, working or have other passions you pursue outside of your academic life, can you tell us about that?

I was awarded the Design on the Frontline Student Scholarship by the HSE Spark Innovation Programme two years in a row. This placed me in a national final with 12 students developing innovative ideas to improve patient-centred care. In my first year, I designed a high-fidelity medical device, and in the second, a wearable product focused on women’s health.

I also received the ATU Student Entrepreneur Award for medical technology and progressed to Phase 2 of the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards, further developing my concept.

 What are your plans after graduating?

I’m currently taking part in Student Inc, a 13-week student accelerator programme for aspiring entrepreneurs. I’m using this time to develop an idea focused on women’s mental health and hormones, with the goal of testing its feasibility and refining the concept.

After this, I plan to apply for New Frontiers Phase 2 with Enterprise Ireland to continue progressing the idea as a potential start-up. I’m also considering a master’s degree, but my long-term goal is to design innovative products that support women’s mental and hormonal health, two areas I’m deeply passionate about.

Alongside this, I’m working part-time as a designer in a road lining company, where I’ve been building skills in CNC and product design.