what is an industrial designer?
As an industrial designer, you develop the concepts for manufactured products. You create products like cars, electronics, home appliances and toys. By combining engineering knowledge with arts, you develop the best consumer products. As an industrial designer, you imagine ways a consumer may use a product and find unique designs that create value for customers. Some industrial designers focus on a specific product category. For instance, you can join a team to design medical equipment or work on consumer electronic products like computers and smartphones. Industrial designers also develop ideas and designs for automobiles and furniture.
Industrial designers work alongside engineers, product experts or marketing specialists to incorporate consumer requirements into product designs. For instance, you work with production experts to ascertain that the designs are feasible for the market and suitable for production.
As an industrial designer, you use computer-aided design software (CAD) to sketch ideas since computers make drawing and changing details easy. You are likely to use computer-aided industrial design software (CAID) in manufacturing industries. The software develops machine-readable instructions that instruct machines to build a product.
Would working as an industrial designer suit your artistic abilities and creativity? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in an industrial designer role.
industrial designer jobsaverage industrial designer salary
According to ONS, the average industrial designer salary is £37,500 annually. The average hourly rate is £19.23. Entry-level positions attract a compensation package of £31,375 per year. As you improve your skills and expertise, your salary increases gradually and your earnings peak at £50,000 annually. Working overtime usually attracts overtime pay at higher rates than standard hourly rates.
how to increase your salary as an industrial designer
As an industrial designer, your compensation package depends on your work experience and qualifications. You have low bargaining power when you are new with minimal qualifications and experience. An experienced industrial designer can negotiate a higher salary based on the knowledge and skills they bring to the table.
The product you design and the industry sector also affect your compensation. If you design cars or automobiles, you are likely to take home a higher pay than an industrial designer who creates toys or housewares. Electronic products may also attract higher salaries due to their popularity and specialisation requirements.
types of industrial designers
Some of the types of industrial designers include:
automotive designer: as an industrial automotive designer, you create designs for products associated with transportation. You design the automotive concept for public transportation methods like trains. Some industrial designers also design aircraft interiors. The role requires detailed knowledge of software programmes and engineering.
tool designer: as an industrial tools designer, you focus on designing the initial prototypes for modern machinery. You use industrial drawing concepts, engineering data and complex calculations to design tools used in industrial production. You develop the preliminary sketches and use drafting equipment to prepare technical drawings and models for the equipment.
automobile designer: as an industrial automobile designer, you combine your technical skills and creativity to enhance vehicles' aerodynamic design and style. You are trained in automobile part designs, drawings and overall structure to create attractive and stylish automobiles.
working as an industrial designer
A career as an industrial designer usually focuses on creating a functional product with an attractive external appearance. The role requires hands-on participation in design and manufacturing to achieve the best outcomes. Read on for details on the tasks and work environments associated with the role.
-
industrial designer job description
Your duties may differ based on the products you create. However, standard tasks of industrial designers include:
- consulting with clients: as an industrial designer, you conduct consultation meetings with clients or managers to determine the design requirements. Sometimes, you work with the marketing team to determine the feasibility of a product and ways to build on its feasibility through design. When you understand the projected uses of a product, you are more likely to create an ideal design for the prototype.
- sketching design ideas: as an industrial designer, you research the uses of the product and the potential consumers. From the research, you come up with sketch ideas or create renderings. The images on paper or computer software provide insight into the visual design ideas.
- developing virtual models: from the initial design, your job is to improve the viable design ideas by creating virtual models using computer software. When you create models for various designs, the production team will have options to help them determine the best design models. You create physical prototypes of your designs from the virtual models that the production engineers can use to generate the products.
- presenting designs and prototypes to clients: as an industrial designer, you present designs and prototypes to clients for approval. For instance, if you create a mobile phone, you ensure the production and marketing team approve the designs before production. You also work with industry specialists to ensure the design concept fulfils users' needs at an affordable cost.
