Industrial Designer

Job overview
Industrial designers design or improve consumer articles - any mass-produced products telephones, kettles, furniture, cars etc, etc.

What do people to do in this job?
Industrial designers are mainly concerned with the over-all concept, design and appearance of products.

They first establish the main function of the products.

This involves studying all possible problems as well as analysing available research data.

This information is then used to prepare briefs on the designs.

Designers then start working on the actual designs.

They make sketches, models and draughts using drawings.

They work within the confines of the briefs, of available technology and of clients?' ?marketing plans.

Industrial designers attempt to avoid duplication and to ensure that new products are better than the previous or existing ones.

Key factors considered are function, user friendliness, appearance, cost, safety, maintenance, marketing potential and competitiveness with rival products.

The designers also take into account the environmental impact of the products themselves and of the manufacturing processes.

The designers finally present their ideas to clients who consider them and decide whether the proposed designs satisfy their conditions.

If the designs are accepted, the designers prepare the final technical specifications and drawings for the production of the articles.

Industrial designers usually work indoors, making sketches on a drawing board or making models in a workshop.

They also work on computers preparing technical specifications or virtual three-dimensional models.

What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
Industrial designers must be creative, yet practical.

They must have the drawing and modelling skills needed to create designs and should be able to visualise non-existing shapes in three dimensions.

Industrial designers should be able to communicate with people on all levels.

They must have a sound understanding of marketing, sales work and other business activities?

What qualifications are needed?
There are no formal qualifications, but designers will normally have good school leaving grades in art and have further developed their artistic flair at an art school.

In some countries classes in industrial design will be available.