What Does An Industrial Designer Do?

WHAT DOES AN INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER DO?

Published: Aug 22, 2025 - The Industrial Designer creates innovative product concepts through sketching, 3D CAD, mock-ups, and 3D prints to shape intuitive and engaging user experiences. This role defines the aesthetic direction and product architecture, focusing on usability, ergonomics, and emotional connection to ensure the design aligns with brand identity and user expectations. The designer also builds and tests virtual and physical prototypes, conducts design research and usability analysis, and collaborates with internal and external teams to deliver production-ready solutions that are both iconic and manufacturable.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Industrial Designer

1. Industrial Designer Duties

Strategy Development: Help define the future strategies of products and the company
Human-Centered Design: Apply a human-centered design approach to translate consumer insights into meaningful product solutions that delight consumers both on an emotional and functional level
Concept Sketching: Sketch concepts for conceptual brainstorming as well as for presentation
Product Development: Bring products from concept to production
Prototyping: Create visual and functional prototypes for research and internal review
Creative Problem-Solving: Challenge assumptions and think innovatively to solve complex problems creatively
Technical Specifications: Communicate design intent to factories by creating technical ID specifications detailing fit, finishes, color, and graphics
Quality Assurance: Maintain quality assurance standards for design and color integrity throughout the product lifecycle
Market Exploration: Explore new market opportunities and portfolio propositions
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with engineering and product marketing to innovate, design, and implement simple and elegant design solutions

2. Senior Industrial Designer Details

Innovation Solutions: Develop innovative and creative solutions to customer needs while participating in a team environment
Concept Support: Support innovation, concept generation, and selection events internally and in customer sessions to identify the optimal solution for the customer from a diverse set
User-Centered Design: Build a culture of user-centered design through participation in new product development projects, mentoring junior ID associates, and formalizing ID touchpoints in the product development process
Ergonomics UX: Develop superior ergonomics, UI, and UX to provide a differentiated product to customers
Customer Preparation: Prepare the approach, questions, and content for customer feedback sessions during the concept refinement phase with input from the cross-functional development team
Feedback Facilitation: Facilitate customer feedback sessions and complete data analysis afterward for use in decision-making
Marketing Partnership: Partner with marketing to complete new product development needs generation through customer surveys, discussions, and simulated procedures
Labeling Development: Contribute to labeling, artwork development, and implementation such as instructions for use and quick reference guides

3. Industrial Designer Responsibilities

Competitive Analysis: Collaborate with team members to gather, analyze, and synthesize the competitive landscape and analogue categories to define a target for new visual language for future designs
Visual Language: Develop and define the appropriate visual language forms and details to establish a VBL while communicating essential brand pillars
Workflow Guidelines: Develop an outline of touchpoints and experience workflow guidelines
Design Prototyping: Create sketches, 3D models, prototypes, and proof-of-concept models that effectively communicate design intent
Concept Iteration: Iterate concepts and provide visuals based on feedback, and coordinate models and presentation materials for internal and external presentations
Product Sketching: Draft sketches and illustrations of potential products or enhance existing products to make them more appealing to customers
CAD Design: Use blueprints, detailed drawings, or computer-aided designs to demonstrate product potential
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with engineering, marketing, production, and sales departments to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products
Design Testing: Test designs in focus groups or surveys
Project Leadership: Lead and facilitate the project design development process through sketching, model building, and applying materials

