Product designer

Product designers create designs for three-dimensional objects ranging from household items such as kettles, hairdryers and washing machines, to industrial appliances.

Also known as:

Industrial designer
Three-dimensional product designer

Work activities

Product designers create designs for three-dimensional products. The type of products they design can range from household appliances such as televisions and food processors, to large industrial machine tools. Most product designers begin as design assistants or junior designers, gradually improving their skills before working their way up to becoming design managers or consultants. They work closely with design and production engineers who offer technical advice and help to turn design ideas into plans and working models. They also work with marketing managers who brief the designer on the type of person or audience they want the product to appeal to.

Personal qualities and skills

As a product designer, you need:

Creative and artistic skills.
An understanding of colour, shape and form.
Good people skills.
An understanding of different materials used.
Good research skills.
To keep up to date with new design developments.
Good organisation and planning skills.
IT skills.

Self-employed or freelance product designers will need business and marketing skills.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for product designers vary with the industry and responsibilities. The pay rates given are approximate. Product designers earn in the range of £22,000 - £45,000 a year. Some product designers receive profit-related bonuses, in addition to their salary.

Product designers usually work a 40-42-hour week, Monday to Friday. Working hours for self-employed designers may be irregular, depending on how much work they have. Late finishes and weekend work may be required from time to time, especially as deadlines approach.

Employers are large manufacturing companies and design consultancies. Opportunities for product designers occur with employers in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment opportunities occur for experienced designers to work on a self-employed, freelance basis in consultancy and fixed-term contract work.

What’s happening in this work area?

The design sector now operates in a very commercial global market, including strong economies, for example, India and China. However, the strong growth of the UK service industry has led to the opening up of new markets and helped the design sector to achieve a position of strength. Technology has helped to greatly speed up the design process, making it possible for designers to take on many more projects. However, fewer people are now required to complete tasks, resulting in a very competitive recruitment market. Competition for designer posts is strong, as there are often more applicants than vacancies.

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 product design jobs are advertised. Making speculative job applications can also be effective.

Entry routes and training

Product design covers the areas of both art and science. Because of this, relevant courses are offered as BA, BSc and BEng degrees. Relevant foundation degrees and HNDs are also available and can be used as routes into this career, or as a way of getting on to a degree course. Some people use art foundation courses as a way of progressing to full degrees or on to other higher education courses.

Some of your training will be on-the-job.

Alternatively, you could pursue a level 6 (degree) apprenticeship in the role of product design and development engineer. This way, you will train in the workplace over five to six years, while undertaking classroom learning on block or day release.

With experience, some people in this career move into senior designer positions. Some move into self-employment.

Qualifications

You could follow an academic or an apprenticeship pathway into this career.

Academic

The science route

To get on to a relevant BSc or BEng, you’ll usually need:

Two or more A-levels. Some courses ask that you have a pass in maths, and/ or a science subject.
Four to five GCSEs at grades 9-4. Passes in English and maths are often required. A pass in design and technology (product design) will be useful.

Alternatives to A levels include:

A BTEC level 3 National Diplomas.
A relevant advanced apprenticeship.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

Artistic ability is still needed for science- and engineering-based product design courses.

The art route

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. A pass in design and technology (product design) will be useful.

Acceptable alternatives to A levels include:

A BTEC National Diploma in Fine Art, or related course.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
A relevant advanced apprenticeship.

Many other qualifications are also accepted so check prospectuses for more details. 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.
Four or five GCSEs at grades 9-4. A pass in English is often required. A pass in design and technology (product design) will be useful.

Alternatives to A levels include:

A BTEC level 3 National Diploma in Art and Design.
A relevant advanced apprenticeship.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

To enter any course in art and design, you’ll need a portfolio of your work.

Apprenticeship

To undertake a level 6 (degree) apprenticeship in the role of product design and development engineer, you will need:

At least two relevant A-levels.
GCSEs in English and maths.

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’ll normally need to have a portfolio of work showing 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 Art foundation course, 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.

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