"Where Are They Now?" is a series where we reconnect with former Prime Studio interns and discover the career paths they've forged since their time with us. In this episode, we chat with Kyle Fisk, who interned with us back in the Spring and Fall of 2018.

What have you been up to since your internship at Prime?

After interning twice for Prime in 2018, I graduated from the University of Cincinnati in May of 2019. Thankfully, I had managed to land a full-time position ahead of graduation and they were willing to let me push out my start day until mid-July.  This adjustment allowed my girlfriend and I to travel to Southeast Asia for over 2 months! We had the opportunity to visit Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand fairly extensively, which was an incredible experience ahead of our new jobs. 

After returning home, I relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to join Lexicon Design as an Industrial Designer. This role proved pivotal in my career, as I contributed to Lexicon’s evolution from a three-person industrial design team into a full-service firm. The small team environment offered me broad exposure beyond the traditional design capabilities, growing my core ID skills while also expanding into marketing, project management, and sales. From sporting goods to medical, luggage, and small leather goods, each project brought its own challenges and opportunities – making everyday exciting! 

After three years at Lexicon Design in Pittsburgh, I began exploring new opportunities. While I initially planned to stay local, my search ultimately led me to North Carolina, where I joined Golf Pride as their Global Industrial Design Manager – and where I continue to work today. As a market leader in the golf industry, Golf Pride manufactures golf grips, the sole connection between a golfer and their club. While my job is less traditional ID, my current role has allowed me to lead the creative direction on product, packaging, and select accessories, collaborating extensively with innovation and commercial teams. As the brand evolves into a consumer-lifestyle company, I have been apart of some really cool projects, such as collaborations with the 007 franchise, Stephen Curry’s UNDERRATED Golf tour, as well as special edition Chinese New Year offerings. 

My role is both fun and rewarding, made better by the support of an exceptional team. Although our US headquarters operates with a relatively small team compared to the scale of our global brand, I’ve come to really appreciate this dynamic. Throughout the six companies in my career, I’ve found that smaller teams making a big impact on high-profile brands is where I feel most at home. 

What are some of your memories of your time at Prime Studio?

Prime Studio was such a great growth opportunity, that I returned not once, but twice! When I think back on my experience, what stands out most the incredible team, the mentorship, and the trust Stuart placed in me. In the open-concept office, I had the opportunity to collaborate with several Prime “hall-of-famers”, contributing to projects for brands like Welly, Care/of, and Lola. The studio culture had bi-weekly coffee runs for fresh-ground pour overs, rotating hosts for Friday afternoon six-pack happy hours – all bookending a week of good design. One moment that especially sticks with me was when Stuart entrusted me to travel-to and present new packaging prototypes solo at client offices. That level of confidence in my abilities meant a great deal to me as a young designer. 

Did your internship at Prime influence your path?

Prime deepened my passion for the dynamic world of design consulting! While I had many interests throughout college, the idea of selecting a single industry after graduation was intimidating. At Prime Studio, each client required and brought something different, keeping the work fresh and helping to build a sharp, diverse skillset. As I began looking for full-time positions, Prime helped me focus on design agencies with small to mid-sized teams. 

Do you have any advice for design students looking for an internship now?

Seek ways to differentiate yourself from the competition. While lots of designers are great sketchers or excel at CAD, the true differentiator for me lies in how you approach and solve problems. My advice would be to consider branching into a marketing minor or exploring courses in human psychology. Since most products are created with the end user in mind, understanding and designing for their needs is essential. A designer with a good head for research, branding, and point of purchase experiences has the ability to be a very valuable team member.