Industrial Design (ID) is the process of professionally designing products, devices, objects and services that are used by people all over the world. It could be objects like cups/blankets/sports equipment, devices like ipads, or services like organizing house/business layout. Most people who think of this career only think of products, but it extends way more than this. Most people also think of this career as engineering but it is not. Individuals have the choice of specializing in one industry area and it is beneficial to know your options. These are some of the popular industries that can be chosen based on your area of interest:

·       Automotive

·       Electronics

·       Furniture & Houseware

·       Sports

·       Personal & Lifestyle

·       Fashion

·       Medical

·       Movie & Music

 Q) What exactly do Industrial designers do?

Industrial designers have to design concepts taking into consideration social, financial, environmental, functional, and appearance aspects. It involves a lot of imaginative visualization and problem-solving to arrive at a solution that fulfils the needs of a user. First, the designers will meet with their clients to understand their needs and specifications. In the first project phase, designers will sketch and create prototype models of their idea. This will be tested repeatedly, redesigned, refined, and tested again. Once an idea is selected, the next phase will involve working with a team of industry experts (e.g. mechanical engineers, material scientists, marketing strategists, etc.) to bring their idea to life. While industrial designers must have a good understanding of materials, they do not need to know the technical aspects of making a product. Those aspects are handled by the rest of the professional team. So, industrial designing is quite a collaborative approach. It is a great blend of creativity and technicality.

 Q) What are some top ID institutes in India?

The following is a list of the top 6 ID institutes in India where students can study design at both Undergraduate and Post-graduate levels:

        1) National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad

        2) Industrial Design Centre (IDC), Mumbai

        3) Indian Institute of Technology (IITs)

        4) Indian Institute of Art and Design, Delhi

        5) National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFTs)

        6) Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune

 Q) What are some top ID institutes in the world?

The following is a list of some of the top ID institutes in different parts of the world that attract students to study design (according to QS World University Rankings 2021) [1]:

          USA:

1)     Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

2)     Parsons School of Design, New York

3)     Polytechnic Institute of Virginia (Virginia Tech)

4)     Rhode Island School of Design

UK:

        1)   University of the Arts, London

        2)   Royal College of Art, London

        3)   Glasgow School of Art, Scotland

         Europe & Asia:

1)     ETH Federal Institute of Technology of Zurich, Switzerland

2)     Politecnico di Milano, Italy

3)     Hong Kong Polytech University

4)     National University of Singapore

         Canada, Australia, New Zealand:

1)      Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Canada

2)      Concordia University/University of Toronto, Canada

3)      University of Technology, Sydney

4)      Massey University, New Zealand

 Q) What should one do in high school to embark on this career?

To start the journey of becoming an Industrial designer, it is recommended that high school students maintain a design portfolio that contains a record of their past design concepts and ideas (sketches, models, etc.). It can be helpful to also participate in projects to actively use and cultivate their problem-solving and creation skills. Taking basic classes like Math (with a focus on geometry), Physics, English, and Art can help students to build their fundamental skills. In India, one needs Physics, Chemistry, and Math to do ID (CBSE & ISC – PCM till 12^th). Abroad, one needs Physics and Math to do ID (IB- Physics HL and Math HL, CIE- Physics and math at A levels). Depending on individual interest, subjects like Computer Science, Business, and Architecture can help further expand those skills since industrial designers often need to have some knowledge about materials, web design, electronics, etc. If these courses are not offered in your high school, try to take some short online courses over the summer. Finding internships at the industries you are interested in is also key in understanding the requirements of the career and whether it is a good fit for you. Although challenging at first, industrial designing can truly be an exciting and rewarding career!

 Q) What are the job prospects?

Employment of industrial designers is projected to grow by 5% from 2016 to 2026[2]. This is because there is still an increasing consumer demand for innovative products and product styles. The only difference is that, now, with an increasing focus on the virtual world, employment of industrial designers is likely to grow most in areas that require a high degree of electronic ability and design sophistication. Employment in the manufacturing industry, on the other hand, is projected to decline by 2%. Hence, job applicants with a strong background in computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) and a knowledge about the use of sustainable resources would be the best candidates.

Published on : 11 May 2021