How to become A Product Designer

• Customer Experience Architect

What do Product Designers do?

A Product Designer would typically need to:

• Monitor the end-to-end design of profitable products that are a judicious blend of user needs and business goals
• Conduct market research to determine gaps and identify opportunities for new products that satisfy market needs and consumer expectations
• Use inputs from clients, internal teams, and external partners to come up with a design brief incorporating valid concept, performance, and production criteria
• Conduct research on relevant materials, tools, and techniques that can translate into customer-friendly ideas and designs
• Develop manual or digital cost-effective design concepts, outlining clear specifications for the design team and other stakeholders
• Use CAD and 3D modeling software to design the products and their components; provide constructive feedback to the design team on processes
• Meet with the engineering and marketing departments to discuss and establish viable production processes, costs, and commercial concerns
• Produce manual working models or computerised prototypes; test their functionality through computer simulation or physical hands-on trials
• Use sketches, blueprints, and prototypes to solicit feedback from target markets; use feedback from clients and products users to improve the design of existing products
• Make presentations to senior design management or clients, when bidding for a contract or submitting design proposals

Product Designers may usually be found in shared studios/offices and PC workstations, close to the shop-floor production area, with access to drafting tables and meeting spaces.

Participation in specialist or multidisciplinary team meetings is standard. Freelancers may choose to work from home. Occasional visits to the client’s production facilities may necessitate domestic and international travel.

Although Product Designers generally work regular hours five days a week, they may need to put in extra hours to meet critical project deadlines or take care of design issues. Fortunately, overtime is unlikely to include weekends or shift timings.

Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in employers willing to give promising employees a chance to adjust their schedules per the job demands.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Product Designers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Product Designers are generally employed by:

• Industrial & Domestic Product Manufacturers
• Specialized Design Services
• Car Manufacturers
• Furniture Manufacturers
• Architectural & Engineering Services
• Point-of-Sale Designers
• Merchant Wholesalers
• Retailers

Professional associations and organisations, such as the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), are crucial for Product Designers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Professional associations provide members with continuing education, networking opportunities, and mentorship services. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Static wireframes that can limit understanding of a product’s interaction with the end users
• Impractical focus on the visual appeal of a product rather than its purpose
• Confusion and unrealistic client expectations due to lack of clear communication
• Lack of effective communication and coordination between the design and development teams
• Lack of adequate knowledge of consumer needs, expectations, and motivation behind making a purchase decision
• Derailed and delayed work processes due to unclear and divided feedback from clients internal teams
• Last-minute changes ranging from minor alterations to complete redesign of the whole project
• Tendency to overcomplicate the design in an attempt to create an innovative and unique solution

An ideal academic program would comprise at least a year of practical design content and relevant industrial placements since potential Product Designers will benefit from tasks outside of the classroom that line up perfectly with lessons inside it. 

Real-life experience in industrial design, design software such as Illustrator or Sketch, and CAD tools appeals to potential employers and increases your chances of getting a permanent job. 

You could gain practical experience and transferable skills through industrial placements, freelance work, design competitions, exhibitions, or industry-specific projects, getting a taste of the career and building valuable contacts. 

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in product design to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Prospective Product Designers should have a bachelor’s degree or diploma in product design, industrial design, 3D design, architecture, manufacturing, engineering, or spatial design. Some employers may prefer applicants with postgraduate qualifications in the fields mentioned earlier. 

Most design courses will include classes on computer-aided design (CAD), industrial materials and processes, basic art, design principles, engineering, 3D design, and production methods.

Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee entry into the profession. Be that as it may, professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.

Certification demonstrates a Product Designer’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Certification in UX design, product design, production innovation in emerging technology, and product design and innovation from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market and increase your chances of advancement. 

In addition, accredited certification in UX design could help you build an extensive portfolio, learn the basics of UX research, and display your knowledge of digital design tools.

Product Designers may also need to undergo an employment background check, including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

Performance, experience, established connections within the industry, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Product Designers. 

Smaller organisations have relatively limited opportunities for advancement, prompting forward-looking Product Designers to move to larger companies or migrate to related design sectors.

Typically, you could work your way up to the position of Senior Product Designer, become a Principal Product Designer, gain experience as a Creative Director, and eventually move into the role of a Senior Staff Product Designer.

A management-focused career path would involve New Business Director or Project Manager roles. Product Designers with an entrepreneurial bent of mind can choose freelance work or open their own product design consultancies.

The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.

Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills.

Candidates with significant experience in design software and an extensive portfolio have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Product Designer build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, 

formal education, or self-directed learning. CPD also helps with the regular renewal of desirable certifications.

Take advantage of all in-service training opportunities to enhance your expertise and acquire specialist knowledge of relevant equipment and software. Keep abreast of industry developments, hone your networking skills, and expand your work portfolio. 

External short courses and professional training programs in effective negotiating skills, time management, and project management would help you complete work tasks more effectively and efficiently.

UI/UX Designer vs Product Designer

A Product Designer and UI/UX Designer seek to identify a product issue and look for suitable design solutions. They use similar design software such as Adobe XD, Invision, Framer, MIRO, Sketch, and Figma to build the product.

However, their ability to include both company and customer needs and expectations in the design allows Product Designers to develop a cost-effective and profitable design.

UI/UX Designers, on the other hand, focus on creating a user-friendly design that translates into an easy-to-use product which satisfies the client’s needs. 

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Product Designers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They fully own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Product Designer has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best.

The 3D printer owes its existence in part to the replicator initially depicted in the iconic sci-fi series Star Trek to materialise any object from an image.

If they can set aside the innumerable budgetary, design, and human constraints that challenge them in their tireless quest to provide product users with delightful experiences, Product Designers can revel in the fact that they have remained the backbone of human progress through millennia.

Make sure your portfolio showcases your ideating process and displays variety. You may want to run it by a professional to receive helpful guidance.