How does one get a job designing bowling balls?
arcticnyx asked:
I just started bowling and am interested in buying my own ball. I was looking at a few websites that sell bowling supplies and there are the same ball designs on many sites so I was wondering how I might go about researching a career in bowling ball design. I am currently in college working towards my BA in art so I do have some design skills.
I just started bowling and am interested in buying my own ball. I was looking at a few websites that sell bowling supplies and there are the same ball designs on many sites so I was wondering how I might go about researching a career in bowling ball design. I am currently in college working towards my BA in art so I do have some design skills.
August 17th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Hi! Since about 1993, bowling ball manufacturers have been using computerized design software to generate frequent improvements in core design.
Designs have become so sophisticated that even for one model of ball, a different core design may be used for different ball weights (e.g., one for 12-and 13-pound balls, another for 14-pound balls, and a third for 15-and 16-pound balls). A developmental chemist working for a major manufacturer was quoted in a 1996Design News article as saying, “Not long ago, a company could introduce a good ball and keep the market for two years. Now products come out so quickly that you need to have new designs ready all the time.”
Here are some links to information that will help you. You already have a start in the bowling business, and are learning some design skills, so just keep learning and start making contacts for later:
Thanks for asking this question. Best wishes!
August 17th, 2008 at 5:34 am
If you do, try the Brunswick Bowling Viz-A-Ball department. They are the division of Brunswick Bowling that manufacture bowling balls with all over designs ranging from simple smiley faces to NFL logos to Disney characters and designs in between.
I’m sure they’d love having artists on board helping to design hip and modern bowling balls for the general public and professionals world wide! Hope this helps!