Product Designer

Typical Salary

£19,000 To £50,000

Typical Hours

40 to 42 a week

evenings / weekends occasionally

How To Become a Product Designer

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship

College / University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree to get into this career. Useful subjects include:

design
product design
industrial product design
engineering

1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

If you're working in the furniture industry, you may be able to start on a furniture product developer advanced apprenticeship.

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

design skills and knowledge
knowledge of engineering science and technology
the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
analytical thinking skills
persistence and determination
the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
thinking and reasoning skills
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

In your day-to-day duties you could:

discuss what your client wants
investigate how existing products work or how services are used
develop ideas and make initial sketches or outline plans
decide on suitable materials or resources
use computer design software to produce detailed blueprints
make samples or working models, known as prototypes
test and refine designs

Working Environment

You could work in a workshop, in a creative studio or in an office.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could progress to senior designer, then creative director.

You could also move into project management or design management.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Career tips

Entering design competitions and exhibitions can be a good way of getting yourself noticed by employers.

You'll need to show employers that you have creative skills, technical knowledge and the ability to work to a design brief. This will usually involve presenting a portfolio of your design work to them.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Chartered Society of Designers for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.