Industrial designers are the creative forces behind the products we use every day, from your favorite headphones to the coffee maker on your kitchen counter. But their work goes far beyond aesthetics. They blend creativity, technology and human-centered thinking to design solutions that make life easier, smarter and more sustainable.
If you’re curious about turning ideas into impactful designs that serve people and the planet, industrial design could be the career path for you.
What industrial designers do
At its core, industrial design is about making things work, beautifully and effectively. Industrial designers imagine, prototype and test everything from consumer electronics to medical devices, ensuring that each product is functional, accessible and visually appealing.
Industrial designers are involved in every stage of the product development process. They research user needs and behaviors, sketch initial concepts, create digital renderings and build prototypes to test functionality. Through the process, they collaborate with engineers, marketers and manufacturers to choose materials, refine designs and create products that are useful and ready for the real world.
Different types of industrial designers
While some designers take a generalist approach, solving challenges across multiple sectors, others specialize in a particular industry. Common job titles include:
- Automotive designer
- CAD (Computer Aided Design) operator
- Design strategist
- Furniture designer
- Mechanical drafter
- Medical product designer
- Packaging designer
- Product designer
- Service designer
- User experience (UX) designer
While these roles have clear differences, they all solve real-world problems through clever and thoughtful design.
Join Prasad Boradkar, a professor emeritus of industrial design at Arizona State University, as he takes a look at industrial design through the lenses of beauty, utility and sustainability.
The skills you’ll need to succeed
Because industrial design bridges art, engineering and user experience, it calls for a diverse skill set. You’ll need to:
- Collaborate across disciplines and with diverse teams.
- Embrace feedback and iterate with purpose.
- Study how people interact with products.
- Think creatively and develop innovative solutions.
- Use industry tools such as SolidWorks, KeyShot, Rhino and Adobe Creative Suite.
You’ll also need a solid understanding of ergonomics, sustainability and design ethics, especially if your goal is to improve lives through innovation.
