Industrial/product designer
Industrial/product designers design a wide range of items, from everyday things like mobile phones to household appliances to cars, to larger things like industrial tools, equipment and machinery, as well as medical products.
They work on new products or improve existing ones, and use their understanding of technology, materials and manufacturing methods to improve the design and usability of an item. The work involves designing, modelling, testing and producing prototypes. Working alongside engineers and model-makers, industrial/product designers conduct research and devise a design proposal for projects.
A typical day for an industrial/product designer may be busy and varied and may involve one or more of the following:
In addition to the above, freelance designers also need to complete the necessary paperwork and administration associated with self-employment.
Most industrial/product designers have a degree, foundation degree or HNC/D, usually in product design. There are many courses in universities and colleges that offer a design element as part of a general design or technology studies.
The following degree/HND subjects in particular may increase your chances:
Courses that include a relevant placement year or those with significant practical design content are particularly useful. Entry without a degree or HND is extremely unlikely.
A postgraduate or Masters qualification might be an advantage in certain sectors, especially when working with European customers and competitors.
Pre-entry experience is highly desirable. Experience gained through an industrial placement, freelance work, design competitions or a specific project gives a distinct advantage.
Candidates need to show evidence of the following:
International mobility may be required when working for multinational manufacturers and may influence promotion prospects, as will foreign language ability. Be proactive from early on in your course by gaining experience and developing contacts in the industry. Get your portfolio checked by a design professional. Ensure that it has evidence of the breadth of your work and any specialist interests, and that it shows how your design ideas were conceived and developed.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Training is mainly on the job and in areas such as computer-aided design (CAD) and product knowledge. Throughout your career, you will be required to enhance your expertise through in-service training (to acquire specialist knowledge of equipment and software) and/or further study for a higher degree. Study for an MBA (Master of Business Administration) or a postgraduate course in project management might be supported by some employers as a vehicle for suitable candidates to develop enhanced management skills and knowledge.
Various management training and professional development courses are now available. Management skills are required for progression to design management and project management level appointments and are not easily developed on the job. The Design Business Association (DBA) offers relevant professional courses in presentation skills and design effectiveness, as well as professional practice courses at Stage One (PP1) for junior staff, Stage Two (PP2) for middle to senior staff and Stage Three for senior staff.
Third party training organisations offer a range of workshops and short courses, tailored to the needs of the profession, which helps the development of professional business practice in areas such as project management, time management and effective negotiating skills.
It is quite possible to progress to senior designer posts in larger organisations where the size of the design department and the variety of specialised roles within it permit such progression - larger automotive and consumer product manufacturers may offer such opportunities. Depending upon the type of experience gained and your personal interests, progression thereafter is sometimes possible to more senior positions, such as creative director, or to a management role, such as new business director or project manager.
A few large consultancies may be able to offer similar opportunities but, typically, opportunities in smaller consultancies will be more limited and progression may only be achieved through movement between employers or even between related fields of design, as opportunities arise.
Professional qualifications, specialist knowledge and breadth of experience will become more important as you climb the promotional ladder. There is a significant demand for experienced designers, especially those with experience in specific areas and a technological background.
Relocation, nationally or internationally, may be required to take advantage of opportunities for promotion within larger multinational organisations. Some designers achieve promotion by moving to non-UK companies, particularly in the USA.
Some industrial/product designers work in-house for manufacturing or service companies, some work on their own as self-employed freelancers and some are based in design consultancies, working on a range of client projects.
Those who work in-house are typically employed by large industrial and domestic product manufacturers who are likely to have multidisciplinary teams working on new product development. Among these are multinational companies producing household name products.
Some manufacturers, including some of the larger ones, seek designs from outside their organisation, giving rise to opportunities for designers working freelance or in design consultancies. Design consultancies may be large or small, specialised or more general in nature, and may work on designs for products including industrial, scientific or medical equipment, consumer products and packaging, and children’s toys. They work on designs for:
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) provide opportunities within small and medium-sized companies in collaboration with a university. More information can be found at Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) .
Recruitment agencies handle vacancies. See Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) for a list of recruitment agencies, dealing with product designers or design engineers.
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