Gil Santillan Arceo
Philippines

"Suddenly, in the middle of the course, I found myself with a new twist in my profession."

While working as a product designer, Gil Santillan Arceo participated in the online course Digital Manufacturing for Industrial Design. Read about his experience.

What was your motivation for enrolling in this course?
When I learned about the course Digital Manufacturing for Industrial Design, I knew this was what I was looking for. I thought, “The knowledge that I can gain here will give me an edge in my profession as a Product Designer”. So what I did next was enroll myself. As the studies progressed, I found myself more deeply involved and more interested in all the processes and technologies involved in the course as well as the apps and software that served as our tools in exploring the technologies.

Suddenly, in the middle of the course, I found myself with a new twist in my profession. I realized that in my long experience as a product designer, I always had the notion that getting into industrial manufacturing and innovation would require a huge investment. That old notion in me had disappeared with the new knowledge and skills that I gained. I have always had ambitions in the fields of invention and innovations. I have now finally decided to open some start-ups to exploit my passions for industrial production and design. Thanks a lot to TU Delft’s learning initiative and educators for helping me see the way forward.

How would you describe your online learning experience?
The overview and description of the course is very clear on the knowledge we can expect to acquire. But to my surprise, I learned more than I was expecting. I enjoyed the interactions with fellow students, the thrill and excitement of the assignments and quizzes which were challenging and the support, advice and feedback from the teaching staff were really inspiring. The hands-on experience is the best and most interesting part of the course wherein we can develop skills on the software packages involved. It was the most valuable part of the learning and of the course itself.

What did you think of the online learning environment?
The course design, in my own opinion, is by some distance the best that I have ever known. The materials are really accessible and the English medium of the course is really appropriate. The grading system, the student collaboration and the teachers’ feedback are amazing and inspiring. Although the learning is online, the learning experience feels much more physical. The virtual environment of this learning platform makes everybody assess each and everyone’s personality and that brings us closer to each other.

My advice to all individuals who want to learn modern technologies and know-how and all professionals who wanted to gain a competitive edge in their professions and those who do not want to be left behind by technology is to take this course. The online delivery of the course is what our modern world can offer us all. With the aid of new techniques, you can learn remotely just like you are inside the classroom. Don't let the time and the opportunity slip away. This huge privilege is waiting for all of you.