Meet our newest recruit, Product Designer Tom Croft
Tell us who you are and what your role is here at Transcover?
My name is Thomas Croft, I was born in Maidstone back in 1998 and have lived here my whole life. I am a Product Designer here at Transcover and am part of their R&D team. I have been passionate about design and business since a young boy, being introduced to companies like Apple, Disney and Lego. I like to see myself as an innovator and a creative thinker. I am from an engineering background which can often give me an upper hand when creating new ideas.
What does that role involve on a day-to-day basis?
First thing in the morning I check my emails to see if there have been any product amendments. Amendments are key at Transcover for making sure that the R&D team and the Warehouse Departments are in constant communication over parts and assemblies. Once amendments have been reviewed or received it is then up to me to make the adjustments so that the designs are up to date. After reviewing amendments, I move onto helping tidy up our product files on our system, making sure that all departments are working from the same codes and drawings. When I am not working on either of these two tasks, I am having meetings and discussions with the R&D team regarding new systems that require innovation and creative thinking, something that I believe I relish in. I will use software like AutoCAD’s Inventor to put sketches into a finished part file, which is easy for others to review and view as part of a complete assembly. Inventing is one of my favourite parts of the job, I love to think of new modern designs using new techniques and technologies.
Tell people something they may not know about you?
I am an avid golfer. I have been playing the sport since a young boy and although my handicap still isn’t where I want it to be, I am playing more now than I ever have and it is beginning to get lower and lower.
Night in or night out?
If we are talking about a drunken night out then it’s night in for me, those days are well and truly over! However, I do like to go out for a nice meal or a late cinema viewing with my girlfriend.
Cooked dinner or takeaway?
I must admit I love all and any food, but you can’t beat a Curry. Lamb Bhuna, Saag Aloo, Coconut Rice, Onion Bhaji and Peshwari Naan, has my mouth watering just thinking of it.
City break or summer holiday?
Any holiday sounds bliss, however, a quiet relaxing holiday by the ocean certainly tops the idea of a city break right now. I did however love my last city break holiday which was a tour of the Italian cities, if you ever get a chance to visit Florence, please do, you won’t regret it, a lovely city with kind people and gorgeous views.
Who are the best artist or band you’ve seen live?
I am fortunate to say that I have seen a good few bands and artists play live, my favourite would be too difficult to work out so I shall do a top 3: Muse, Imagine Dragons and Hans Zimmer, all brilliant in their own way
What do you like to do with your spare time?
Besides playing golf as mentioned earlier I enjoy spending time with my girlfriend, her family and mine. I enjoy going to see movies at the cinema, of which Oppenheimer was my last and made it in to my top five favourites. I enjoy going to the gym and going on long walks to keep myself fit and healthy. Me and my girlfriend like to go and visit new places and countries by our selves and with others. I believe that you always learn something different about yourself from every trip that you go on, learning how to better yourself and others around you.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
I can’t remember just one piece of advice given to me, but I certainly live by several mantras that have been passed on to me by family and friends of past and present. One being to ‘Work hard and to play hard later’, I am trying to give myself the best opportunity for myself and my family by working as hard as I can now so that I can enjoy my time outside of work, spending time with family and frequently visiting new countries and having new experiences with loved ones. Another would be to remember that ‘life is short’, I am my toughest critic and often get frustrated with myself if I don’t feel I’ve taken the day by the scruff of the neck or been my best self. I owe it to myself and others to be the best me possible as often as I can be.
Thanks Tom! If you want to follow Tom’s progress – join him on LinkedIn
Sources
stock.adobe.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.krumpli.co.uk