Commercial and Industrial Designers

Job Summary:
Industrial designers develop a wide variety of manufactured products.Industrial designers combine artistic skills and practical knowledge to create designs. They design cars and airplanes. They design home appliances, children's toys, and computers. They also design many types of medical, office, and sports equipment. Most designers concentrate on one area. For example, a designer might specialize in toys or kitchen appliances.

Designers talk to clients about what they want, and do research on products and design trends. Next, industrial designers create sketches. They do this by hand or on a computer. Designers often use computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create products. Industrial designers present their sketches to the client or design team. They also consult with the product development team, which may include engineers or marketing staff. Designers make changes based on the feedback they receive. They then create detailed designs of the product. These may include drawings, small models, or computer simulations. Some designers create full-sized prototypes of their products. In addition, designers prepare lists of the materials needed to produce the product. They also estimate costs. Industrial designers may supervise assistants who carry out their designs.

Qualification:
Industrial designers must have a bachelor's degree in Art. Many four-year colleges and universities grant the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. In this program, art is the emphasis. You take courses in art, art history, principles of design, and designing and sketching. Design programs are broader than art programs. In addition to art courses you study industrial design, materials, manufacturing methods, and computer software. Many schools do not allow formal entry into a bachelor's degree program until you have successfully completed a year of basic art and design courses. You may be required to submit sketches or other examples of your artistic ability. Regardless of major, you should to take classes in computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing materials and processes.

Salary Range:
Nationally, the median wage for industrial designers is $4,150 per month ($23.95 per hour). Half of all industrial designers earn between $3,160 and $5,430 per month ($18.25 and $31.35 per hour). Wages vary widely based on the designer's experience and job duties. The more years of experience a designer has, the higher the wages. Industrial designers in managerial positions earn much higher wages. In addition, wages vary by employer and area of the country.

Prospects:
Beginning designers usually receive on-the-job training. They normally need one to three years of training before they advance to higher level jobs. Experienced designers in large firms may advance to chief designer, department head, or other supervisory positions. Some designers become teachers in design schools, colleges, and universities. Some experienced designers open their own firms.