Commercial and Industrial Designers

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Commercial and Industrial Designers

Careers / Commercial and Industrial Designers

Summary Description


	Develop and design manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Art Glass Designer

2.	Athletic Shoe Designer

3.	Automobile Designer

4.	Automotive Designer

5.	Bank Note Designer

6.	Bicycle Designer

7.	Bike Designer

8.	Boat Designer

9.	Body Stylist

10.	Car Body Designer

11.	Ceramic Designer

12.	Ceramic Mold Designer

13.	Cloth Designer

14.	Color Adviser

15.	Color Consultant

16.	Color Expert

17.	Commercial Interior Designer

18.	Creative Director

19.	Design Director

20.	Design Engineer

21.	Designer

22.	Electrical Designer

23.	Embroidery Designer

24.	Engineer

25.	Engineering Manager

26.	Fabric Designer

27.	Fire Sprinkler Designer

28.	Furniture Designer

29.	Game Designer

30.	Graphic Designer

31.	Industrial Designer

32.	Jewelry Designer

33.	Lighting Designer

34.	Manufacturing Engineer

35.	Mechanical Designer

36.	Mechanical Engineer

37.	Memorial Designer

38.	Millinery Designer

39.	Mold Designer

40.	Motorcycle Designer

41.	Ornamental Metalwork Designer

42.	Package Designer

43.	Packaging Designer

44.	Pottery Decoration Designer

45.	Product Design Engineer

46.	Product Designer

47.	Product Developer

48.	Product Development Engineer

49.	Product Development Manager

50.	Product Engineer

51.	Product Expert

52.	Production Designer

53.	Project Engineer

54.	Robot Designer

55.	Robotic Toy Inventor

56.	Roller Coaster Designer

57.	Rug Designer

58.	Safety Clothing and Equipment Developer

59.	Sign Designer

60.	Silver Designer

61.	Snowboard Designer

62.	Stained Glass Artist

63.	Stained Glass Window Designer

64.	Surfboard Designer

65.	Textile Designer

66.	Tile Designer

67.	Toy Designer

68.	Toy Maker

69.	Weapons Designer

70.	Weapons Engineer

Job Tasks

	Prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment. Draw detailed or technical illustrations.

	Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers, to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products. Collaborate with others to develop or refine designs.

	Modify and refine designs, using working models, to conform with customer specifications, production limitations, or changes in design trends. Develop artistic or design concepts for decoration, exhibition, or commercial purposes.

	Direct and coordinate the fabrication of models or samples and the drafting of working drawings and specification sheets from sketches. Coordinate construction or installation activities.

	Evaluate feasibility of design ideas, based on factors such as appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, production costs/methods, and market characteristics.

	Present designs and reports to customers or design committees for approval and discuss need for modification. Present work to clients for approval. Collaborate with others to develop or refine designs.

	Investigate product characteristics such as the product's safety and handling qualities, its market appeal, how efficiently it can be produced, and ways of distributing, using and maintaining it. Conduct market research.

	Develop manufacturing procedures and monitor the manufacture of their designs in a factory to improve operations and product quality.

	Research production specifications, costs, production materials and manufacturing methods and provide cost estimates and itemized production requirements. Estimate costs for projects or productions.

	Participate in new product planning or market research, including studying the potential need for new products. Conduct market research.

	Fabricate models or samples in paper, wood, glass, fabric, plastic, metal, or other materials, using hand or power tools. Build models, patterns, or templates.

	Coordinate the look and function of product lines. Develop artistic or design concepts for decoration, exhibition, or commercial purposes.

	Supervise assistants' work throughout the design process. Coordinate design activities.

	Design graphic material for use as ornamentation, illustration, or advertising on manufactured materials and packaging or containers. Draw detailed or technical illustrations.

	Advise corporations on issues involving corporate image projects or problems. Develop promotional strategies or plans.

	Develop industrial standards and regulatory guidelines.

	Read publications, attend showings, and study competing products and design styles and motifs to obtain perspective and generate design concepts. Monitor current trends. Conduct research to inform art, designs, or other work.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Industrial Designers
	Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. They combine art, business, and engineering to make products that people use every day. Industrial designers consider the function, aesthetics, production costs, and the usability of products when developing new product concepts.

	Read More >>

Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Industrial Designers
	Industrial designers work in offices in a variety of industries. Although industrial designers work primarily in offices, they may travel to testing facilities, design centers, clients' exhibit sites, users' homes or workplaces, and places where the product is manufactured.

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Interesting Fact

Before becoming an actress and comedian, Whoopi Goldberg worked as a bricklayer, a bank teller, and even as a makeup artist at a funeral parlor.

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