According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of industrial design is expected to grow substantially over the next eight years. And, with an average salary of $77,030 a year reported in 2021 (but closer to $104,000 in San Francisco), the field promises great job security and financial stability. Plus, design thinking, a foundation of industrial design, is taking center stage as a creative way to solve problems in the corporate sector and beyond.
In this article we’ll discuss the field of industrial design and three of the most common paths you can take to build a career in the field.
Industrial Design – An Exciting Career Path
While many schools offer a degree in industrial design, some colleges provide other degrees along with industrial design courses to give their graduates more options after graduating. Industrial designers (aka product designers) are responsible for designing consumer products, industrial machines, automotive components, aerospace products, medical industry parts, and other physical products.
They are often responsible for material sourcing and manufacturing planning (costing and process design). This is why an industrial designer’s job description involves many facets; industrial designers employ art, materials science, engineering, and a focus on consumer needs to do their jobs well. It’s a versatile field with multiple potential career paths, but which one should you choose?
The three most common industrial designer career paths are:
- In-house designer at a company
- Freelance as a designer or design studio
- Create a product and/or form a company and become an entrepreneur
These three paths are significantly different when it comes to personal fulfillment, depending on your goals and aspirations. Let’s take a look at each path and explore the different considerations, challenges, and perks related to each.
shared from : https://www.fictiv.com/articles/3-career-paths-for-industrial-designers