4. Engineer Industrial Designer Job Summary

Concept Generation: Generate concepts for innovative products and features based on the provided criteria
Ideation Planning: Plan and participate in ideation exercises, engineering research, design, development, and manufacturing, including other methods the team may discover to develop a successful project
Team Collaboration: Collaborate with engineering, advanced interior design, industrial design, technical groups, and other interns to develop, implement, monitor, and track the progress of a given project
Conceptual Design: Create conceptual designs for the interior and exterior of new aircraft and block-point redesign projects
Interior Support: Support the aircraft interior concept by assisting with the general floor plan layout of the cockpit, cabin, lavatory, and baggage areas
Human Factors Design: Develop concepts and work with advanced interior design engineering to develop detailed designs of human factors within aircraft
Exterior Support: Support the aircraft exterior by developing design concepts that show the overall exterior with cockpit and cabin windows
Design Evaluation: Use market research, customer experience, analysis of competitive designs, trends, human factors layout, and physical mock-ups to evaluate conceptual designs
Alias Modeling: Develop 2D hand sketches and 3D surface geometry using Alias modeling software and evaluate design ideas based on appearance, functional design, serviceability, manufacturing methods, materials, and production cost

5. Industrial Designer Accountabilities

CAD Design: Use computer-aided design software (Rhino 7) to design and iterate spaceflight concepts ranging from small components to entire habitat layouts
Prototype Development: Design and build prototypes to convey ideas and test designs
Adobe Suite: Use the Adobe Suite to create diagrams and presentations to communicate design to stakeholders
VR Evaluation: Use virtual reality (VR) to review and evaluate designs
3D Modeling: Create accurate models and drawings for 3D printing, CNC, and waterjetting components
Design Collaboration: Collaborate with the design team to review concepts, synthesize design elements, and plan design work
Team Participation: Participate in regular team meetings to discuss activity and progress
Concept Prototyping: Design and prototype concepts at varying fidelities
Visual Communication: Generate renderings and other visual communication products
Component Assembly: Build, assemble, and install components, equipment, and structures
Expert Collaboration: Work with subject matter experts to iteratively develop design concepts to meet their needs and requirements
Meeting Documentation: Individually attend meetings, take notes, ask questions, capture knowledge, and accurately relay information to the team

6. Industrial Designer Functions

Trend Research: Research industry trends and competitors
Design Parameters: Work with the broader business to understand design parameters
Specialist Collaboration: Collaborate with medical specialists and engineering specialists to understand real-world issues and potential solutions
Concept Testing: Conduct concept design and product testing
Prototyping: Create visual and physical prototypes of concepts to ensure end-user effectiveness and manufacturing feasibility
Feasibility Evaluation: Collaborate with the broader team to evaluate production feasibility and cost
Manufacturing Drawings: Create manufacturing-ready drawings and work with partner factories to ensure the product is built to the specified level
Process Development: Work with the engineering team to create ideal manufacturing processes
User Testing: Conduct end-user testing research and sign off

7. Industrial Designer Job Description

User Research: Conduct user research and surveys to deliver data-driven design solutions and user experiences for the hardware line-up
Brand Language: Help create the visual and physical language of the brand through hardware design
Industrial Sketching: Provide competent industrial design sketches to solve problems and communicate design intent to non-designers
User-Centric Design: Utilize user-centric thinking and aesthetic sensibility to align the brand with customer needs
CAD Modeling: Translate well-defined 2D sketches into 3D CAD models and practice iterative design refinement through CAD modeling
3D Prototyping: Utilize 3D prototyping tools to test and validate design solutions
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work collaboratively with multiple cross-functional teams on complex technical programs in a fast-paced environment
UI/UX Trends: Stay up to date on current themes, trends, and technologies in user interface and experience design
Concept Development: Contribute concepts and problem-solving across multiple projects

8. Industrial Designer Overview

Design Delivery: Deliver sophisticated, emotional, and cohesive designs that balance an understanding of user experience, technology, market analytics, and aesthetics
Product Conceptualization: Conceptualize and visualize product concepts that improve value to customers by translating marketing requirements into compelling product designs
Design Leadership: Lead, develop, and articulate design concepts, ideas, and directions as part of a multidisciplinary team
Client Interaction: Assist the team in client interaction and preparation
Marketing Support: Assist the IDUX director in crafting sales and marketing collateral
Design Problem-Solving: Assist and work with engineers and vendors to solve design problems related to user experience, usability, and appearance
Design Presentation: Present design progress to management and the IDUX director
User-Centered Solutions: Work with design leads to craft innovative and appropriate user-centered solutions

9. Industrial Designer Details and Accountabilities

Concept Development: Create new concept themes for product visual appearance to capture and maintain market interest and awareness with careful integration of mechanical and electrical innovations that address both met and unmet user needs
R&D Collaboration: Actively participate in the global R&D and technology team to ideate new products, features, and commercial strategies
Market Research: Participate in the development of market research data, and interpret and incorporate that data to create highly desirable products for customers
Design Language: Ensure a consistent product design language regarding styling, trade dress, graphics, and packaging
Product Adjustment: Adjust the product line to stay ahead of the competition
Award Preparation: Prepare applications for industrial design awards, including photos, videos, application forms, and specification sheets, and represent the company at award shows
Vendor Management: Manage contracts and relationships with outside industrial design firms to provide services that supplement in-house industrial design functions to keep up with new product programs
Concept Modeling: Prepare and manage the development of ID concepts and appearance models for new products
Design Research: Participate in outside industrial design research projects, such as collaborative university ID studios

10. Industrial Designer Tasks

Concept Visualization: Conceptualize and visualize product designs and physical interactions using sketching, 3D CAD and renderings, hand-built physical mock-ups, and 3D prints
Design Language: Define product design language and aesthetic directions that make the product iconic, unique, and recognizable, while ensuring alignment with the brand and target user desires
Product Architecture: Explore product architectures that consider details of how people use and perceive the product, including usability, ergonomics, and human factors of the experience
Detail Crafting: Craft details and signature elements in the product that are meaningful, create positive experiences, and build long-lasting relationships and routines
Prototyping: Build virtual and physical prototypes to simulate the experience with the product, including appearance, interaction, and manufacturability
Design Research: Plan and conduct design research focused on product use and experience
Usability Testing: Analyze and test product usability, ergonomics, and workflow
User Experience: Develop user experience scenarios and journeys integrating physical and digital interactions
Aesthetic Exploration: Explore and develop aesthetic directions for individual products and cross-product design systems
Concept Development: Explore and develop ideas and concepts with hand sketching, 3D CAD, hand-built volumetric mock-ups, and 3D prints
CAD Refinement: Refine concept designs into 3D parametric CAD, including definition of part break-up considering manufacturing and assembly
AR/VR Simulation: Prepare product renderings and assets for AR and VR simulation
CMF Exploration: Explore CMF (color, materials, and finishes) with samples and renderings
Design Documentation: Create product design documentation and collaborate with customers and third-party engineering teams during development
Supplier Coordination: Coordinate prototype suppliers in the appearance model realization

11. Industrial Designer Roles

Product Conceptualization: Participate in the conceptualization of products and physical interfaces having an appropriate level of sophistication, complexity, and breadth of scope for the skill level
User Awareness: Show a developing awareness of the overall product and its primary function as it relates to the users and the system in which it lives, and acquire knowledge through client inputs and formative research to inform the design process
Design Documentation: Create necessary documentation to convey the design solution to design leads and management through sketches, renderings, handcrafted models, CAD, and prototypes
UI/Graphic Design: Design user interfaces, icons, packaging, and graphics
Vendor Engagement: Engage with vendors for prototyping and gathering of DFx feedback
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with user research and mechanical engineering to implement a design that meets end-user needs and marketing requirements while applying a high value to functionality and manufacturability
Discipline Interaction: Interact with the research, engineering, operations, business development, and quality disciplines
Design Communication: Provide verbal and written presentations to team members that effectively communicate the value of the designs
Work Planning: Develop an understanding of capabilities and work commitments and be able to provide estimates and schedules for work deliverables, which may require management oversight

12. Industrial Designer Additional Details

Product Research: Participate in product research and uncover opportunities that effectively translate needs into actionable design requirements
Concept Ideation: Be involved in upfront concept ideation and development, solving newly found needs and opportunities
Design Development: Participate in the design, development, and refinement of physical products and graphical user interfaces
User Experience: Use thought strategy to develop user experiences for products through both digital and physical means
Design Proposals: Generate creative design proposals by using a variety of illustration techniques to provide visual portrayals of design directions
Virtual Modeling: Use computer software to develop virtual models and renderings of different designs to communicate design intent to internal teams, stakeholders, and business partners
Prototyping: Create physical prototypes that represent accurate design directions to gain alignment and direction with CoE teams
Design Evaluation: Work with CoE teams, operations, and other specialists such as mechanical engineers or manufacturers to evaluate whether design concepts will fill a need at a reasonable cost

13. Industrial Designer Essential Functions

Concept Development: Develop product concepts focusing on construction, function, form, material applications, cost, and graphics treatments
CAD Design: Convert product concepts using 2D visual communication tools and 3D computer-aided design tools with SolidWorks
Factory Collaboration: Partner daily with overseas factories to deliver distinct, good, better, best, and premium product design options
Specification Compliance: Ensure conformance to all product development specifications as established by design, development, and marketing teams
Resource Planning: Plan and organize personal resources to achieve product goals
Cross-Cultural Communication: Create, build, and maintain clear communication channels, both written and verbal, with Asian development staff
Requirement Understanding: Ensure a clear and concise understanding of product requirements
Consumer Connection: Learn and maintain connections to category consumers to facilitate continuous product improvement

14. Senior Industrial Designer Role Purpose

Customer Interaction: Interact with customers and develop functional and design requirements
Concept Design: Create preliminary concept designs and detailed designs based on requirements
Design Analysis: Perform detailed design and analysis to meet design and functional requirements
3D Modeling: Develop concept designs in 3D (SolidWorks)
Design Visualization: Create concept visualizations and renderings (KeyShot)
Empathy Thinking: Use empathy and non-linear thinking with the ability to see the consumer as a person and ideate solutions with the consumer in mind
Material Innovation: Work with various materials such as plastics, fabrics, and metals, utilizing them in innovative ways to provide excellent user experiences
Usability Documentation: Create usability engineering documents for device compliance with relevant standards for assigned projects
Vendor Collaboration: Identify and collaborate with vendors and follow up with them for prototyping
Work Culture: Deal effectively with the dynamics of a distributed work environment and create a collaborative work culture

15. Industrial Designer General Responsibilities

Product Evaluation: Evaluate product safety, appearance, and function to determine compliance
Design Presentation: Present designs and demonstrate prototypes for approval
Process Improvement: Initiate changes in procedures, design, or equipment
Team Collaboration: Collaborate with design, purchasing, fabrication, and shop assembly teams on various projects
Material Research: Research new materials and fabrication and assembly methods
Design Consultation: Coordinate and consult with team members to design, layout, or detail components and systems and resolve design or related problems
Drawing Revision: Modify and revise drawings, documents, and specifications to correct deficiencies or reduce production problems
Custom Applications: Modify standard product details and coordinate designs with engineering for custom applications
Cross-Functional Coordination: Coordinate with engineering, sales, and service to create drawings and designs of new products or improvements to existing products
Technical Communication: Provide drawings, documents, and specifications to communicate how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used
Detailed Drawings: Develop detailed design drawings for fabricated and mechanical equipment using specialized software
CAD Modeling: Create models and drawings of products using CAD, modeling, and office communication software
Equipment Documentation: Create drawings, documents, and specifications of mechanical and electrical equipment and components
Schematic Design: Layout and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, and systems
Information Documentation: Document and catalog the final information
Record Management: Organize and maintain existing engineering records

