5 things you should know as an industrial design student

The rampant technological innovations of the 21st century have emphasized the importance of industrial design. There is no easy way to encompass the world of industrial design in the phrase “doing things in factories”. Someone who is an industrial designer will surely agree with what I just said.

Although the general public knows so little about this profession, it is in fact, but not surprisingly, in great demand. After all, if you don’t have good industrial designers, your products will not perform up to standard, you will lose money, and the country’s economy will ultimately be affected. It is a whole cycle put in a very skeletal description but which speaks enough truth. So the point is, the world needs talented industrial designers – and you could be one of them.

In this article, I intended to give you an overview of what it means to study industrial design and make a career out of it. Take note of the 5 points mentioned below.

1. Understand the immensity of industrial design
   Before you become an industrial designer, you need to know what it means to be one. Realize that industrial design is a huge creative field that involves a myriad of things bigger and smaller. From designing the app on the Play Store to the cell phone you use to download these apps, it’s the know-how of an industrial designer that comes into play. Usually, these designers are involved in three areas, and these areas relate to designing products that you understand, designing user experience such as designing a digital museum, and designing user interfaces such as building mobile apps. Everything that is technology will have input from designers.

2. What you will learn in an industrial design school
   Any good industrial design school will offer you comprehensive courses that include theoretical and practical modules. There will be several things, however, commonly taught in most degree programs around the world. Your course should include modules on sketching, computer-aided design, business studies, design psychology, design ethics, introduction to the history of technology, and applied research. Most likely, you will be mandated to undertake an internship program periodically. All the fundamentals of machinery, IT and software will be taught to you so that you can equip yourself in any type of professional environment.

3. A defined competence
   Of course, the whole point of a formal education is to develop a set of essential skills for working as an industrial designer. But, some designers end up getting good at their craft, and others not. You don’t want to be in the latter category. Throughout your studies and beyond, you should make sure to continue working on multiple skills for best results. These include essential logical or reasoning skills to thoroughly study the needs of a product, an artistic temperament to provide the design efficiency and presentability that the product requires, computer skills (of course!), Skills interpersonal skills to be able to understand what the customer wants and effectively communicate your opinion regarding the myriad aspects of the job involved and problem-solving skills to resolve any issue in the product.

4. Many career opportunities
   As I said before, the industrial design empire keeps growing, so it is expected that there are many career options out there – and yes, there are! There are tons of things you can do if you are interested in industrial design; these include the product designer, design researcher, interior designer, automotive designer, packaging designer, application designer, etc. If you decide to specialize as part of a master’s program, your opportunities will only increase and become more productive.

5. Where to study
   After all of the above information, it’s time I told you where the best industrial design courses are. If you are planning to study abroad, I have a few suggestions for you. The best industrial design schools can be found at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US, FTH Federal Institute of Technology Zurich-Switzerland, University of the Arts, London, Pursue University, Indiana, Virginia Tech, US, Parsons The New School of Design, United States, and OCAD University, Canada.

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