Industrial or Product Designer

What an Industrial or Product Designer Does

Have you ever wondered who ensured that the objects you use every day are functional and attractive? That person was likely an industrial or product designer. These designers are responsible for designing and producing the objects you use in everyday life as well as those used in business and industry. Most industrial designers will work for a larger design firm or business, but some will also do independent freelance work. Additionally, most will have an area of specialization, focusing their skills on consumer, business or industrial products. On a normal day, industrial designers might meet with clients to discuss ideas for a project, come up with drawings and three-dimensional models or prototypes, get design approval and send the finalized designs off for production. Industrial designers must know a great deal about how objects are used and the types of design that attracts consumers from all aspects of the market.

How to Become an Industrial or Product Designer

To begin a career as an industrial designer, students will need to enroll in an industrial or product design program at a college or university. These programs usually take about four years to complete and are often best augmented with a variety of internships throughout study. To work in this field, students will need to get at least a bachelor's degree, though higher level degrees may be required for advanced positions and promotions. Throughout their training, students can expect to learn about modeling, woodworking, manufacturing, sculpture, materials, drawing and computer design. This is a studio-focused major, so coursework will demand constant student participation and work. While training for this career can be intensive, after graduation students will be ready to enter the field and start designing. Entry level workers often work on smaller projects and under the supervision of those more experienced, gradually working their way up to completing projects on their own.

Career Outlook for Industrial or Product Designers

The industrial design field should have plenty of job openings for new graduates and experience workers alike through the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Average growth for the field means an increase of about 9 percent in jobs, translating into around 4,000 new positions through 2018. While jobs will be available, since this is a highly competitive field they may not always be easy to come by. It is essential that those in the job market for product design have a strong portfolio and pursue a variety of internship and training programs to help them along. Taking additional training and certification in things like computer aided design, engineering and business can be a big help to those who want to find work at some of the best industrial and product design firms. Industrial designers make an average of $57,000 a year depending on their specialization and expertise.