16. Industrial Designer Key Accountabilities

Knowledge Sharing: Share advanced knowledge and skillset to continue to elevate the quality and ingenuity of the products created
Problem Analysis: Effectively analyze all aspects of a problem, gather necessary data, consult others, make informed decisions, and communicate them to the appropriate people
Creative Thinking: Be open-minded, creative, and inventive with a strong curiosity for new possibilities
Design Thinking: Use iterative design-thinking processes to reliably generate good ideas
Market Awareness: Maintain knowledge of current advancements in technical areas, as well as competitive market awareness
Project Management: Manage projects and collaborative teams effectively to meet project objectives and deliver excellence
Ideation Leadership: Lead ideation brainstorm sessions for developing design concepts
Team Participation: Take part in specialist or multidisciplinary team meetings
Sketching Rendering: Utilize strong sketching and rendering skills to effectively and efficiently communicate ideas
Material Assessment: Identify the suitability and availability of new and existing materials
Design Specifications: Produce detailed final hand drawings and specifications, or use dedicated computer software (CAD) to produce design specifications, including parts lists and costing
Concept Testing: Test the design concept by computerized modeling or physical hands-on testing of models
Material Research: Research materials, processes, and market requirements
Process Knowledge: Maintain an ongoing knowledge base of materials and processes and their application to meet dynamic market requirements
Department Liaison: Arrange meetings and liaise with engineers and other departments, including marketing, to discuss and negotiate appropriate production processes, costs, and commercial issues

17. Industrial Designer Roles and Details

Design Evaluation: Evaluate design ideas based on requirements such as appearance, design-function relationships, serviceability, materials, engineering methods, application, budget, price, production costs, methods of production, market characteristics, and client specifications while following NPD processes and procedures
New Product Design: Work independently and with internal resources to continuously identify and develop new product designs that are manufacturable and relevant to company's markets or strategic initiatives
Design Improvement: Work independently and with internal resources to continuously identify and develop improvements to existing company, customer, or prospect product designs that are manufacturable
Customer Relations: Develop strong relationships with existing customers to provide solutions and ideas for their products that lead to new sales
Customer Visits: Visit customers to identify new or improved design ideas and deliver solutions quickly
Sales Support: Support the sales team on customer and prospect visits
Marketing Support: Support marketing efforts through technical guidance, samples, and other activities
Team Collaboration: Interact frequently with engineering and sales teams to ensure alignment in activities and identification of new ideas and execution of transforming concepts into prototypes and production components
Design Presentation: Regularly present design work to various audiences, both internal and external
Lean Projects: Lead and be a part of lean projects and events
Concept Development: Read publications, attend trade shows, and consult with internal and external engineering, marketing, production, and sales representatives to develop design concepts

18. Industrial Designer Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Product Development: Offer suggestions and develop new and existing product ranges
Industry Solutions: Work with internal and external parties to provide solutions to industry challenges
Department Collaboration: Work alongside other departments to ensure all necessary areas and tasks are being performed
Strategy Projects: Work alongside business strategy development projects
Design Communication: Communicate ideas quickly and effectively using a combination of sketching, CAD layouts, 3D models, and working prototypes to evaluate potential solutions
CAD Design: Create new product designs and molding designs, and enhance existing products with the use of CAD
Engineering Application: Apply sound engineering principles to technical problems
Manufacturing Optimization: Apply a comprehensive understanding of high-volume manufacturing processes and materials to optimize designs

19. Industrial Designer Duties and Roles

Conceptual Design: Create conceptual sketches and designs for heating and control products
Mechanical Modeling: Create mechanical models and drawings for enclosures, user interfaces, and other products
UI Design: Develop concepts for user interface design, menu systems, and user interaction
Requirement Documentation: Develop project requirement documents and collaborate to define project scope
Project Coordination: Coordinate with 3rd-party developers/firms on ongoing projects
Vendor Sourcing: Work with vendors to source prototype and custom components
Product Literature: Create product literature, including datasheets and instruction manuals
Artwork Collaboration: Collaborate on artwork for product labeling and molded logos
Market Analysis: Work with Sales / Marketing to determine salable features and cost-benefit analysis
Product Concepting: Inspire and develop concepts for new products
Timeline Management: Manage project timelines and tasks
Project Management: Manage multiple concurrent projects
Team Brainstorming: Collaborate with the team to brainstorm on projects
Material Assessment: Determine the availability and suitability of materials
Design Specifications: Produce final drawings and design specifications
Prototype Development: Provide samples and working models as guides for fabricators
Design Presentation: Present the design to senior management and clients

