Commercial and industrial designers combine the fields of art, business, and engineering to design the products people use every day. In fact, these designers are responsible for the style, function, quality, and safety of almost every manufactured good. Usually designers specialize in one particular product category, such as automobiles and other transportation vehicles, appliances, technology goods, medical equipment, furniture, toys, tools and construction equipment, or housewares.
Related job titles are: Designer, Industrial Designer, Product Engineer, Design Engineer, Product Designer, Mechanical Designer, Product Development Engineer, Engineer, or Product Design Engineer.
Search by ZIP code for an Accredited College or School that offers the Classes, Associate, Bachelor, or Master Degree Program you need!
Would you go back to school if you qualified for a grant or other financial aid? Be sure to ask that question of the colleges you contact!!
ONLINE MEDIA COURSES AND DEGREES
We offer an online education based on real-world experience, on a schedule that fits your real life. At Kaplan University, we have no boundaries and our options are not limited by geography. This enables us to recruit leading educators and practicing business professionals from anywhere in the world.
ONLINE DESIGN COURSES AND DEGREES
Whether you just want to take a few classes, get up-to-speed with innovations in your field or seek opportunities for your own professional development, explore our undergraduate and graduate degree options in a range of high-demand fields, including business, education, nursing and technology.
Important Commercial and Industrial Designer degree information -Top of Page-
- Commercial and industrial designers usually work closely with a range of specialists including engineers, materials scientists, marketing and corporate strategy staff, cost estimators, and accountants.
- A bachelor's degree is usually required for entry.
How much does a Commercial and Industrial Designer make in salary? || Commercial and Industrial Designer pay -Top of Page-
Median annual wage-and-salary wages for commercial and industrial designers were $57,350 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned a salary of between $41,550 and $76,700. The lowest 10 percent earned a salary of less than $31,400, and the highest 10 percent earned a salary of more than $97,770.
What is a Commercial and Industrial Designer? || What does a Commercial and Industrial Designer do? || Job descriptions -Top of Page-
Designers prepare conceptual sketches or diagrams—by hand or with the aid of a computer—to illustrate their vision of the product. After conducting research and consulting with a creative director or other members of the product development team, designers then create detailed sketches or renderings using computer-aided design (CAD) tools. Computer models make it easier to adjust designs and to experiment with a greater number of alternatives, speeding and improving the design process. Industrial designers who work for manufacturing firms also use computer-aided industrial design (CAID) tools to create designs and machine-readable instructions that can direct automated production tools to build the designed product to exact specifications.
Designers present the designs and prototypes to their client or managers and incorporate any changes and suggestions. Designers often work with engineers, accountants, and cost estimators to determine if a product can be made safer, easier to assemble or use, or cheaper to manufacture. Before a product is completed and manufactured, designers may participate in usability and safety tests, watching consumers use prototypes and then making adjustments based on those observations.
Increasingly, designers are working with corporate strategy staff to ensure that their designs fit into the company's business plan and strategic vision. Designers work with marketing staff to develop plans to best market new product designs to consumers. They work to design products that accurately reflect the company's image and values. And although designers have always tried to identify and design products that fit consumers' needs, more designers are now focused on creating that product before a competitor does. More of today's designers must also focus on creating innovative products as well as considering the style and technical aspects of the product.
Work environment for Commercial and Industrial Designers -Top of Page-
Designers employed by manufacturing establishments, large corporations, or design firms generally work regular hours in well-lighted and comfortable settings. Designers in smaller design consulting firms, or those who freelance, may work under a contract to do specific tasks or designs. Designers frequently adjust their workday to suit their clients' schedules and deadlines, meeting with the clients evenings or weekends when necessary. Consultants and self-employed designers tend to work longer hours and in smaller, more congested, environments. Additional hours may be required to meet deadlines.
Designers may work in their own offices or studios or in clients' homes or offices. Designers also may travel to other locations, such as testing facilities, design centers, clients' exhibit sites, users' homes or workplaces, and manufacturing facilities. With the increased speed and sophistication of computers and advanced communications networks, designers may form international design teams and serve a more geographically dispersed clientele.
How to become a Commercial and Industrial Designer || Commercial and Industrial Designer classes and degree programs -Top of Page-
A bachelor's degree in industrial design, architecture, or engineering is required for most entry-level commercial and industrial design jobs. Coursework includes principles of design, sketching, computer-aided design, industrial materials and processes, manufacturing methods, and some classes in engineering, physical science, mathematics, psychology, and anthropology.
Because of the growing emphasis on strategic design and how products fit into a firm's overall business plan, an increasing number of designers are pursuing a master's degree in business administration to gain business skills.
Designers must be imaginative and persistent and must be able to communicate their ideas visually, verbally, and in writing. Because tastes and styles can change quickly, designers need to be well read, open to new ideas and influences, and quick to react to changing trends.
Where are the Commercial and Industrial Designer jobs? -Top of Page-
Commercial and industrial designers held about 44,300 jobs in 2008. About 30 percent of designers were employed by manufacturing firms, 9 percent worked in architectural, engineering and related services and another 8 percent worked for specialized design services firms.
Commercial and Industrial Designer job opportunities and outlook -Top of Page-
Employment of commercial and industrial designers is expected to grow 9 percent between 2008 and 2018, as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment growth will arise from an increase in consumer and business demand for new or upgraded products. The continued emphasis on the quality and safety of products, the increasing demand for new products that are easy and comfortable to use, and the development of high-technology products in consumer electronics, medicine, transportation, and other fields will increase the demand for commercial and industrial designers.