How to become an industrial designer?

Industrial Design (ID) is the professional practice of designing products, devices and services which are used by people around the world. The main focus of an industrial designer is the physical appearance, functionality and manufacturability of a product although, often they go beyond the developmental phase and play a crucial role in building a brand’s unique style. In this blog, we will answer what it takes and how to become an industrial designer. But, before we get into that, let us look at the roles and responsibilities of an industrial designer, to give you a fair idea of what it’s all about.

Duties and responsibilities of an Industrial designer

The role of an industrial designer is multi-faceted, from designing to manufacturing and rolling out the product in the market. As with all important things, it starts with research. An industrial designer conducts extensive market research to find out what the user needs and how to meet those requirements efficiently through production mechanisms. In doing such research, they create working and 3D models using a variety of software tools. The job also requires them to interact with engineers and market teams frequently, to come up with the right production costs and the final price for the product. Here are some other important functions that industrial designers perform:

• Do quality checks on the material used in the products.
• Collaborate with project managers to understand the workflow and management requirements.
• Testing the product for safety and other usable parameters.
• Conducting meetings with clients and stakeholders to update them about the project and meet their needs and demands.

How can I become an industrial designer?

Having read the duties and responsibilities of an industrial designer, we get a fair idea about the kind of work that an industrial designer does on a regular basis. From this, we can infer that the job of an industrial designer requires a mix of creativity and logic. Further, many engineers with a passion for creativity and art become industrial designers as they appreciate the artistic factor involved in production and manufacture of products.

To become an industrial designer, you would need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university (See IDC School of Design). In an Industrial design course, students are taught drawing, three dimensional modelling and are taught to build a professional portfolio which contains projects completed by them during college or internships. Instead of an industrial design program, students may also enroll themselves in related fields like engineering or architecture.

Most people planning to enter the Industrial design industry, stick with bachelor’s as it makes them eligible to work. However, if you want to increase your knowledge about the industry and understand the business aspects of Industrial design, enrolling yourself in an MBA might be a wise decision. An MBA can train industrial designers in improving their knowledge about the business side of things, such as how to earn an income and grow a company’s brand.

Making a strong portfolio that showcases all the relevant work to the employer of your choice will lead to higher chances of you getting hired. The resume should showcase skills like creativity, critical thinking, software literacy and artistic ability. These skills can be obtained by doing internships throughout your undergraduate and many colleges offer internship breaks for such reasons only. They help the students with practical exposure that gives them a taste of the industry, further expanding employment opportunities.

Lastly, one must strive to build a network of industrial designers. This is very important as it keeps the designer aware about recent developments, opportunities and informs about any risks or threats. You may also share ideas with your network and in turn receive an employment opportunity to showcase your talent. Further, sharing ideas results in collective improvement of knowledge and may inspire you or others to create the next great design.

Conclusion

In recent years, with the rise in protection accorded to industrial designs, it is a lucrative option to become an industrial designer. They are required in many sectors like manufacturing, design and business and hence, have ample opportunities for employment. Moreover, universities are looking for experts in Industrial design to hire as professors. These professors despite their teaching job, often maintain their own independent industrial design practice or offer consultancy services.