Industrial Designers

Industrial Designers plan, design, develop and document industrial, commercial or consumer products for manufacture with particular emphasis on ergonomic (human) factors, marketing considerations and manufacturability, and prepare designs and specifications of products for mass or batch production.

  • The Job
  • The Facts
  • Related Courses

What the job involves

  • Determines the objectives and constraints of the design brief by consulting with clients and stakeholders
  • Undertakes product research and analyses functional, commercial, cultural and aesthetic requirements
  • Formulates design concepts for industrial, commercial and consumer products
  • Prepares sketches, diagrams, illustrations, plans, samples and models to communicate design concepts
  • Negotiates design solutions with clients, management, sales and manufacturing staff
  • Selects, specifies and recommends functional and aesthetic materials, production methods and finishes for manufacture
  • Details and documents the selected design for production
  • Prepares and commissions prototypes and samples
  • Supervises the preparation of patterns, programmes and tooling, and the manufacture process

Key values of workers in Industrial Designers

  • Relationships

    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

  • Working Conditions

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

  • Recognition

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

  • Independence

    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

  • Support

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Top skills required for workers in Industrial Designers

  • Reading Comprehension

    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

  • Critical Thinking

    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others to convey information effectively.

  • Operations Analysis

    Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.