WHAT DO INDUSTRIAL DESIGNERS DO?

• Industrial designers design new products or develop existing ones. The range of products they work with is vast and encompasses everyday items small and large, from razor blades to cars.
• Phones, toasters, kettles, vacuum cleaners, toys and play equipment are all designed by industrial designers who are sometimes called product designers. They often specialise in a particular type of product.
• Industrial designers must design products that are easy to use, efficient and cost-effective. The look, colour and finish of the product are usually very important and often contribute greatly to its appeal for the consumer.
  
  Industrial designers also design products and parts for industrial manufacture and production, such as medical equipment, electronic components, and systems such as heating and ventilating.

WHAT IS THE JOB LIKE?

Your work can vary according to the setting in which you work. It would often involve:

• Meeting with the client or senior managers to discuss the initial concept and creating new design solutions and developing existing designs.
• Preparing initial sketches followed by technical drawings using specialist computer assisted design 2D and 3D (CAD) software.
• Developing a model or prototype which can then be used to progress the product to small or large-scale manufacture.
• Using a variety of materials including polymers, wood and metals.
• Employing a good knowledge of market trends and health and safely issues.