20. Industrial Designer Roles and Responsibilities

3D Modeling: Utilize various 3D modeling software to design, modify, and repair CAD files
3D Printing: Operate and maintain 3D printers and other lab equipment, such as the laser and UV printer
Post-Processing: Carry out post-processing of printed parts, including sanding and painting
Fixture Design: Design and build fixtures for testing and secondary operations
Shop Research: Research and drive shop initiatives
Part Assembly: Assemble and modify parts using a variety of shop tools and techniques
Lab Maintenance: Maintain a clean, organized, and safe working environment in the lab
Team Support: Support cross-discipline product development teams
User Testing: Support all aspects of user research and testing

21. Industrial Designer Duties

Product Design: Contribute to product design efforts, emphasizing form, color, proportion, and other visual and tactile product dimensions
Design Input: Provide design input to create convenient and easy-to-use products
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with marketing, manufacturing, and customers to help develop highly marketable, manufacturable, and attractive products
Product Development: Participate in new product development teams and provide focus for fireplace product aesthetics and tactile product dimensions, including trim, systems, and controls
Data Collection: Coordinate data collection for criteria related to styles, colors, and trends
Concept Generation: Integrate findings to generate design concepts
Creative Process: Work with multidisciplinary teams through the creative process
Team Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional team members, including CMF (color, material, and finishing), engineering, quality, and supply chain

22. Junior Industrial Designer Details

Concept Generation: Assist with concept generation and evaluation while collaborating with multiple departments
CAD Modeling: Produce computer models of concept design for presentation, prototyping, and production
Aesthetic Design: Be responsible for the aesthetic and ergonomic design of a new product
R&D Collaboration: Collaborate daily with research and development (R&D), engineering, and product management teams to develop new products
Safety Compliance: Ensure all safety and security rules are strictly observed, and any accidents, incidents, or injuries are promptly reported to management
Continuous Improvement: Focus on continuous improvement and consistently demonstrate good business judgment
Department Collaboration: Work effectively with all departments to exceed internal and external expectations
Material Research: Research new materials, methods, tools, and products of construction
Specification Development: Work closely with engineering and product development to create product specifications and validate prototypes

23. Industrial Designer Responsibilities

Rendering Design: Create renderings and designs driven by customer requests for presentations and marketing use
Cosmetic Innovation: Drive innovation in the cosmetic industry by creating groundbreaking products and pushing industry trends
Team Meetings: Meet with product development, marketing, sales, and the design director for briefings and reviews
Design Evaluation: Evaluate design concepts based on appearance, functionality, manufacturability, customer requests, and cost and price targets
Design Sketching: Prepare sketches, illustrations, renderings, and CAD drawings
Material Selection: Recommend appropriate materials, finishes, and colors
Team Collaboration: Collaborate with other designers and engineers on the team
Prototype Construction: Construct prototypes with optimal ergonomic design, geometry, and forms, working with the product team and engineering

24. Industrial Designer Job Summary

Mood Boards: Create mood boards, collect product requirements, and conduct initial research
Concept Sketching: Guide product development through concept sketching, form sketching, and sketch renders
CAD Modeling: Create CAD models and 3D renders to effectively communicate the concepts
Engineer Collaboration: Collaborate with engineers to realize the products with proper DFM and DFA
Prototyping: Participate in the execution of the product with multiple prototypes, testing, and iterations
Manufacturing Techniques: Use and suggest appropriate manufacturing techniques and materials for the products
System Design: Create interfacing systems for a seamless product experience
Licensing Collaboration: Work closely with licensing professionals and business managers on projects with specific licensing partners
Design Management: Work with design managers on tasks, design projects, and responsibilities

