Thursday, November 3, 2011

Product Design : A Brief Introduction

About the Career 
 
Product Designers design articles, products and materials for commercial manufacturing firms. They are an integral part of the ‘business' or ‘design industry'. Their designing skills take care of both the practicality of the products they design as well as their visual appeal.

The Jobs

Industrial Product designers 

Combine a talent for design with an understanding of production and marketing of consumer goods.
Design or recreate products like home appliances, computers, medical, office or recreational equipment, children's toys, etc.

Work with design engineers to design technical goods, creating the most functional and appealing design. The challenge is to make the product competitive in the market.
Product designers specialize in the following branches :

  • Product Design
  • Ceramic Design
  • Furniture Design 
A day in the life of a Product Designer

Spends one third of time in meeting or communicating with market researchers, executives, ad team and production managers
  • Works on designs
  • Consults with Graphic Designers
As a design is approved the daily schedule shifts to production.
  • Works with engineers to create a Prototype of the Product
  • Consults with the costing team
  • Coordinates the production process
Interests & Personality requirements
  • Creative
  • Artistic
  • Good visual imagination,
  • Ability to think in a clear, logical manner, analyse problems and come up with original solutions.
  • Ability to express ideas through drawings,
  • Good colour sense, appreciation of aesthetics and sensitivity to ergonomics (the study of the relationship between people and their environment) is also required.
  • Should be able to work in a team.
Academic interests
  • Mathematics (Now-a-Days, Software does this work!)
  • History
  • Business Studies
  • Art & Design
Employment Opportunities
  • Design departments of manufacturing firms, industries.
  • Consulting firms
  • Specialists in ceramic design work in industries manufacturing table ware, sanitary wares, light fittings, pottery, decorative porcelain and materials for electrical and other industries.

Earnings

Starting salary could be 10.5 to 12 lacs per annum which can go up significantly with position.



Source :  Shiksha India