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Designers
Overview » Industry Pathways » Visual Arts 
Designers, including commercial and industrial designers, are people with a strong desire to create, and they love seeing a completed, visually pleasing result! Most of what we see on a daily basis in magazines, on television, or at the shopping malls, has been influenced by some type of designer.
These workers combine practical knowledge with artistic ability to turn abstract ideas into formal designs. Designers usually specialize in a particular area of design, such as automobiles, industrial or medical equipment, home appliances, clothing and textiles, floral arrangements, publications, Web sites, logos, signage, movie or TV credits, interiors of homes or office buildings, merchandise displays, or movie, television, and theater sets.
When creating a something, designers often begin by researching the desired design characteristics, such as size, shape, weight, color, materials used, cost, ease of use, and safety. Designers then prepare sketches or diagrams—by hand or with the aid of a computer—to illustrate the vision for the design. After consulting with the client, a creative director, or a product development team, designers create detailed designs, using drawings, a structural model, computer simulations, or a full-scale prototype.
Computers are a very important part of a designer’s work. Many designers use computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create and better visualize the final product. Computer models allow ease and flexibility in exploring a greater number of design alternatives, thus reducing design costs and cutting the time it takes to deliver a product to market. Industrial designers use computer-aided industrial design (CAID) tools to create designs and machine-readable instructions that communicate with automated production tools.
Designers work in a number of different fields. Many designers specialize in a particular area of design, while others work in more than one area.
Commercial and industrial designers develop countless manufactured products, including airplanes, cars, children’s toys, computer equipment, furniture, home appliances, and medical, office, and recreational equipment. They combine artistic talent with research and development techniques to create the most functional and appealing design that will be competitive with others in the marketplace. Industrial designers typically concentrate in a subspecialty such as kitchen appliances, auto interiors, or plastic-molding machinery.
Designers held about 16,000 jobs in 2006. Thirty-three percent were self-employed and did freelance work—full time or part time—in addition to holding a salaried job in design or in another occupation. Salaried designers worked in a number of different industries, depending on their design specialty. Most commercial and industrial designers were employed in manufacturing or architectural, engineering, and related services
Overall employment of designers is expected to grow about average for all occupations through the year 2016. However, designers in most fields are expected to face strong competition for available positions. This is a very enjoyable occupation, and many talented individuals are attracted to careers as designers. Individuals with little or no formal education in design, as well as those who lack creativity and determination, will find it very difficult to establish and maintain a career in the occupation.
Increased demand for industrial designers will result from continued emphasis on the quality and safety of products, demand for new products that are easy and comfortable to use, and the development of high-technology products in medicine, transportation, and other fields.
Creativity is crucial in all design occupations. People in this field must have a strong sense of the esthetic—an eye for color and detail, a sense of balance and proportion, and an appreciation of beauty. Designers also need excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Despite the advancement of computer-aided design, sketching ability remains an important advantage in most types of design. A good portfolio—a collection of examples of a person’s best work—often is the deciding factor in getting a job.
A bachelor’s degree is required for most entry-level design positions. Formal training for some design professions also is available in two and three-year professional schools that award certificates or associate degrees in design. Graduates of two-year programs normally qualify as assistants to designers, or they may enter a formal bachelor’s degree program.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is granted at four-year colleges and universities. The curriculum in these schools includes art and art history, principles of design, designing and sketching, and specialized studies for each of the individual design disciplines, such as garment construction, textiles, mechanical and architectural drawing, computerized design, sculpture, architecture, and basic engineering.
A liberal arts education or a program that includes training in business or project management, together with courses in merchandising, marketing, and psychology, is recommended for designers who want to freelance. In addition, persons with training or experience in architecture qualify for some design occupations, particularly interior design.
Employers increasingly expect new designers to be familiar with computer-aided design software as a design tool.
Beginning designers usually receive on-the-job training and normally need one to three years of training before they can advance to higher level positions. Experienced designers in large firms may advance to chief designer, design department head, or other supervisory positions. Some designers leave the occupation to become teachers in design schools or in colleges and universities. Many faculty members continue to consult privately or operate small design studios to complement their classroom activities. Some experienced designers open their own firms.
Typical annual earnings for commercial and industrial designers were $43,710 in 2007.
If you are interested in this occupation or are wondering about related occupations, use the links below to continue your exploration. Always remember, the more effort you put into exploring possible careers, the easier it will be for you to discover the best career choices for you!
For career information and links to employment resources contact:
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Occupational Information Network, O*NET Online: http://online.onetcenter.org/
For general information about art and design and a list of accredited college-level programs, contact:
National Association of Schools of Art and Design: http://nasad.arts-accredit.org
For information about planning and paying for college, visit Junior Achievement’s Financial Aid Center .
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