Product designers improve the usability of everyday items by creating new designs and enhancing existing ones

You'll create a range of items, from everyday products such as mobile phones, household appliances and cars, to larger items such as industrial tools, equipment and machinery. You can also work on specialist products such as medical equipment and devices.

Using your understanding of technology, materials and manufacturing methods, you'll improve the design and usability of an item. This may involve working on new products or improving existing ones. If you're designing a brand new product, you'll work on it from the initial concept right through to the final version.

You'll need to ensure your designs are innovative, commercially viable, cost-effective and in line with the latest consumer trends.

You could also be known as an industrial designer.

Types of product design work

The design process involves four key stages:

  • designing
  • modelling
  • prototyping
  • testing.

Responsibilities

As a product designer, you'll need to:

  • explore ideas for new products, taking into account user needs and market trends
  • meet with clients to establish the design brief, including concept, performance and production criteria
  • sketch initial design ideas and develop design concepts using drawings, 3D models and digital design tools such as computer-aided design (CAD)
  • produce detailed drawings and specifications, including parts lists and costings, for production teams and other stakeholders
  • identify the suitability and availability of materials, being mindful of the client's budget
  • select appropriate manufacturing processes taking into account issues such as sustainability and product durability
  • create a physical or digital prototype to test the product's usability, functionality and aesthetics
  • test the design concept by computerised modelling or physical hands-on testing of models
  • refine the design by incorporating user feedback, for example
  • collaborate closely with other designers, engineers, manufacturers and other departments such as marketing to ensure the product is viable, meets technical standards and aligns with the client's brand objectives
  • estimate costs and manage project budgets and deadlines
  • make presentations to senior design management or clients, either when bidding for a contract or to present design proposals
  • research competitors, trends and consumer preferences to ensure that products are relevant, innovative and commercially viable
  • carry out administrative duties, if you work as a freelance designer
  • stay competitive by using eco-friendly materials and cutting-edge technologies such as AI and 3D printing
  • keep your skills and knowledge up to date in areas such as design tools and technologies to remain relevant.

Salary

  • Starting salaries for product or junior designers are £22,000 to £30,000.
  • With experience product designers can typically earn between £30,000 and £45,000.
  • Senior and principal product designers can earn from around £50,000 to in excess of £80,000.

Salary levels vary according to the sector you work in and the size and type of your employer. Salaries in London, for examples, are likely to be higher due to higher living costs.

Salary levels will also vary depending on your skills, experience and reputation.

Additional benefits may include a pension, life insurance, medical insurance and wellbeing support. Some companies also offer discretionary bonuses.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Your typically work a 37-hour week, Monday to Friday. There may be times when extra hours are necessary to meet deadlines or to resolve design difficulties. The additional hours will not normally include weekends or shifts.

Part-time work may be possible. There may be opportunities for hybrid working.

What to expect

  • You'll typically work in an office, studio or workshop. This may be situated near to the shop-floor production area to facilitate close liaison with production engineers. You can work in a design consultancy or in-house for a company.
  • Jobs are available throughout the UK, concentrated in industry hubs. For example, design consultancies are commonly found in major cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham. Point-of-sales display manufacturers may be found in the Midlands and Northern England.
  • Self-employment is common, often in the form of freelancing or contract work, once you've developed a track record of relevant industrial experience and a network of contacts and potential clients.
  • There are still fewer women than men in the profession. However, initiatives such as WISE (Women into Science, Technology and Engineering) aim to encourage more women into the sector.
  • There may be some travel during the day to visit factories where products are made or to client sites. Travel or work abroad may be possible if you're designing products for overseas markets.

Qualifications

Many product designers have a degree, foundation degree or HND in product design.

The following degree and HND subjects may also be useful:

  • industrial design
  • spatial design
  • 3D design
  • engineering.

Any courses that offer a design element as part of general design or technology studies could be useful.

Courses that include a relevant placement year or those with significant practical design content are particularly useful. You'll need to have a portfolio of your design work when applying for jobs, so anything that helps to build this up will increase your chances of success.

It's also possible to take a Level 6 Product design and development engineer degree apprenticeship, combining paid work with part-time study for a degree.

