Product Design Student — BYU

George Wait

Download Resume ↓ Instagram ↗
Portrait / headshot
At the bench / making
Outdoors / climbing

Tinkering and prototyping by day, Figma and Claude by night. I am an Appalachain raised designer with a passion for the great outdoors and sustainability.

BasedProvo, UT (from Ona, WV)
StudyingProduct Design, BYU
ActivitiesRock climbing, backpacking, guitar
MakingSoft goods, laser cut parts, CAD prototypes
MusicCage the Elephant, indie, whatever's raw
CurrentlyStudying Product Design at BYU
Selected Work

Projects

UX & Digital Design
UX Design · 2025
TrailHead — Trail Navigation App

Offline-first trail planning app for conditions with no cell coverage. Low-friction group coordination and elevation data that makes sense when you're tired and exposed.

FigmaUX ResearchPrototypingiOS
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Visual Design · 2024
Gear Loop — Outdoor Gear Marketplace

End-to-end UI redesign for a peer-to-peer used gear marketplace. Rebuilt listing flow and trust signals after user research revealed high drop-off at the transaction stage.

FigmaUser TestingVisual Design
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Research Essay · 2024
Is Aesthetic Obsession Ruining America?

Research essay connecting neurobiology to cultural critique — how social media aesthetics hijack dopamine systems, drive overconsumption, and fuel Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

ResearchCultural AnalysisBYU WRTG 311
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Physical & Made Work
Soft Goods · 2025
12L Ultralight Stuff Sack Daypack

Designed and sewn from scratch in UHMWPE ripstop. Patterns drafted in Illustrator. Tested over 200 trail miles. Stuffs into its own lid pocket, under 180g.

SewingPattern MakingUHMWPE RipstopField Testing
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Hard Goods · 2024
Titanium LNT Trowel

Ergonomic cat-hole trowel designed in Fusion 360, water-jet cut from 1mm titanium. Leave No Trace inspired. 22g — lighter than most credit cards. Four prototype iterations.

Fusion 360Metal FabWater Jet
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Accessibility · Cabell Midland HS
Tactile Trail Placards

Designed and fabricated 3D-printed tactile trail placards for visually impaired visitors. The project that made everything click — design in direct service of a real need.

3D PrintingAccessibilityFabrication
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Laser · 2024
Parametric Camp Kitchen Organizer

Modular wall-mount system laser-cut from 3mm Baltic birch. Fully parametric — spice rack, utensil hooks, stove shelf all configurable. Built for base camp setups where organization matters.

Laser CuttingIllustratorParametric
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Work, Service & Tools

Experience

Work Experience
2024 –
Present
BYU Product Design Program
Student — Product Design Major
Full-time coursework in UX, physical prototyping, fabrication, and design systems. Building an outdoor-focused portfolio across digital and physical disciplines.
2022 –
2024
Full-Time Service — 2 Years
Medical & Mental Health Liaison
Two years navigating complex logistics, supporting people through crises, and coordinating care across multiple institutions. Learned patience, resourcefulness, and how to hold steady when things fall apart.
Aug – Nov
2023
Heaven's Gateway Cemetery
Head of Maintenance — Nitro, WV
Sole responsibility for property upkeep: landscaping, painting, structural repairs, equipment maintenance. Operated heavy machinery and power tools daily, independently managing a full work schedule.
Aug 2021 –
Mar 2022
Cabell Midland HS Makerspace
Makerspace Assistant — Ona, WV
Operated laser cutters, FDM and resin 3D printers, vacuum formers, and small CNC machines. Used Fusion 360 and other 3D modeling software. Built the tactile trail placards that changed how I thought about design.
Aug – Dec
2021
American Eagle Outfitters
Team Member — Barboursville, WV
Sales, customer service, and merchandising. Learned firsthand how aesthetic branding drives purchase behavior — research I'd later channel into an essay on whether aesthetic obsession is ruining America.
Education
Brigham Young University
B.S. Product Design (in progress) — Provo, UT
2024 –
Cabell Midland High School
High School Diploma — Ona, WV
2022
Activities & Leadership
Student Body Vice President
Cabell Midland HS — led Homecoming, chaired the talent show committee
Robotics Team
Cabell Midland HS — State Championship Qualifiers
National Honor Society
Excalibur Chapter — Cabell Midland HS
Junior & Sophomore Class VP
Two consecutive elected terms on Student Council
Boy Scouts of America
Troop 62, Barboursville, WV — 2017 to 2019
Tool Proficiency

Hands-on, not just familiar. If it's on here, I've used it to make something real.

Digital
FigmaExpert
UX ResearchAdvanced
Adobe IllustratorProficient
AutoCAD / Fusion 360Intermediate
Physical
Laser CuttingAdvanced
3D Printing (FDM + Resin)Advanced
Sewing & Soft GoodsAdvanced
Pattern MakingProficient
Vacuum FormingProficient
Small CNC MachiningIntermediate
SolderingProficient
Get in touch

Let's Build Something Real

Looking for internships and early-career roles in outdoor product design. If you're building gear that earns its place in the field — or want to talk shop about ultralight materials or climbing protection — reach out.

Emailwait.george@gmail.com
Instagram@georgeolivergreat
LocationProvo, UT — open to relocation
Send an email →