Between primary, secondary and post-secondary school, I received numerous awards for drawing, science, technology, and artistic pursuits.  While a senior at Michigan, I won a national contest for an architectural interior I designed.  The last physical model I created in my final design studio that same year led to recognition in another competition and, coincidentally, one of my first professional design opportunities.

Working as an Architectural Interior Designer during the day, I returned to school in my off-hours to study Transportation Design.

The most exciting Creative Design happening in Detroit was Automotive.  Earning an internship at the Chrysler Corporation, I began my transition to a career in Transportation Design.

Following the internship, I was employed by numerous Tier One suppliers to the automotive and heavy truck OEM’s, Original Equipment Manufacturers.  I initially worked for Findlay Industries and, as one of their first Industrial Designers, developed and implemented an interior theme for Navistar’s next generation of Conventional and Cab-over Class 8 trucks.

Moving onto another Tier One supplier, Automotive Industries, which eventually became part of the Lear Corporation, we acquired greater capability and now the creative focus turned to concepting and developing new applications for existing as well as new capabilities, technologies, materials and processes.  Working in the areas of lighting, safety, entertainment and additional interior features, I developed an early video entertainment system; integrated fiber optic, LED and light pipes throughout the vehicle interior; an inexpensive blow-molded center floor console and “RISC” removable interior storage containers for which I was awarded my first two patents. (Reference Lear Corporation in Portfolio)

Because of my Interior Design experience, I was asked to develop some of our studio environments, reception spaces and exhibits, much of which was executed in house. (Reference Studio, Exhibit and Reception in Portfolio)

At the time, being part of a larger more robust team – human factors, benchmarking, marketing and advanced engineering I developed a proposal for the next Lear Corporation Technology Show Property which became the “TransG”.  The prototype property was to address what at the time was described as “Transgenerational Design.  The proposal I created won a budget of 750K dollars.  I departed for another supplier, Magna International, during the initial concepting phase.

At Magna International, I focused primarily on production design, working on systems and components for which we had manufacturing responsibility.  Magna at the time was the only supplier with total vehicle capability from designing, to engineering and eventually manufacturing.  My first assignment was to develop our division “Interior Systems”, our first program with total creative and technical design responsibility, prior to manufacture.  (Reference DR Overhead System in Portfolio) The successful execution of this program would eventually lead to additional Daimler/Chrysler interior work.

My next major assignment was the Ford V-229, "Freestar”, the last American based Ford minivan. Working within Ford studios for eighteen months, I contributed to the Total Interior, from seating to instrumental panel.  Many of the components I designed for this program were carried over to other products in the Ford family, including the Escape, Explorer and Fusion.  (Reference V-229 in Portfolio)

Returning to Magna Interior Systems Studios now as “Lead Designer”, I directed a project addressing component redundancy by creating a family of common Overhead components spanning the breadth of a manufacturer’s car and light truck line-up, including minivans, SUV’s, etc. (Reference Overhead Complexity Reduction in Portfolio) The corporation was eventually awarded the Overhead System responsibility for the GM CK – Chevrolet and GMC light truck product line, including SUV’s and derivatives.

Following I worked on a variety of instrument panel and total interior concepts implementing our latest technologies, including materials, features, finishes and graphic effects.  (Reference Badlander and Project Essence in Portfolio.)  These prototypes lead to the award of the first-generation Dodge Journey Total Interior.

Working with GM Holden in Melbourne, Australia, I contributed to numerous production programs and sketch blitzes. My primary role as “Lead Designer” was the creative and production design of the interior components of the J300, Chevy Cruz Hatchback. (Reference Cargo Management B-Class Hatchback in Portfolio)

Since leaving the corporate world I have found time to pursue other interests.  Having always enjoyed drawing and sketching, I have taken advantage of my current location and have been Plein Aire painting, primarily with pastels. (Reference Art for Art’s Sake in Portfolio) I have found my design work to be influenced by this new art and vice versa.

Having developed an interest in sustainable design, I have used post-consumer recyclables or reclaimed materials to developed a number of pieces of functional furniture and, most recently, a “bunkhouse” – a small seasonal building still under construction.  (Reference Bunkhouse in Portfolio)

I have also had the opportunity to contribute to the local community.  I created a graphic symbol for a local non-profit group advocating for clean energy:

. . . designed a Stage set for the community theaters production of Oklahoma:

. . . mentored a student at the local school and initiated an effort to prevent a development at a Lake Michigan public access.  Although the fight is not over, development plans have ceased and a great sense of community has evolved.  I also volunteer at a local college radio station hosting a show “Louisiana Sounds” every fortnight.

Returning to work as a sole proprietor in ’12 as Malski Industrial Design, LLC, the majority of my efforts have been architecturally related. (Reference Sinclair Dining Room Addition and Kitchen Renovation, McDonald’s Bar, Halley’s Barn, Current Projects in the Portfolio)

This past Summer of ‘22 I had a one-man show at the Art Association here in Northport. The show featured Creative Design, Illustration and Plein Air work executed since I’ve resided in Northern Lower Peninsula Michigan. Much to my surprise and delight I sold an abundance of plein air work.