Industrial designers consider how products, systems, and services work, and how to make them work better. They think about:
- Physical appearance and visual appeal
- Ease of use and proper user comfort (human factors and user experience)
- Manufacturability, materials, and processes
- Consumer preferences and market position
- Environmental issues
- Sustainability and product lifecycle
Designers maximize the appearance, function, and value of products and product systems. Their primary goal is the mutual benefit of the user (often the consumer) and the manufacturer.
In general, the designer:
- Consults with clients or manufacturers to come up with market and other design requirements for the product, service, or system
- Analyzes the intended function and user preferences to develop product specifications
- Researches production specifications, costs, materials properties, and manufacturing methods
- Prepares presentations and reports for client or management approval
- Prepares concepts, sketches, drawings, physical or computer-aided design models, and prototypes
- Consults with engineering design and production staff, model makers, and marketing staff
Industrial designers work closely with other members of a product development group. These may include managers, marketing personnel, engineers, and manufacturers. They often are involved in activities such as new product planning and market research. Sometimes they monitor the manufacture of their designs in a factory.
More and more designers consider environmental and social justice concerns. They promote changes to the product design and manufacturing processes to enhance sustainability and promote cyclical economics.
Industrial designers may specialize in several areas. They may focus on:
- Consumer or industrial products
- Office or home furnishings
- Scientific instruments
- Exhibit systems
- Transportation products and systems
They may design one-of-a-kind objects or mass-produced items. For example, they may develop:
- Appliances
- Bespoke furniture
- Childproof bottle caps
- Safety equipment
- Sports and leisure products
- Toys and games
Industrial designers may also provide advice relating to client image or branding. This could include:
- Corporate identity systems
- Communication systems
- Interior space planning
- Exhibit design
- Advertising
- Packaging
