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Industrial Designers improve the outward form and functional design of manufactured products as well as plan their packaging and trademarks so that products may compete favorably with similar goods on the market. Industrial Designers combine technical knowledge with artistic talent.

NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION

Industrial Designers may:

Study the potential need for new products

Read publications, attending showings, and study competing products on the market and design styles and motifs to obtain perspective and generate design concepts

Sketch the design of products, such as toys or cars

Consult with engineering, sales, marketing, and other personnel to determine packaging requirements, the type of product market, and to estimate public reaction to new design

Coordinate the drafting of sketches into working drawings and specification sheets

Coordinate the look and function of product lines

Make comprehensive drawings of the product with drafting instruments or computer-aided design equipment

Form a model of the drawing in plaster, clay, paper, wood or metal, using hand tools

Make changes on modifications required by the approving authority

Present designs and reports to customers for design committees, for approval and discuss need for modification

Design graphic material for use as ornamentation, illustration or advertising on manufacturing materials and packaging or containers

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The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

142.061-026 INDUSTRIAL DESIGNERS improve the outward form and functional design of manufactured products as well as plan their packaging and trademarks so that products may compete favorably with similar goods on the market. Industrial Designers combine technical knowledge with artistic talent.

142.081-018 PACKAGE DESIGNERS plan, design, and develop containers for products, such as foods, beverages, toiletries, and medicines.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

When designing and developing products, Industrial Designers work with engineers, research and marketing personnel, top-level managers, and production experts and machine operators.

Industrial Designers spend much of their time sitting at drawing boards or CAD work stations in manufacturing plants or private offices. Their work areas are generally clean, well lighted, and air conditioned. Designers may spend some time in the factory overseeing the production of their design.

Most Industrial Designers work a 40-hour week, but there are exceptions. Some Designers who do consulting work or who are self-employed may work long hours to meet deadlines. Some Designers travel to meet clients, inspect production runs, or attend conventions. Some work for flat fees.

Those who are self-employed must provide their own drafting and/or CAD equipment and other supplies.

Designers may join professional organizations such as the Industrial Designers Society of America. Members must pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Drawing, sketching, and designing

• Performing work which requires a creative imagination

• Communicating information or ideas to others

• Gaining satisfaction from seeing the results of your work

You Should Be Able To:

• Use reason and logic

• Understand the meanings and relationships of words

• Use arithmetic quickly and accurately

• Communicate with people and present ideas clearly

• See differences in the size/shape/form of lines, figures and objects

• Visualize how completed products would look from drawings

• Design objects from individual viewpoint using technical requirements

• Make decisions based on personal judgment

• Have agreeable working relationships with others

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

You are drawing a human face to advertise a product. The product's packaging has a 5" x 7" surface. How would you figure out what size the human face needs to be in order to accurately portray the human face?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Must be able to research old products, competing products, and consumer reports so that you are better able to determine the publics wants and needs.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a graph showing how the public has reacted to a new product design. In accordance with the graph, prepare a written analysis explaining how the public has reacted and predicting what improvements should be made.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Creative thinking is necessary to appeal to the public and to stay one step ahead of the competition.

Industrial Designers usually have a bachelor's degree in industrial design. However, graduates with a major in architecture, industrial engineering, or applied design may do this work.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: An Apprenticeship (usually three to four years of training beyond High School) or a Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond High School) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond High School) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond High School) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration Script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

100 ART , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 2200 MATH , 3200 TECHNICAL DRAWING , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

011 APPLIED DESIGN

Programs in Applied Design provide opportunities to gain the technical knowledge and artistic skills needed for employment applying design principles in fields such as advertising design, metalsmithing, fabric design, jewelry making, woodcraft, and industrial design.

Courses will vary from school to school but may include:

210 PACKAGING

Programs in Packaging provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment in the packaging industry. Jobs may deal with product/package damage in the physical distribution environment, packaging systems and materials, development and distribution packaging.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

  Search for a College and/or Instructional Program  

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

066 INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER

Some people enter occupations within this Career Exploration Script through an apprenticeship program. An apprenticeship program is a formal program that takes 3 - 5 years to complete with most of the time spent on the job.

