Source: Career Prospects in Virginia

• What do they do? Industrial designers draw up plans for new products--everything from forks to forklifts
• Specializations include: Types of products, like housewares, cars, shoes, or medical products.
• Preferred education: Master's in Industrial Design (MID)
• Certification & licensing: None
• Getting ahead: Move into management, or to a better company where they tackle more exciting projects
• Skills: Creativity, working in a competitive environment, knowledge of manufacturing, problem-solving
• Where they work: Design studios, offices. Work for manufacturers, design firms, self-employment
• Job outlook: Competitive
• Earnings: Moderate to very high

What Do They Do?

When you admire the sleek contours of your favorite sports car or the way your cell phone feels in your hand, you are admiring the work of an industrial designer.Industrial designers, also called product designers, draw up plans for new products--everything from can openers to computers, surgical instruments to forklifts. When developing a new product, designers must balance functionality and appearance. For example, a designer working on a new stethoscope will ideally devise one that is more attractive and easier to use than other stethoscopes on the market.

In products for mass markets, appearance is often the most important quality. By creating a certain "look" for a product, designers help develop brand recognition and improve sales. Giving an established product a new look can also lead to "artificially accelerated obsolescence," which means that people who already own a product will buy a new one simply because it looks better, even if the old one still works just fine. Car manufactures update their models each year for this very reason.

In developing the right look for a product, however, designers must take several factors into consideration. Cost of production, manufacturing and distribution limitations, the target market, ease of use, comfort, and safety are just some of the issues designers must deal with. Therefore, they need broad knowledge of multiple disciplines.

They should understand how products are engineered and manufactured; they need to know about marketing and advertising; they often study psychology to understand how people interact with the objects around them; and they usually know a lot about art, photography, architecture, history, and pop culture. Designers also work closely with other members of product development teams, like engineers and marketers, to make sure the achieve the best design for each product.

As manufacturers become increasingly aware of the benefits that industrial designers can offer them, the scope of design practice is widening. Many companies now hire designers to develop packaging, design exhibits for trade shows, work on point-of-sale advertising, and design store interiors. Top industrial designers span the world of art, advertising, and production, creating innovative and appealing products that almost sell themselves. Specific tasks include:

• Consulting with clients and coworkers
• Researching product trends and the demographics of their target market
• Developing design ideas using hand sketches, computer aided design software, and 3-D models.
• Presenting design ideas to clients and coworkers
• Overseeing construction of product prototypes
• Helping to conduct product tests
• Designing packaging, exhibits, advertising, and store interiors

Some Areas of Specialization

Industrial designers usually specialize in designing certain types of products, like housewares, automobiles, footwear, or medical products. They may also specialize in a certain area of design practice. For instance, universal designers look for ways to make products accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of age or disability, and green or environmental designers work to make products more environmentally friendly.

Education, Certification & Licensing

Industrial designers need at least a bachelor's degree in industrial design [link to search by Program], but a Master's in Industrial Design (MID) is becoming the industry standard. Several colleges and universities throughout the country, including Virginia Tech, offer accredited programs in industrial design. Classroom instruction in these programs includes courses in the history of the discipline, drawing, computer-aided design, production methods, design principles, professional practice, and other areas. Most programs supplement coursework with internships, which give students the chance to gain work experience in a professional environment. Because a strong portfolio is necessary for finding a job, students need to keep copies or photographs of their work to show potential employers.

Getting Ahead

Industrial designers advance by earning greater creative control over their work and commanding higher salaries. They may be promoted within their company or design firm, but designers often advance by moving to larger, better-known companies, which can lead to higher-profile projects, better salaries, and more opportunities for advancement. Designers may also move into managerial positions, supervising other designers and heading up design departments. Those with exceptional managerial skills may become company executives or open their own firms.

Skills, Abilities & Personal Characteristics

• Creativity and imagination
• Working in a highly competitive environment
• Problem-solving
• Working well with clients
• Meeting deadlines
Keeping abreast of current products, trends, and customers’ tastes
• Translating a client’s needs and preferences into a finished product
• Attention to detail
• Drawing and sketching by hand
• Understanding technical drawings
• Using current computer-assisted drawing, design, and rendering applications
• Ability to make product models and knowledge of Rapid Prototyping technologies
• Presenting work to colleagues, peers, and clients for criticism and evaluation
• Developing and presenting a persuasive argument
• Knowledge of product development, manufacturing, and marketing
• Networking and finding work
• Managing and documenting time spent on projects

Where They Work

Many designers work for design firms that offer design or consulting services to companies on a contractual basis. Other designers work for companies that have in-house design teams. Some are self-employed.

Outlook

Many companies are becoming increasingly aware of how the appearance and functionality of a product can create corporate identity and increase sales. This awareness has increased the number of industrial designs jobs available, and this growth is expected to continue through 2010. However, like many creative fields, industrial design is highly competitive. There are many qualified, talented people applying for a relatively small number of good jobs. Only about 1,000 industrial designers work in Virginia. Designers with a graduate degree, a strong portfolio, and the ability to network will have the best prospects.

Earnings

Industrial designers earn about $50,000, on average. Nationally, the highest 10% earn closer to $80,000.

For More Information

Industrial Designers Society of America 1142 Walker Rd Great Falls, VA 22066, www.idsa.org

CORE77, an online design magazine, www.core77.com

The College of Architecture and Urban Design, Industrial Design Program, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061, caus5.arch.vt.edu/ID

Coroflot, a search engine for design jobs, www.coroflot.com

Product Designer: Karim Rashid, www.karimrashid.com

Car Design News, www.cardesignnews.com/news/2001/010430aac-cole/
Designer David Cole describes his career as an automobile designer, www.cardesignnews.com/news/2001/010430aac-cole/