Industrial Design Schools and Career Outlook
Why You Should Consider an Industrial Design Degree
Jun 1, 2009
What Do Industrial Designers Do?
People who work in the field of industrial design manufacture, or design, a wide variety of consumer products including furniture, appliances, medical equipment, consumer electronics, office equipment, recreational equipment, museum exhibitions, and others. Industrial designers deal with product aesthetics and ergonomics.
The industrial design process begins with a conceptual sketch of the product and from there moves on to computer renderings, design mock-ups, and finally, engineering the product after client approval. The field is broad and one may wish to limit the possibilities to a specific concentration within industrial design. Attending an industrial design school will allow students to be artists, entrepreneurs, and engineers all at once.
Where do Industrial Designers Work?
Possible career settings for industrial designers include
- Design firms
- Software companies
- Consumer product companies
- Automotive industry
- Entertainment industry
- Museums
Top Industrial Design Schools
Industrial Design schools vary in their program requirements but typical courses for a bachelor's degree include fundamentals of design, manufacturing design, environment, materials, and computing within the industrial design field. Courses in communications are also essential to learn to convey ideas effectively to clients. Through these courses and in working in the field, industrial designers develop skills like creative problem solving, conveying concepts with sketches, communication skills, computer skills, and an understanding of mechanics.
According to U.S. News, the top three ranked industrial design schools in 2008 were the Art Center College of Design, the Rhode Island School of Design, and Carnegie Mellon University. Many other schools are clamoring for those top positions and have impressive, successful programs as well. Internships or other job-related experiences are strongly encouraged in these types of programs.
Industrial Design Career Outlook
Most people with industrial design degrees start as assistants or junior designers, but after honing their craft, obtain positions as senior designers or management positions. Opportunities are available in the manufacturing or construction industries, or in private practices. The average salary for an entry level designer with a bachelor's degree is between $38,000–$47,200 a year. Five years or more experience is required for most senior designer positions, which come with a salary ranging from $58,000 and up with an average of $76,000, according to Indeed.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the demand for industrial designers outweighs the current supply and is expected to increase due to companies continuing to emphasize the quality and safety of their products. Two of the fastest growing industries for this career path are transportation and medicine. Many employers prefer to hire candidates with experience specifically in industrial design, so one would benefit from a formal training program in an industrial design school to obtain at least a bachelor's degree.
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