Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. They combine art, business, and engineering to make products that people use every day. Industrial designers focus on the user experience in creating style and function for a particular gadget or appliance.
Employers of industrial/product designers
- Commercial manufacturers
- Industrial manufacturers
- Domestic product manufacturers
- Design consultancies
- Retailers
- Point-of-sale designers
Duties
- Consult with clients to determine requirements for designs
- Research who will use a particular product, and the various ways it might be used
- Sketch out ideas or create renderings, which are images on paper or on a computer that provide a better visual of design ideas
- Use computer software to develop virtual models of different designs
- Create physical prototypes of their designs
- Examine materials and production costs to determine manufacturing requirements
- Work with other specialists such as mechanical engineers or manufacturers to evaluate whether their design concepts will fill a need at a reasonable cost
- Evaluate product safety, appearance, and function to determine if a design is practical
- Present designs and demonstrate prototypes to clients for approval
Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in industrial design, architecture, or engineering is usually required for entry-level industrial design jobs. Most design programs include the courses that industrial designers need in design: sketching, computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), industrial materials and processes, and manufacturing methods.
Skills
- A good eye for detail
- Well-developed technical and creative skills
- Commercial awareness
- IT skills, including CAD
- Communication and interpersonal skills