- determining materials and manufacturing equipment: your job doesn't end with creating prototypes. You formulate the manufacturing instructions and ensure the production team follows them. You also assist the manufacturing team in selecting the best materials for each part or component.
- evaluating products: after production, you evaluate the product design to ensure it is safe and aesthetically appealing to consumers. You also assess the functionality to ensure it is practical.
-
work environment
As an industrial designer, you are likely to work in an office or lab environment. Most workspaces for industrial designers have drafting tables and conference rooms for brainstorming ideas. Since they use computer-aided software for design, expect the office to have high-end equipment and computers. While the role involves working indoors, you travel to testing facilities, client exhibit centres and manufacturing sites. Industrial designers also work remotely since they can brainstorm online and complete the design ideas using CAD software.
-
who are your colleagues?
As an industrial designer, you work in the manufacturing and production industries. Hence, your colleagues may include CAD technicians, materials engineers and ergonomists. You also work in close proximity to aerospace engineering technicians and product designers, as well as other specialists that could include furniture designers, model makers and exhibition designers.
-
work schedule
Most industrial designers work full-time schedules of 40 to 42 hours a week. However, you are likely to work overtime to catch up with deadlines or complete urgent designs. Sometimes, you adjust your work hours to meet clients in the evenings or at weekends. Some industrial designers also work part-time or on short-term contracts.
-
job outlook
As an industrial designer, you join the role in a junior-level position. With experience in the industry, you progress to senior-level industrial designer positions. Supervisory roles allow you to improve your leadership skills and progress to managerial or consultancy roles. Alternatively, you could specialise in tools or industrial automobile design by developing your skills in those specialisms.
-
advantages of finding an industrial designer job through randstad
Finding your industrial designer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as an industrial designer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
Some of the routes of becoming an industrial designer:
- university course: to become an industrial designer, pursue a foundation degree, higher national diploma or undergraduate degree. Some relevant subjects include product design, industrial product design and engineering. Alternatively, pursue courses covering a particular design subject with options like automotive engineering or furniture design. After completing the courses, consider getting work experience through internships to improve your job prospects.
- apprenticeship: instead of pursuing a degree in industrial design, complete an engineering product design and development degree apprenticeship. The programme covers academic study at an approved institution and combines it with workplace learning. The apprenticeship programme typically takes around 60 months to complete.
industrial designer skills and competencies
While technical knowledge is essential in industrial design, having the following qualities also improves your job prospects:
- analytical skills: as an industrial designer, you rely on logical thinking and analytical skills to analyse consumer needs. These skills help you develop design concepts that address consumers' preferences.
- artistic ability: as an industrial designer, you require artistic skills to draw aesthetically appealing design concepts for clients. Your drawing skills help you create the best design drawings.
- computer skills: since you rely on CAD and CAID software to draw the designs of various products, computing skills are essential. They help you create the best virtual models and prototypes for clients.
- creativity: as an industrial designer, you participate in brainstorming sessions to develop a product's initial design concepts. Creativity helps you create unique designs.
FAQs
FAQs about working as an industrial designer
-
what skills do you need to be an industrial designer?
As an industrial designer, you need the artistic ability to express your design ideas and computer skills to use design software. You also require analytical skills to discern what a customer wants
-
is industrial design a good career?
As an industrial designer, you create prototypes and design new products to solve consumers' problems. The role allows you to combine theoretical concepts with the practicality of design work. It is a lucrative career once you are qualified.
-
is industrial design in demand?
Due to the increasing demand for new products and advancements in technology promoting new design concepts, industrial design is in demand. You create new designs for products and machines in various industries.
-
what is the difference between architects and industrial designers?
Architects design buildings and draw the blueprints and specifications for residential and industrial buildings. An industrial designer develops consumer goods like kitchen appliances, furniture and cars.
-
is an industrial designer the same as an interior designer?
An industrial designer specialises in the aesthetics of products by drawing the specifications of the product design. An interior designer decorates houses to improve their aesthetic value.
-
how do I apply for an industrial designer vacancy?
Applying for an industrial designer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