WHAT IS LEARNED ON THE JOB

Tracing

Simple Detailing (from Sketches)

Complicated Detailing

Simple Detailing (from Layouts)

Layout (Major & Minor)

Graphic Presentation (Charts/Graphs/Ink Work/Art Work)

Lettering (Familiarity with Company Standards/Dimensioning/Tolerances)

WHAT IS LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

E-Learning Courses and Programs  

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Postsecondary programs in applied design or packaging may offer co-op, internship, or other work experience opportunities. A formal apprenticeship program offers an opportunity for experience in this occupation.

 School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Industrial Designer employer

internships

volunteer work with a Industrial Designer employer

community service work with an agency

The most common method of entry is for graduates with a bachelor's degree in industrial design to apply directly to the employer. When applying, they must provide a sample of their work including drawings, slides, or other materials. Assistance in finding employment may be obtained from college placement offices, a local office of Michigan Works!, and the Industrial Designers Society of America. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.  

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Salaries of Industrial Designers vary according to the individual's education and experience, the size and type of employer, and the geographic area. Industrial Designers who have their own consulting firms may have fluctuating incomes, depending on their business for the year. Some Industrial Designers may work for retainers; that is, they may receive flat (set) fees for given periods of time. They can work for retainers from several employers at the same time as long as they fulfill the terms of each contract.

Nationally, the annual salaries of various classifications of Designers were (early 2008):

Free-lance Designers or consultants may work for one company or several companies, under contract for a set fee. While under contract, Designers cannot design similar items for competitors. Designers' earnings may range from $200 per design to $90,000 or more per year.

Experienced Designers with a graduate degree may become college or university teachers of industrial design courses. The annual salary of professors in colleges and universities averaged $75,084per year (2006 -2007). The average salary for professors in the East North Central area, that includes Michigan, was $96,362 per year.

In Southeast Michigan, the annual base salary for most CAD Designers averaged $42,400 per year in early 2008. Lead designers or designers who checked other designers' work had salaries ranging from $54,200 to $71,600 per year.

Depending on the employer, most Industrial Designers receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; retirement plans; and sick pay. Some employers offer stock purchase or savings plans also.

Possible steps in a career ladder include industrial design assistant, Industrial Designer, design project leader, and design manager or private consultant. Advancement for a Designer depends on the talents and ability of the individual. Advancement may occur in the form of higher wages and/or in the form of a more responsible and challenging position. Individuals may change employers often when seeking advancement opportunities. With experience, an established reputation, and enough money, Industrial Designers may establish their own consulting firms.  

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, there were about 48,000 Commercial and Industrial Designers employed in 2006. Employment of Industrial Designers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016. About 25.3 % of all designers were self-employed. The industry distribution for Commercial and Industrial Designers looked liked this;

To find employers, click Employer/Business Locator.

Industrial Designers are increasingly using computer-aided design (CAD) systems in many large companies. CAD systems allow the Industrial Designer to design and analyze a product before it is manufactured. Industrial designers also used computer-aided industrial design (CAID) to create designs and to communicate them to automated production tools. This saves expense and time in the product schedule. It also results in major improvements in product reliability, as well as in manufacturing flexibility and scheduling.

Demand for Industrial Designers will be created by companies that make business and office machines, electronics, biomedical equipment, devices and systems for environmental protection, and industrial ceramics. Currently, major efforts in industrial design are in the areas of safety and ergonomics (the science of designing products with how people use and interact with them in mind). Competition is keen in this occupation.

About 7,600 Industrial Designers are employed in Michigan. Most Industrial Designers work for design consulting firms or large manufacturing companies, designing industrial or consumer products. Some work for architectural and interior design firms or do free-lance work.

Employment of Industrial Designers in Michigan is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2014. An average of 170 annual openings is expected with 70 due to growth and 100 due to replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.

Emphasis on designing safer, cheaper, more efficient, and pollution-free products, and demand for industrial and consumer products, should increase employment opportunities.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2014

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

Copyright © 2008 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth