Industrial Design Careers

Industrial design is the creation of plans for mass-manufactured products. The field involves a deep understanding of ergonomics, user behavior, shape, color, materials, finishes, and manufacturing.

Industrial designers draw a lot and often transfer these drawings into 3D software. They also work closely with electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers to create prototypes of their designs. Designers must know how to fit every design into the brand’s narrative and communicate its benefits to customers.

Why Choose Industrial Design?

Some reasons to choose a career in industrial design include the following:

• Industrial designers earn a mean annual salary of $79,680, above the national mean of $59,680.
• You’ll learn a wide range of skills, making it easy to switch careers.
• You can express your creativity and see its positive impacts on people’s lives.
• You can have flexible work conditions like freelancing and remote work.

How to Start your Industrial Design Journey

You can start your industrial design journey in high school by taking essential art and design courses. Afterward, you should get a bachelor’s degree in industrial design, as this is many employers’ minimum requirement.

You can also switch to a career in industrial design if you have a BSc. in engineering, architecture, or fine arts. However, employers always require a portfolio of sample design projects, regardless of your educational background.

Educational Requirements

Associate Degree

Associate degree programs in industrial design focus on design-related classwork. Students will learn subjects like product design, prototype creation, model making, and materials and manufacturing.

An associate degree in industrial design typically takes around two years (30 classes) to complete. After that, graduates can get employment as design assistants and model makers.

Bachelor’s Degree

A Bachelor’s degree in industrial design typically takes four years (around 65 classes) to complete. Many courses are project-oriented from the first year, helping students to build a healthy work portfolio by graduation.

Many schools only accept applicants with a basic knowledge of art and design or an art-related associate degree.

Master’s Degree

Master’s degree programs in industrial design allow students to specialize in an industrial design field. Common industrial design fields include product design, furniture design, and transportation design.

A Master’s degree usually takes 1-2 years to complete, during which students will take 6-8 graduate-level courses. Students must also pass the master’s exams, finish their thesis, and meet their given portfolio requirements.

Doctorate in Industrial Design

Industrial design professors in universities and colleges must have a doctorate in industrial design. Ph.D. programs take 3-5 years to complete. Students will take 4-6 graduate-level courses, pass the Ph.D. qualifier exams, and submit their dissertation.

Employers also reserve high-level industrial design positions for Ph.D. holders.

Employment Prospects

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts around 2,700 new industrial design job openings annually. That amounts to a 3% growth in the industry within the next decade, lower than the national average of 4%.

Industrial Design Career Forecast

Employers will only consider highly-skilled designers to take the limited industrial design opportunities. However, industrial designers can switch to various related fields easily. Furthermore, industrial designers willing to migrate can land high-paying jobs abroad.

Lucrative Industrial Design Career Paths

Automotive Designer

Automotive designers develop and design motor vehicles.

Average Salary

The average annual base salary of an automotive designer is $81,517. High-earners can make over $121,000, while low-earners earn below $59,000; they can also earn up to $21,000 in additional pay.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job requirements of an automotive designer typically involve the following:

• Work with engineers to build and test prototypes.
• Design vehicle models through hand drawings and computer-aided design.
• Work with vehicle interior designers and engineers to ensure design functionality.

Industries Employing Automotive Designers

Automotive designers can find employment in the vehicle manufacturing industry.

Customer Experience Designer

Customer experience (CX) designers optimize customer satisfaction.

Average Salary

The average annual base salary of a customer experience designer is $79,760. High-earners can make over $131,000, while low-earners earn below $51,000. Customer experience designers can earn up to $90,000 in additional pay.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job description of a customer experience designer includes the following:

• Analyze and understand customer behavior and decision-making tactics.
• Study market trends.
• Analyze the market performance of new products.
• Suggest ways to optimize customer satisfaction.

Industries Employing Customer Experience Designers

Customer experience designers work in industries such as advertising agencies and manufacturing.

Design Researcher

Design researchers develop and optimize design concepts.

Average Salary

Design researchers earn an average annual base salary of $71,030. Top earners can make over $114,000, while the bottom earners earn below $47,000; they can also earn up to $39,000 in additional pay.

Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of a design researcher include the following:

• Collect and analyze data on consumers and competitors to understand design trends.
• Study the correlation between brand designs and customer behavior.
• Work with the design team to develop new design methods.

Industries Employing Design Researchers

Design researchers can work in industries such as marketing and advertising agencies.

Digital Sculptor

Digital sculptors create 3D models (or sculptures) using computer programs.

Average Salary

The average annual base salary of a digital sculptor is $67,327. The top 25% make over $85,000, while the bottom 25% earn less than $54,000; they can also earn additional income of up to $4,194.

Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of a digital sculptor include the following:

• Create 3D models of a designer's paper 2D drawings.
• Some digital sculptors create physical versions of their sculptures via 3D printing.

Industries Employing Digital Sculptors

Digital sculptors can work in industries such as architecture, gaming, and film production.

Furniture Designer

Furniture designers create functional and artistic furniture designs.

Average Salary

Furniture designers earn an average annual base salary of $57,179. The top earners make over $87,000, while the bottom earners earn below $40,000; they can earn up to $16,000 in additional pay.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job requirements of a furniture designer include the following:

• Research, draft, and create furniture designs.
• Select and recommend materials for furniture creation.
• Liaise between customers and furniture makers.

Industries Employing Furniture Designers

Furniture designers typically work in the furniture or interior decoration industries.

Graphics Designer

Graphics designers create designs using computer software.

Average Salary

In 2021, graphics designers earned a median annual wage of $50,710; the top 10% earned over $98,260, while the bottom 10% made below $31,310.

Roles and Responsibilities

A graphics designer’s roles and responsibilities include the following:

• Create design elements like pictures, logos, clip art, and illustrations.
• Maintain branding consistency in all designs.
• Cross-check designs for errors before printing.

Industries Employing Graphics Designers

Graphics designers can work in industries such as advertising, printing, and marketing; they can also work as freelancers.

Industrial Design Professor

Industrial design professors teach the theory and practice of industrial design in postsecondary institutions.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of an industrial design professor is $85,685. The top 25% earn over $124,000, while the bottom 25% make below $59,000; they can also earn up to $27,667 in additional pay.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job responsibilities of an industrial design professor include the following:

• Train students on the core and supplementary industrial design skills.
• Teach students how to use the latest design software.
• Assess and grade students’ projects, examinations, and theses.

Industries Employing Industrial Design Professors

Industrial design professors work as lecturers in colleges and universities.

Industrial Designer

Industrial designers create design concepts for manufactured products.

Average Salary

In 2021, the median annual wage of industrial designers was $77,030. The top 10% earned above $128,210, while the bottom 10% made less than $44,840.

Roles and Responsibilities

The job responsibilities of an industrial designer include the following:

• Create 3D models, sketches, and prototypes from client design requirements.
• Evaluate product safety, aesthetics, and practicality.
• Examine manufacturing materials and requirements.

Industries Employing Industrial Designers

Industrial designers mostly work in the manufacturing industry; they also work in design services and architecture.

Industrial Production Manager

Industrial production managers supervise a manufacturing plant's activities.

Average Salary

Industrial production managers earned a median annual wage of $103,150 in 2021. The top 10% earned over $170,470, while the bottom 10% made less than $64,150.

Roles and Responsibilities

An industrial production designer’s job description includes the following:

• Ensure that plant workers comply with safety measures and meet performance.
• Analyze and improve production processes.
• Check finished products for defects.
• Monitor, upgrade, and schedule repair of production equipment.

Industries Employing Industrial Production Managers

Industrial production managers usually work in the manufacturing industry.

Interior Designer

Interior designers arrange and decorate rooms in a building.

Average Salary

Interior designers earned a median annual wage of $60,340 in 2021. The top 10% made over $99,070, while the bottom 10% earned less than $30,930.

Roles and Responsibilities

An interior designer’s roles and responsibilities include the following:

• Sketch room decoration designs in line with client’s requirements.
• Determine the furnishings and materials for use in a room.
• Ensure that building contractors implement the project specifications.

Industries Employing Interior Designers

Interior designers work in industries such as architectural services, furniture stores, and specialized design services.

Package Designer

Package designers create aesthetically pleasing, safe, and cost-effective product packaging.

Average Salary

Package designers earn an average annual base salary of $53,883. The top 10% earn over $76,000, while the bottom 10% make below $42,000; they can also make up to $6,000 in additional pay.

Roles and Responsibilities

A package designer’s roles and responsibilities include the following:

• Work with graphic designers to create labels.
• Create package designs that communicate the brand’s identity.
• Ensure the ergonomic and practical safety of product packaging.

Industries Employing Package Designers

Package designers work in industries such as food processing and manufacturing.

Product Designer

Product designers oversee a product’s complete design process.

Average Salary

The average annual base salary of a product designer is $87,079. The top 10% earn over $131,000, while the bottom 10% make less than $56,000; their additional pay can reach $51,000.

Roles and Responsibilities

A package designer’s job duties include the following:

• Create new product designs and suggest improvements to existing ones.
• Suggest cost-effective processes for production.
• Work with engineering teams to determine product design feasibility.

Industries Employing Product Designers

Product designers can work in several industries, including manufacturing, telecommunications, and furniture design.

Set Designer

Set designers design the scene or set for a theatre, film, video, or television performance.

Average Salary

In 2021, the median annual salary of a set designer was $54,860. The top 10% earned over $100,550, while the bottom 10% made below $30,810.

Roles and Responsibilities

A set designer’s roles and responsibilities include the following:

• Study the scripts to determine appropriate architectural styles.
• Work with cinematographers to design set props and place them in the correct positions.
• Work with lighting engineers to assess the impact of light effects on the set.

Industries Employing Set Designers

Set designers can work in film, video, or theater production companies.

Sports Equipment Designer

Sports equipment designers design equipment to play various sports.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of a sports equipment designer is $60,137. The top 25% make over $93,500, while the bottom 25% earn less than $38,000.

Roles and Responsibilities

A sports equipment designer’s roles and responsibilities include the following:

• Ensure that sports equipment designs are practical and aesthetically pleasing.
• Prioritize player safety in equipment design.
• Ensure that equipment designs do not enhance players’ sporting abilities illegally.

Industries Employing Sports Equipment Designers

Sports equipment designers can work with sports players, teams, leagues, and clothing companies.

How to Boost your Industrial Design Career

To many employers, an industrial designer is only as good as his experience and work portfolio. Therefore, you can boost your career by working on personal projects, internships, volunteering, or part-time jobs.

Mentorship and continuous learning can also boost your career significantly. A mentor will let you know the current industry demands and where to learn them.

Pros and Cons of Industrial Design Careers

A career in industrial design has the following pros and cons.

Pros

• You can be a remote freelancer, allowing you to work globally with clients from your home.
• You’ll learn skills that are relevant for several jobs outside industrial design.
• Employers are not always so bothered by academic requirements; a strong work portfolio can help you land opportunities.

Cons

• Declining industrial design opportunities as many employers prefer freelancers overseas.
• Clients or employers can stifle your creative freedom.
• Industrial design work can be repetitive and stressful.

Skills You’ll Develop While Studying Industrial Design

A degree in industrial design will teach you vital intellectual and technical skills.

Attention to Detail

Industrial designers must learn to pay attention to detail in their designs. They must know how to see the bigger picture in every design aspect and fix design flaws. Little design errors can cause a negative user experience; in extreme cases, your mistakes can lead to fatal accidents.

Design and Creative Skills

Industrial designers must be able to creatively explain a project’s vision using designs and sketches. After approval, they still need to creatively execute the project from start to finish. While creativity is a natural gift, the designer must learn functional artistic skills.

