Become An Industrial Designer

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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.

Duties

Industrial 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.

Education

A 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 Qualities

Analytical 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.

Advancement

Experienced 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 Demographic

Gender

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

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Industrial Designer Typical Career Paths

Average Length of Employment

Industrial Designer Education

Schools

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%

Majors

Degrees

Bachelors
63.0%
Masters
19.5%
Other
12.1%
Associate
2.9%
Certificate
1.6%
Diploma
0.6%
Doctorate
0.2%
License
0.1%

Industrial Designer

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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	Jan 10, 2015	$170,000
Industrial Design Leader-Research Advisor	Eli Lilly and Company	Indianapolis, IN	Oct 01, 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	L&T Technology Services Limited	Hammond, IN	Aug 25, 2015	$63,936
Industrial Designer	Larsen & Toubro Technology Services Ltd	Van Buren, MI	Jun 23, 2015	$63,936
Industrial Designer	L&T Technology Services Limited	Independence, MO	May 10, 2015	$63,912
Industrial Designer	L&T Technology Services Limited	Poway, CA	May 11, 2015	$63,900
Industrial Designer	L&T Technology Services Limited	Poway, CA	Jun 10, 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

Top Industrial Designer Skills

Concept Development
New Product Development
CAD

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

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.