What does an industrial designer actually do all day?
An industrial designer helps create the objects that are used every day — from cars to toys to hair dryers to medical instruments. They may work for a design firm that is hired by a manufacturer, or for a larger firm like an automobile company that has its own design team. Using artistic sense, drawing skills, virtual design software and engineering abilities, industrial designers create prototypes of items that combine functionality with user ease and aesthetic appeal.
What kind of cash are we talking about here?
Median pay nationally for an industrial designer is $58,230; in New York City median pay ranges from about $55,000 for an entry-level position to just more than $84,000 for an industrial-design job requiring several years of experience.
What do you have to do to get this job?
You need a four-year bachelor’s degree. Aspiring industrial designers usually major in industrial design, architecture or engineering. Potential employers will want to see a portfolio of college design work, so look at training programs that provide a lot of hands-on design opportunities, and teach skills like Computer-Aided Design (CAD) or Computer-Aided Industrial Design (CAID).
Okay, tell me the bad part.
The most in-demand jobs in this field — like medical instrument design — also require the most specialized training. A poor economy can affect the job market for industrial designers of consumer goods.
What’s the upside?
Humans will always need things — both practical and luxurious — and industrial designers will always be needed to help create those items. Every project is slightly different in a job that combines artistic vision with practical design skills.