Designer

Designers make things look good. They work in areas such as textiles, fashion, graphic design, product design or interior design.

Work activities

Designers make sure that things we need or use look good and are useful. This covers a wide range of items, such as televisions, furniture, clothes, food wrappers, magazines and so on. There are a number of different design areas. These can be grouped in the following ways:

Graphic design (using illustration, print and photography to get across a message).
Fashion and textile design (clothing, jewellery, shoes, carpets).
Product design (furniture, domestic appliances, cars, ceramics).
Interior design (homes, offices, exhibitions).

In each of these areas, designers might work in industry, designing things for mass production, or on small-scale projects in workshops, either on their own or with just a few other people (sometimes called designer-craftwork). Whichever area they work in, all designers go through similar stages in their work. They are first given a brief, which is a set of instructions for the project they are working on. They may then need to do some research. They must understand:

Who they are designing for.
What the customer wants.
How the customer will use the product.
Which other products are on the market.
Which are the best materials to use.
How much it will cost to make.
How easy it will be to produce.

When they have all the information they need, the designer produces a series of drawings and rough sketches to show to the client. They usually use computer aided design (CAD) in their work. If these initial designs are approved, they create a finished design and sometimes a working model or prototype. If the designer is working in industry, these will be passed on to production staff who use them to make the finished product. Designers working on small-scale projects often have to make the finished item themselves.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

Creative and artistic skills.
To work well on your own and with others.
Good communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
Knowledge of design-related software.
Good organisation and planning skills.
To work to deadlines and budgets.
To keep up to date with new design developments.
Problem-solving skills.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for designers vary with the industry and responsibilities. For example, a product designer can expect to earn between £22,000 and £45,000 depending on experience and seniority. Working hours are between 40 and 42 hours per week, typically during normal office hours, Monday to Friday. You may need to work late or at weekends when deadlines are approaching.

Opportunities occur for freelance designers in consultancy and fixed-term contract work. You can obtain this work through specialist recruitment agencies. Some self-employed designers work from home, or from studios or workshops, which they might share with other designers.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in design industry magazines/journals, on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. It’s a good idea to build up a network of relevant contacts, as not all design jobs are advertised. Making speculative job applications can also be effective.

Entry routes and training

A common route into this career is via a foundation course in art and design followed by a degree, HND or foundation degree in a design-based subject. There are many different design courses. Some are broad-ranging and others focus on a specialised area, such as fashion design or interior design.

A number of apprenticeships offer a way into this career path through on-the-job training. For example, you could complete a level 6 (degree) apprenticeship as a product design and development engineer.

Once in employment, it may be possible to work towards qualifications in design.

Some designers work their way up from starting out as a design assistant. Some designers move into senior roles or become creative directors.

Qualifications

To get onto a degree apprenticeship in this industry, you’ll need two A-levels plus GCSEs in English and maths.

The usual entry requirements for a relevant foundation course are:

One or two A-levels. You’ll need an A-level in art or in an art-based subject.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in four to five subjects.

Some courses ask that you have a pass in English. Alternatives to A-levels include:

A BTEC level 3 National diploma in art and design.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

The entry requirements for relevant HNDs and foundation degrees are similar to those needed for the foundation course mentioned above. If you go on to a degree directly, you’ll usually need two or more A-levels. Many courses ask that you have at least a B grade in an art-based subject.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills gained as an assistant in a design studio or workshop, or in a design consultancy are valued. Experience in related fields such as advertising or marketing is also useful. Commercial awareness and an understanding of the industry you wish to work in is an advantage. To enter the work or relevant courses, you normally need to have a portfolio of work demonstrating your creative ability.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (e.g. Access to Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details. They can lead to relevant degree/HND courses. It’s also possible to do a part-time foundation course in art and design, which leads to a degree or HND course. Higher National Certificate (HNC) courses are also available part-time, often in the evenings and/or in the daytime. Universities and colleges of higher education (HE) will usually consider applications from candidates who don’t meet their usual entry requirements, especially those with experience in arts, crafts or design. You should check the admissions policy of individual universities and HE colleges. Relevant courses in art and design subjects, at various levels, are offered by a large number of centres, by distance learning.

Related careers

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Design engineer
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Packaging designer
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