Testimonial: Quentin Martinez, Year 3, Mobility Design

Testimonial: Quentin Martinez, Year 3, Mobility Design

Quentin Martinez has just started his 3^rd year in Automobile Design. At 21, he looks back on his career and tells us about his experience at Strate.

HELLO QUENTIN, CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

My name is Quentin Martinez. I’m 21 years old. I have just returned to third grade in Strate’s Mobility Design course. I am passionate about cars and drawing in general. I started photography a little over 6 years ago now, mostly in the car industry. I came from Spain to Paris for my studies.

WHAT WAS YOUR PATH BEFORE ENTERING STRATUM?

Well for short, I lived the first ten years of my life in the West Indies, then a year in the Vercors in France, seven years in Spain in Southern Andalusia and finally, a little over two years on Paris now for studies. Before Strate, I did a bac Art in Spain (the equivalent of STD2A in France, I think).

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO MOVE TOWARDS DESIGN AND WHY STRATUM?

When I was little, I drew a lot of boats and planes, then one day when I was 6, I drew my first car, and since that day, I have never stopped. When I was 11-12 years old, I started going on the internet to find ways to progress in drawing. I came across forums, I met people, I discovered new techniques with new materials, in short, everything you need to motivate yourself to progress.

I had the chance to meet some Stratum students on one of these forums. A particular student, his drawing techniques, his speech, and the explanations of his work, it is thanks to him that I discovered design. We can say that I was a fan. Even if today we have lost contact, it is thanks to him in part that I arrived here and I intend to go all the way.

I had inquired soon enough about Strate School of Design, and other schools offering design courses specialized in mobility, in France or elsewhere. Strate’s growing reputation in the Automobile/Car Design course, the fact that the school is in France and close to a member of my family, and especially the fact of having spoken with several students on the internet were the reasons for my choice.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN MOBILITY DESIGN? DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WANTED TO DO THIS BEFORE ENTERING STRATUM?

As I said in response to the previous question, I always drew, and I always wanted to do a job in relation to drawing. Over time, the car took a big part of me and I wondered what trade with drawing and automotive I could do. Design appeared naturally in the list. Attracted by beauty and mechanics, the idea of ??being able to combine the two always excited me. Yes, I knew since my third what I wanted to do, and I did everything to get there. I would like to thank everyone who has allowed me to be where I am today.

YOU ARE IN GRADE 3, WHAT IS YOUR DREAM TODAY?

My dream? That’s a really big word.

As you can imagine, being passionate about beautiful bodies (yes, I know, I repeat myself), one of my most distant goals is the acquisition of one of my favourite cars. More seriously, my dream is to make my passion my job. In the shorter term, of course my goal after graduation from designer is to work in a company that I like and do what I love. Having never set foot in this professional environment, I do not have a “preference” yet. Small builder or big, in France or abroad, as long as I draw, I’m not difficult. For now, I appreciate exterior design more, but who knows, in the future…

HOW DO YOU SEE AFTERWARDS, AFTER YOUR STUDIES?

Rather positive, if I give myself the means, everything should be fine. It’s still unclear for me, and it’s a place where you do not often have the luxury of choosing where to work. I do not really worry; I will focus for the moment on the three years of study that I have to do and we will see later.

Thank you, Quentin!

Alicia Pommelet shares her experience as an Identity Designer at Strate. Read her testimonial here.

This article was translated from French. You can read the original article here.