Entry without a degree or HND is unlikely.

Although not essential, a Masters degree in product design might be an advantage in certain sectors. Search postgraduate courses in product design.

Skills

You'll need to have:

  • a high level of relevant technical knowledge combined with creativity and a hands-on approach
  • computer literacy including three-dimensional conceptual ability and skills in using CAD software
  • visual and spatial awareness, with a good eye for detail
  • excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • report writing skills
  • the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, with a willingness to build and maintain positive working relationships and to share information with others
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • planning and organisation skills with the ability to work within budgets
  • project management skills and the ability to cope with the pressure of deadlines
  • a flexible approach to problem solving when things don't go to plan
  • knowledge of industrial processes, techniques and standards
  • negotiation skills and the ability to persuade others
  • commercial awareness
  • passion and enthusiasm for product design.

The ability to speak a foreign language along with the flexibility to travel abroad for work may be helpful if working for an international firm.

A driving licence is useful for visiting factory sites and to attend meetings.

Work experience

Pre-entry experience is important as competition for jobs can be strong. Be proactive early on in your degree by looking for opportunities to get experience and develop contacts in the industry.

You can gain experience in a number of ways, including doing an industrial placement, internship or a year out in industry during your degree. You could also enter design competitions, exhibitions or undertake specific projects to get yourself known.

Employers will want to see a portfolio of your work, so start to build this up as early on as possible and add to it as you gain more experience. Include examples of your ideas with modelling images, sketches and CAD designs.

Once you have some experience, it may also be possible to do some freelance work to build up more experience.

Consider becoming a student member of relevant professional organisations, such as the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD), to help expand your contacts and keep up to date with developments in the industry.

Get your portfolio checked by a design professional. Ensure that it has evidence of the breadth of your work and any specialist interests and that it shows how your design ideas were conceived and developed.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

You could work in-house for a manufacturing or service company or be based within a design consultancy, working on a range of client projects. Another common option is to work freelance.

If you work in-house, it will probably be for a large industrial and domestic product manufacturing company, which is likely to have multidisciplinary teams working on new product development. Among these are multinational companies producing household-name products.

Some manufacturers, including the larger ones, seek designs from outside their organisation, giving rise to opportunities if you're in a design consultancy or working as a freelance designer.

Design consultancies may be large or small, specialised or more general in nature, and may work on designs for a range of products for organisations such as:

  • car manufacturers
  • industrial and domestic product manufacturers
  • point-of-sale designers
  • retailers.

Opportunities within small and medium-sized companies in collaboration with a university are provided by Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP).

Look for job vacancies at:

University careers services and academic departments also advertise opportunities.

Professional development

Your training will be mainly on the job, learning from senior designers and supported by relevant short courses in areas such as new products and software packages.

You'll need to keep developing your skills and knowledge throughout your career to keep up to date with new materials, processes, technologies and changing customer trends.

Professional bodies such as the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) and Design Business Association provide short courses, events and opportunities to network. These are usually paid for by your employer. If you're self-employed, you will need to factor training costs into your budget.

The CSD provides a continuing professional development (CPD) programme for its members. Experienced designers can also apply for the Pathway to Chartered Designer. Once chartered you can use the title 'Chartered Designer' to show you have the highest level of competence. You must carry out regular CPD to maintain chartership.

It can also be helpful to take course in areas of professional business practice such as project management, effective negotiating skills and time management.

Studying at postgraduate level can develop your management skills and may be supported by your employer. Search postgraduate courses in business administration.

Career prospects

Progression to the role of senior designer or team leader is usual for those working in design consultancies or in-house design teams. Opportunities in smaller consultancies and organisations are often limited, so you may need to move employer or even between related fields of design to progress.

Depending upon your personal interests and the type of experience you've gained, you may be able to progress from the position of senior designer to creative director or to a higher management role, such as that of new business director or project manager.

There is significant demand for experienced designers. Being able to relocate, either within the UK or overseas can enhance your promotion prospects.

With experience and an established network of contacts, you could set up as a freelancer or even establish your own product design company. You can progress as a self-employed designer by developing your business and expanding your client list.

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