Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1531384
JANUARY 2025 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 9 But things have changed, and with many designers heading for retirement, many requirements have been relaxed. Plus, I don't know if there will be enough EEs to fill the thousands of design jobs open in early 2025, much less a few years down the road. Will designers be using AI throughout their design cycle? Will the designers of tomorrow have to become experts on the silicon-to- systems approach? Will they need to master mechanical CAD tools? Will the industry ever settle on one data transfer format? ese are just a few questions our expert contributors discuss in this issue. We start with an interview with David Wiens of Sie- mens, who looks into his crystal ball from an EDA company's perspective. Dan Beeker of NXP Semiconductor shares his thoughts on the typical design engineer of the near future, and Stephen Chavez, also of Siemens, focuses on the innovation that is shaping the designer's job. Former animation artist Melissa Martinez discusses PCB design from the vantage point of a brand-new designer. Bob Potock of Zuken explains how PCB design soware is responding to the needs of tomorrow's designers. Barry Olney dis- cusses the new technologies that designers will be facing soon, and Martyn Gaudion predicts some of the changes coming to UHDI. Vern Solberg addresses the chal- lenges facing tomorrow's designers, and Joe Fjelstad looks 10 years into the future. We have short interviews with speakers from the upcoming Pan-European Design Conference in Vienna, Austria, and Anaya Vardya has another installment in his UHDI series. Matt Stevenson rounds it out by cov- ering surface finishes in this month's column. I hope you all have a fantastic 2025! DESIGN007 Andy Shaughnessy is managing editor of Design007 Magazine. He has been covering PCB design for 23 years. To read past columns, click here. Turning the Page: How to Reinvent Your Professional Journey By John Watson The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect and embrace the signifi- cance of this moment. This season is not simply a mile- stone marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another; it's an opportunity to acknowledge our journey and appreciate the lessons we've learned, the chal- lenges we've overcome, and the people who have supported us. This year has been challenging. Economic uncertainty, driven by inflation and fluctuating market conditions, created tighter budgets and reduced consumer spending in many areas, which has meant struggles for our industry. This resulted in many of my friends and colleagues losing their jobs and facing unemployment in the new year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average number of jobs someone between the ages of 18 and 52 will have is approximately 12. In my experience, PCB designers will have even more than 12 jobs during their professional lifetimes. Learning how to reinvent yourself and your career requires making significant changes. It could mean learning new skills, changing jobs, or starting a new career. It's not always easy, but it's worth it if you're ready to fly high. Let's explore what it means to reinvent yourself in your career. Continue reading this column here.