Become An Industrial Designer
Where do you want to work?
Working As An Industrial Designer
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
- Thinking Creatively
- Getting Information
- Interacting With Computers
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Deal with People
Mostly Sitting
$49,206
Average Salary
What Does An Industrial Designer Do
Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. They combine art, business, and engineering to make products that people use every day. Industrial designers consider the function, aesthetics, production costs, and the usability of products when developing new product concepts.
DutiesIndustrial designers typically do the following:
- Consult with clients to determine requirements for designs
- Research the various ways a particular product might be used, and who will use it
- Sketch out ideas or create renderings, which are images on paper or on a computer that provide a better visual of design ideas
- Use computer software to develop virtual models of different designs
- Create physical prototypes of their designs
- Examine materials and manufacturing requirements to determine production costs
- Work with other specialists such as mechanical engineers or manufacturers to evaluate whether their design concepts will fill needs at a reasonable cost
- Evaluate product safety, appearance, and function to determine if a design is practical
- Present designs and demonstrate prototypes to clients for approval
Some industrial designers focus on a particular product category. For example, some design medical equipment, or work on consumer electronics products, such as computers and smart phones. Other designers develop ideas for other products such as new bicycles, furniture, housewares, and snowboards. Self-employed designers have more flexibility in the product categories they work on. Designers who work for manufacturers help create the look and feel of a brand through their designs.
Industrial designers imagine how consumers might use a product and test different designs with consumers to see how each design looks and works. Industrial designers often work with engineers, production experts, and market research analysts to find out if their designs are feasible. They apply the input from their colleagues’ professional expertise to further develop their designs. For example, industrial designers may work with market research analysts to develop plans to market new product designs to consumers.
Computers are a major tool for industrial designers. They use two-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) software to sketch ideas, because computers make it easy to make changes and show alternatives. Three-dimensional CAD software is increasingly being used by industrial designers as a tool to transform their two-dimensional designs into models with the help of three-dimensional printers. If they work for manufacturers, they also may use computer-aided industrial design (CAID) software to create specific machine-readable instructions that tell other machines exactly how to build the product.
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How To Become An Industrial Designer
A bachelor’s degree is usually required for entry-level industrial design jobs. It is also important for industrial designers to have an electronic portfolio with examples of their best design projects.
EducationA bachelor’s degree in industrial design, architecture, or engineering is usually required for entry-level industrial design jobs. Most industrial design programs include courses that industrial designers need in design: drawing, computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), and three-dimensional modeling. Most programs will also include courses in business, industrial materials and processes, and manufacturing methods that industrial designers need when developing their design.
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits approximately 320 postsecondary colleges, universities, and independent institutes with programs in art and design. Many schools require successful completion of some basic art and design courses before entry into a bachelor’s degree program. Applicants also may need to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability.
Many programs provide students with the opportunity to build a professional portfolio of their designs by collecting examples of their designs from classroom projects, internships, or other experiences. Students can use these examples of their work to demonstrate their design skills when applying for jobs and bidding on contracts for work.
Some designers have a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree which helps further develop a designer’s business skills. These skills help designers understand how to fit their designs to meet the cost limitations a firm may have for the production of a given product.
Important QualitiesAnalytical skills. Industrial designers use logic or reasoning skills to study consumers and recognize the need for new products.
Artistic ability. Industrial designers sketch their initial design ideas, which are used later to create prototypes. As such, designers must be able to express their design through illustration.
Computer skills. Industrial designers use computer-aided design software to develop their designs and create prototypes.
Creativity. Industrial designers must be innovative in their designs and the ways in which they integrate existing technologies into their new product.
Interpersonal skills. Industrial designers must develop cooperative working relationships with clients and colleagues who specialize in related disciplines.
Mechanical skills. Industrial designers must understand how products are engineered, at least for the types of products that they design.
Problem-solving skills. Industrial designers identify complex design problems such as the need, size, and cost of a product, anticipate production issues, develop alternatives, evaluate options, and implement solutions.