Interpersonal Skills

Industrial designers often work with other team members in an organization. Therefore, you must be an excellent team player. Furthermore, you’ll regularly have to balance customer needs and upper management demands.

Openness to Criticism

Professional industrial designers primarily design products for others. Therefore, they must be open to receiving criticism from employers, team members, and customers. A skilled industrial designer must know how to separate his emotions and ego from his work and humbly receive feedback.

Understanding of Mechanical Processes

Industrial designers must understand mechanical processes, even if they don’t manufacture the products themselves. Without understanding mechanical processes, designers would design impractical products. Also, a designer should know what his company can do with its tools and infrastructure.

Software Skills

An industrial designer must know how to digitally present his designs using relevant computer software. Software packages that industrial designers use include the following:

• Solidworks and AutoCAD for computer-aided design.
• Blender or Rhino for 3D modeling.
• Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator for graphics design.
• Adobe After Effects or Davinci Resolve for video editing.

How to Prepare for an Industrial Design Career

Below is a quick guide on preparing for an industrial design career.

1. Learn Art and Design in High School

Understanding art and design subjects in high school prepare you to learn more complex ones in college. Some institutions require students to prove their artistic abilities before granting them admission to study industrial design.

2. Earn a Degree in a Relevant Course

Most employers consider bachelor’s degree holders for entry-level industrial positions. You can major in industrial design or related courses like design or architecture. Industrial designers in managerial positions need a Master's in Business Administration (MBA).

3. Build Your Portfolio

A designer’s work portfolio shows employers that he has work experience. Thankfully, students usually graduate with an extensive portfolio of practical projects. In addition, you can bolster your portfolio with personal projects, undergoing internships, and cooperative education experiences.

4. Network With Other Designers

A strong network of industrial designers significantly simplifies your job search. Therefore, you should partake in design clubs, groups, and workshops on campus.

Also, you can join professional associations like the Industrial Design Society of America (iDSA) and the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). These organizations reduce membership and event fees for students.

Industrial Design Resources to Help Your Career

• Online Learning Platforms: Boost your industrial design skills on learning platforms like Domestika, Coursera, and Udemy.
• Journals: Keep track of changes in the industry with peer-reviewed journals like Design Issues, Design Management Journal, and Journal of Cleaner Production.
• Salary Estimate Resources: Learn about current pay estimates on platforms like Glassdoor and Payscale.
• Job Search Resources: Search for jobs on platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed.

How to Switch to an Industrial Design Career

You need a degree in industrial design to make the career switch. People with fine art, design, or architecture degrees can also pivot into industrial design.

You should have relevant work experience backed by a strong portfolio. Your school projects are excellent to kickstart your portfolio, which you can boost through internships and cooperative education experience.

Finally, you can search and apply for job opportunities on LinkedIn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Industrial Design?

Industrial design is the design of product blueprints. Industrial design speeds up the mass manufacturing process and makes it possible to create products with a consistent appearance. As a result, designers play a vital role in various manufacturing industries.

What Certification do I need for an Industrial Design Career?

Industrial designers do not need certifications to work. Instead, a bachelor’s degree and a good work portfolio is the only requirement that many employers demand.

Can I get an Industrial Design Degree Online?

Yes, you can get an industrial design degree online. The Academy of Art University is the most notable institution offering a distance learning industrial design program.

What Fields can Industrial Design Professionals Work in?

Industrial design professionals primarily work in manufacturing industries. However, they can also work in various art and design fields, such as graphics design, set design, and product design. In addition, industrial designers with doctorate degrees can work in academic institutions.

Is There a High Demand for Industrial Design Majors?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for industrial design will increase by 3% between 2021 and 2031. That number is relatively low, but organizations would always have a place for highly-skilled industrial engineers in design or related roles.

Final Thoughts

The industrial design career path is relatively straightforward if you can work hard to sharpen your skills. Unlike many other industries, you don’t have to bother about professional certifications or advanced degrees to land a well-paying job.