What is an Industrial Designer?

When you combine creative design with manufactured items, you get an industrial designer—a creative professional with a unique skill set in “form and function.”

Industrial design (ID) is the professional practice of designing the objects, devices, and products used by millions of people globally.

Industrial designers focus on a product's manufacturability, functionality, sustainability and physical appearance - ultimately contributing to the lasting value and experience a service or product provides for end users.

Employment Opportunities in Industrial Design

Industrial designers combine business, art, and engineering to develop concepts for manufactured products. The top jobs in this field are industrial designers, product designers, project managers, and design engineers.

These professionals develop concepts for manufactured products including electronic devices, home appliances, furniture, cars, toys, medical devices - really anything you see in the built environment. They create products people use every day.

Employers may post jobs with industrial design skills under different titles. Common alternative job titles include:

• Product Designer

• Industrial Designer

• Senior Industrial Designer

• Design Researcher

• Design Strategist

• Product Manager

Job Duties of an Industrial Designer

An industrial designer performs tasks such as:

• Meeting with clients to determine design requirements and creating physical design prototypes

• Conducting user research and market analysis

• Creating  physical and digital prototypes

• Creating renderings or images on a computer or on paper that provide a visual of design concepts

• Using computer software to develop virtual models of designs

• Researching who will use a particular product, and the various ways it might be used

• Presenting designs to clients for feedback and approval

• Evaluating product function, appearance, and safety

• Determining feasibility, viability, and desirability

• Calculating production costs by examining manufacturing requirements, materials, and other supply chain considerations

• Working with other specialists, such as manufacturers and mechanical engineers, to evaluate whether their design concepts will meet consumer needs

What Does an Industrial Designer Do?

Industrial designers work closely with consumers to determine what types of designsperform best and capture target audiences. They also present, test, and develop new ideas for the manufacturing of everyday products.

Useful Skills for Industrial Designers

Industrial designers exhibit skills such as:

• Imagination and originality

• Research and collaboration

• The ability to articulate concepts concisely

• Meticulous attention to detail

• Drawing, mechanical drafting, and computer sketching

• Prototyping

• Product development

• Market savviness

• Logic and persuasiveness

• Great interpersonal skills

• Knowledge of computer software

• Comfortability in a manufacturing environment

• Adeptness at translating ideas into designs

• Information technology (IT) skills

• Industrial engineering industry expertise

• Balancing creativity with practicality

• Comfortability with machines, tools, and hardware

Software Proficiencies for Industrial Designers

An industrial designer's main skill set revolves around sketching out ideas and schematics for how specific products should look. These sketches are often rendered in 3D software that takes a product and brings it into form.

Industrial designers have computer-aided design (CAD) software skills for computer-aided industrial design (CAID) or 3D design software.

These professionals are also skilled at using other types of software, such as:

• Industry-specific modeling software such as Rhino, Keyshot, Siemens NX, Autodesk Alias, and Autodesk Inventor

• AutoCAD, TinkerCAD

• Adobe Creative Suite

• SolidWorks for mechanical design

• Open-source programs such as FreeCAD and blender

Learn More About the Industrial Design Master’s Courses at MFA Products of Design

We offer industrial design graduate courses in new York as part of our MFA in Product Design to teach the skills needed for individuals to excel in an industrial designer role. Our no-grades policy promotes creativity and risk-taking so students can gain the confidence needed to become great designers. 

Learn about our industrial design graduate courses and see how our MFA Product Design program can lead you to a fulfilling career in the design industry. Get the answers to commonly asked questions and apply today.