AdvancementExperienced designers in large firms may advance to chief designer, design department head, or other supervisory positions. Some designers become teachers in design schools or in colleges and universities. For more information, see the profile on postsecondary teachers. Many teachers continue to consult privately or operate small design studios in addition to teaching. Some experienced designers open their own design firms.
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Industrial Designer jobs
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Industrial Designer Career Paths
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Senior Industrial Designer 4.8 years
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Senior Designer 4.0 years
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Product Designer 3.6 years
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Product Development Designer 3.6 years
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Head Designer 3.3 years
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Lead Designer 3.3 years
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Fabric Designer 3.3 years
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Designer 3.0 years
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Industrial Designer 3.0 years
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Creative Designer 2.9 years
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Package Designer 2.9 years
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Production Designer 2.5 years
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Assistant Designer 1.6 years
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Junior Designer 1.6 years
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Industrial Design Internship 0.5 years
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Product Design Internship 0.4 years
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Internship 8.2%
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Product Designer 7.6%
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Designer 7.4%
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Design Internship 7.1%
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Graphic Designer 6.4%
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Design Consultant 4.4%
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Freelance Designer 4.3%
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Teaching Assistant 4.0%
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Design Engineer 3.3%
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Project Manager 3.3%
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Sales Associate 2.4%
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Interior Designer 2.1%
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Design Manager 2.1%
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Package Designer 2.0%
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Mechanical Designer 1.9%
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Contract Designer 1.8%
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Exhibition Designer 1.8%
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Graphic Designer 7.7%
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Product Designer 7.4%
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Designer 7.0%
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Design Engineer 6.2%
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Design Director 6.1%
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Design Consultant 5.7%
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Design Manager 5.5%
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Project Manager 5.2%
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Freelance Designer 4.2%
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Design Internship 3.5%
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Mechanical Designer 3.5%
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Product Developer 3.3%
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Lead Designer 2.6%
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Principal 2.5%
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Principal Designer 2.3%
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Product Manager 2.1%
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Interior Designer 2.0%
Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Industrial Designer
Top Careers After Industrial Designer
Industrial Designer Demographics
Gender
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Male
75.8% -
Female
17.6% -
Unknown
6.6%
Ethnicity
-
White
69.1% -
Asian
15.8% -
Hispanic or Latino
12.4% -
Unknown
2.0% -
Black or African American
0.7%
Languages Spoken
-
Spanish
30.9% -
Chinese
9.9% -
Mandarin
9.9% -
Korean
9.9% -
German
8.6% -
French
7.4% -
Japanese
6.2% -
Italian
4.9% -
Portuguese
2.5% -
Cantonese
2.5% -
Vietnamese
1.2% -
Bosnian
1.2% -
Greek
1.2% -
Persian
1.2% -
Hindi
1.2% -
Russian
1.2%
Industrial Designer
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Industrial Designer Education
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Savannah College of Art and Design
12.4% -
Auburn University
10.1% -
Rochester Institute of Technology
8.4% -
College for Creative Studies
7.3% -
University of Cincinnati
6.8% -
Art Center College of Design
