Industrial/Product Designer

Industrial/product designers use their creative design, craft and engineering skills to design and shape products of almost any sort, from domestic appliances to automobiles and aircraft. The work can involve making improvements to existing products, or designing, modelling, testing and producing prototypes of brand new products. Either way, industrial/product designers must have a thorough understanding of materials, production processes and the potential market for the products under consideration at any time.

In addition to the creative work, industrial/product designers would need to make presentations to senior colleagues or clients, either in bidding for a contract or to present their design proposals. They would also have to liaise with professionals in production, finance and marketing to discuss appropriate production processes, costs and other commercial issues.

Entry level
Job titles can be misleading in this area of work. Some organisations use the term industrial designer to denote a position in which the emphasis is on engineering-related knowledge and skills, and where an engineering qualification is required. Others are looking specifically for the artistic and creative input of the designer, without necessarily expecting any specialised engineering knowledge. You must always read job specifications very carefully.

You may find that some design consultancies and in-house design teams employ people with a wide range of complementary skills. On the purely technological front, a degree or HND in an engineering discipline with design content would be more relevant. On the creative side, a degree or HND in a subject such as spatial design, 3-D design or product design would be looked for. Courses that include a relevant industrial placement can be particularly useful.

Making the grade
Training is mainly on the job, in areas such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and product knowledge. Throughout your career, you would normally 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. Management skills would be required for progression to design management.

There are specialist training organisations offering workshops and short courses tailored to the needs of industrial/product designers, particularly in the development of professional business practice in areas such as project management, time management and effective negotiating skills.

Personal qualities
You would need a high degree of creative ability, balanced with appropriate technical knowledge, good visual and spatial awareness, and CAD proficiency.

You must be aware of the relationship between attractive design, effective functionality, production costs and potential sales. Poor colour vision would restrict your career development but may not prove a complete barrier to successful employment.

Looking ahead
It should be possible to progress to a senior designer post in a large organisation, where the size of the design department and the variety of specialised roles within it permit such progression. Some of the bigger automotive and consumer product manufacturers may offer such opportunities. A few large consultancies may be able to offer similar opportunities but, typically, opportunities in smaller consultancies are more limited and progression may only be achieved through movement between employers or even between related fields of design.

There is a significant demand for experienced designers, especially those with experience in specific areas and a thorough understanding of technology. International mobility may be required when working for multinational manufacturers and may influence your promotion prospects, as will foreign language ability.

Self-employment or freelance work is quite common but you would normally move into this area only after developing a track record of relevant industrial experience and a network of contacts/potential clients.

Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities on the creative side might include architect, exhibition/display designer, furniture designer, graphic designer, interior designer or television/film set designer. On the technological side, you might consider automotive, manufacturing or mechanical engineer.

Take-home pay
Earnings vary considerably but typical starting salaries range from £16,000 to £20,000. With experience, your salary should increase from around £26,000 to £41,000. You could earn in excess of £60,000 as a senior consultant. Salaries in London are likely to be higher than in the rest of the country.

Effects
The role requires a flexible attitude to working hours in order to meet deadlines or to resolve design difficulties. Although extra hours should be expected, these would not normally include weekends or shifts.

Sources of information
Chartered Society of Designers: www.csd.org.uk
Design Business Association: www.dba.org.uk
Design Council: www.design-council.org.uk
Institution of Engineering Designers: www.ied.org.uk
SEMTA: Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies: www.semta.org.uk

CRCI: E