David Friedfeld, president of ClearVision Optical, jumped at the chance to collaborate with an eyewear design course at Drexel University, developed by eyewear designer and assistant professor of product design at Drexel June He.
Participation in the course reflects ClearVision Optical’s enthusiasm for encouraging future eyecare professionals, also evidenced by its internship program and university capstone initiatives. Eager to pivot from the apprenticeship-based learning model for eyewear design to foster a larger, more diverse generation of optical professionals, Friedfeld shares his experience with the course and his perspectives on increasing accessibility to the field.
EB: How did you and ClearVision Optical become involved in the Drexel eyewear design course?
DAVID FRIEDFELD: I initially connected with June on LinkedIn after noticing her post regarding her eyewear design class from previous semesters. I was intrigued, as she had significant optical industry professional experience as an eyewear designer and developer that she was bringing to academia.
ClearVision has always had a huge passion for [educating] the next generation of talent. We recognized this to be a unique and special opportunity to partner and play a role in the future of the industry and immediately wanted to get involved.
EB: What was your own role in and experience with helping to educate the Drexel students?
DF: Our goal in collaborating with Drexel was to help support the students in their human-centered design development. We visited the campus, collaborated and provided feedback throughout the course, and utilized our 3D-printing capabilities to bring their final eyewear designs to life.
Understanding the importance of measurement, engaging with new software tools, and ensuring the design can functionally meet the needs of proper fitting and accept a lens was eye-opening to the students, [who] were ambitious and creatively inspired to bring their imagined ideas to life with eyewear as the canvas.
EB: What are your thoughts about making this kind of optical education more accessible?
DF: Our industry was built on apprenticeships, like many other trade professions. That model is invaluable as wisdom is passed from one expert to the next generation, [but] it also serves to perpetuate what already exists. By providing a more accessible learning experience, we can reach a whole new category of future designers. This strengthens our industry and allows us to bring in new perspectives.
This type of coursework encourages emerging talent to invent and iterate to make the best products—ones we maybe can’t even imagine today. It truly allows us to disrupt our own eyewear marketplace.
In June’s course, we saw a more structured course format, where aspiring eyewear designers can benefit from a flexible, tech-centered, and inclusive learning environment. This approach [exposes] the world of industrial design for accessories to a broader audience who may not have considered such an engaging career path.
To learn more about June He’s eyewear design course, click here.