5.3% -
San Jose State University
5.1% -
Wentworth Institute of Technology
4.3% -
Rhode Island School of Design
4.3% -
Pratt Institute-Main
4.3% -
University of Wisconsin - Stout
4.1% -
Arizona State University
3.8% -
Ohio State University
3.8% -
North Carolina State University
3.5% -
University of Illinois at Chicago
3.3% -
Brigham Young University
3.0% -
Academy of Art University
2.5% -
Georgia Institute of Technology -
2.5% -
Purdue University
2.5% -
University of Kansas
2.5% -
Graphic Design 74.6%
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Fine Arts 4.0%
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Business 3.4%
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Drafting And Design 1.9%
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Architecture 1.9%
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Project Management 1.1%
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Civil Engineering 1.0%
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Marketing 1.0%
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Woodworking 1.0%
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Finance 0.7%
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Engineering 0.7%
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Environmental Design 0.7%
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Sustainability 0.5%
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Education 0.5%
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Management 0.5%
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Bachelors
63.0% -
Masters
19.5% -
Other
12.1% -
Associate
2.9% -
Certificate
1.6% -
Diploma
0.6% -
Doctorate
0.2% -
License
0.1%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Industrial Designer
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Industrial Designer Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Designer | Apple Inc. | Cupertino, CA | Aug 24, 2016 | $210,575 - $215,575 |
| Industrial Designer | Google, Inc. | Mountain View, CA | Oct 08, 2015 | $182,758 |
| Industrial Designer | Google, Inc. | Mountain View, CA | Oct 01, 2015 | $182,758 |
| Principal Industrial Designer | Magic Leap, Inc. | Dania Beach, FL | Apr 01, 2016 | $180,000 |
| Industrial Design Leader-Research Advisor | Eli Lilly and Company | Indianapolis, IN | Oct 01, 2015 | $170,000 |
| Industrial Design Leader-Research Advisor | Eli Lilly and Company | Indianapolis, IN | Jan 10, 2015 | $170,000 |
| Lead Industrial Designer | Fitbit, Inc. | San Francisco, CA | Jul 09, 2016 | $161,824 |
| Vice President of Industrial Design | HTL Furniture Inc. | High Point, NC | Aug 30, 2016 | $153,795 |
| Lead Industrial Designer | Girling Kelly Design Group, LLC | Seattle, WA | Mar 30, 2015 | $150,000 |
| Industrial Designer | Facebook, Inc. | Seattle, WA | Apr 12, 2015 | $147,250 - $167,250 |
| Principal Industrial Designer | Nokia USA Inc. | Sunnyvale, CA | May 23, 2016 | $146,450 |
| Industrial Designer | Google Inc. | Mountain View, CA | Sep 13, 2016 | $145,000 |
| Industrial Designer | Google Inc. | Mountain View, CA | Oct 01, 2015 | $145,000 |
| Manager-Mechanical & Industrial Design Resource Group | Invetech, Inc. | San Diego, CA | Oct 01, 2015 | $140,000 |
| Industrial Designer | Larsen & Toubro Technology Services Ltd | Conyers, GA | Jul 15, 2015 | $63,960 |
| Industrial Designer | East Coast Metal Decks Inc. | Lantana, FL | Sep 23, 2016 | $63,939 |
| Industrial Designer | Larsen & Toubro Technology Services Ltd | Van Buren, MI | Jun 23, 2015 | $63,936 |
| Industrial Designer | L&T Technology Services Limited | Hammond, IN | Aug 25, 2015 | $63,936 |
| Industrial Designer | L&T Technology Services Limited | Independence, MO | May 10, 2015 | $63,912 |
| Industrial Designer | Larsen & Toubro Technology Services Ltd. | Morristown, NJ | Mar 12, 2015 | $63,900 |
| Industrial Designer | L&T Technology Services Limited | Poway, CA | May 11, 2015 | $63,900 |
| Industrial Designer | Modne Inc. | Brea, CA | Jun 07, 2016 | $59,842 |
| Industrial Designer | Lear Corporation | Southfield, MI | Aug 09, 2016 | $59,842 |
| Industrial Designer | Larsen & Toubro Technology Services Ltd | Houston, TX | Jun 03, 2015 | $59,760 |
| Industrial Designer | L&T Technology Services, Ltd. | Houston, TX | May 06, 2015 | $59,760 |
| Industrial Designer | Larsen & Toubro Technology Services Ltd. | Carrollton, TX | Mar 04, 2015 | $59,760 |
| Industrial Designer | Larsen & Toubro Technology Services Ltd | Saint Louis, MO | Jan 27, 2015 | $59,760 |
| Industrial Designer | L&T Technology Services Limited | Independence, MO | Jan 09, 2015 | $59,760 |
| Industrial Designer | L&T Technology Services Limited | Moon, PA | May 06, 2015 | $59,700 |
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Top Skills for An Industrial Designer
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Top Industrial Designer Skills
- Concept Development
- New Product Development
- CAD
- Lead the projects from concept development to production, including vendor research
- Reviewed competitive patents pertaining to new product development.
- Update CAD Models & Drawings.
- Developed concepts, designs, prototypes and 3D CAD files to define design solutions.
- Produced fully developed product models in Solidworks.
Top Industrial Designer Employers
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Industrial Designer Videos
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