by adminMEET MICHAEL OUR JUNIOR DESIGN ENGINEER
#HUMPDAYHELLO
We’d be nothing without the wonderful team of people who work here at Vertically Urban Towers.
You may have already met some of them, but we’d like to introduce you to them all properly.
Each Wednesday we’ll be posting a little introduction to a member of our staff members, so why not swing by and say a big #humpdayhello to them!
Michael Ash…come on down! Michael is our Junior Design Engineer here at VU, and he keeps us on the straight and narrow!
NAME: Michael Ash
JOB TITLE: Junior Design Engineer
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR THE COMPANY?
Since March this year.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO
I help produce, prototype and modify mechanical designs of fixtures and fittings using Solidworks 3D and prepare designs for manufacture by producing appropriate engineering drawings and technical illustration documents.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
CAD modelling is the aspect of my job I enjoy most, as I can get in the zone and immerse myself in the 3D space, showing people the ideas in my brain. Converting mental configurations of designs into 3D CAD is one of the most satisfying experiences as you can truly show people your ideas in perspective, context and motion. You can also get instant feedback without spending money and more time prototyping to find it isn’t right or doesn’t work which saves a lot of disappointment…and I like my efficiency.
HOW DID YOU END UP HERE?
Having studied overseas with my family, I decided to return to the UK to study for a BSc in Product Design at The University of Leeds. After graduating, I applied for graduate roles offering intense hands-on experience to rapidly develop my skillset and Vertically Urban matched the criteria.
WHAT’S THE COOLEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Playing with all the expensive machines!
WHAT MAKES YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CEA?
The limitless capabilities of automatically operated and monitored farms, through AI developments, to grow local produce and cut down on carbon emissions and food waste.
BONUS QUESTIONS:
FAVOURITE PLANT?
FEJKA from IKEA – Lifelike artificial plant that remains just as fresh-looking year after year. Aesthetically perfect, neutralises the room, and doesn’t set off my hayfever. What’s not to like?!
COFFEE OR TEA?
Coffee. Italian. Iced. Shaken not stirred. (+ Caramel.)
NEXT ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST?
Australia.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I enjoy playing football at a competitive level which keeps me fit mentally and physically. It puts me in a free mental state where I have no worries or stresses for 90 minutes, which is a good outlet to have. I also enjoy being around my family and my home comforts every once in a while, which keeps me grounded and motivated.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
The way you see yourself is the way you will treat yourself, and the way you treat yourself is what you become.
If you don’t back yourself, who will? I have found always believing you can reach those heights others fail to even consider has given me opportunities I never would’ve experienced and that others, unfortunately, miss out on. Silent hard work and self-belief have made much of who I am and what I have achieved.
WHICH 2 CURRENTLY LIVING FAMOUS PEOPLE WOULD YOU LIKE TO INVITE TO A DINNER PARTY AND WHY?
David Attenborough – would provide lots of stories from over the decades and bring his wisdom and wholesome advice for any questions I have and feel I could learn a lot from his experiences as a person.
Lee Evans – would bring the fun and laughter with lots of stories of his own from touring and general life and he has a good ‘dad’ aura that would fit the needs of the dinner party – what’s a dinner party without a few dad jokes?