25. Industrial Designer Accountabilities

Design Skills: Bring exceptional design skills to complex innovation challenges
Team Collaboration: Work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams on varied projects
Strategy Development: Devise strategies and ideas to solve a wide range of briefs
Concept Realization: Bring ideas to life through sketching, sketch model-making, and CAD
Animation Support: Help create videos and simple animations to demonstrate concepts
Presentation Creation: Help create presentations for clients and communicate deliverables
Marketing Support: Support sales and marketing teams with designed media
Project Execution: Work with and inspire members of the product, engineering, user experience, user experience researchers, product marketing, and research teams to execute on project goals

26. Industrial Designer Functions

Team Collaboration: Collaborate and coordinate with both external consultants and fabricators and internal systems designers, architects, and engineers to develop prefabricated architectural components and systems
Design Documentation: Support the execution of design documentation of those systems through rigorously detailed models, drawings, and specifications
Information Management: Effectively manage correspondence and information flow to and from stakeholders to facilitate design progress and decision-making
System Prototyping: Plan and participate in iterative prototyping of new and improved systems
Design Visualization: Develop sketches, illustrations, and renderings of designs and their assembly processes
Presentation Preparation: Prepare presentations and executive summaries to document design versioning and gate reviews
Market Research: Conduct research into design trends, consumer segments, and market competitors
Deliverable Creation: Create presentation deliverables such as research summaries, sketches, user scenarios, product renderings, and appearance models

27. Sr Industrial Designer Job Description

Collaboration Skills: Develop and use collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals
Continuous Learning: Actively identify new areas for learning, regularly create and take advantage of learning opportunities, use newly gained knowledge and skills on the job, and learn through their application
Problem Solving: Identify and understand issues, problems, and opportunities, compare data from different sources to conclude, use effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions, and take action consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences
Innovation Skills: Generate innovative solutions in work situations and try different and novel ways to deal with work problems and opportunities
Time Management: Effectively manage time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently
Performance Standards: Set high standards of performance for self and others, assume responsibility and accountability for completing assignments or tasks, and self-impose standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed
Program Leadership: Contribute to and lead design programs from early conception through production, taking responsibility for creative output, schedule, and maintaining design integrity from start to finish
Team Representation: Represent the design team in meetings and presentations to internal stakeholders, and keep design leadership apprised of program status and issues affecting the team

28. Senior Industrial Designer Overview

Design Management: Manage daily industrial design activities to support innovation teams
User Research: Participate in front-end user research and insights activity
Brainstorm Support: Support brainstorming and strategic sessions with cross-functional teams
Concept Development: Develop new product concepts, solutions, and strategies to support the innovation pipeline across the global tools and storage business
Concept Visualization: Produce inspiring concept visuals and conceptual CAD models to bring new ideas to life
Team Connection: Connect innovation teams with other designers to strategically support the business
User-Centered Design: Drive user-centered design practices
Project Management: Ensure that project milestones and goals are met and adhere to approved budgets
Design Documentation: Create design documentation and liaise with internal and external global manufacturing partners

29. Industrial Designer Details and Accountabilities

Product Design: Create product designs of height-adjustable tables and beds from concept to series of products
Engineering Collaboration: Focus on realizable designs by being part of the engineering team
Requirement Shaping: Shape product requirements such as costs, standards, and platform strategy with product management
Design Concepts: Create design, final customer assembly, color, and material concepts
Design Visualization: Visualize designs using 3D CAD, renderings, and prototype mockups
CAD Modeling: Provide 3D CAD concepts to derive detailed designs
Framework Definition: Define design framework conditions for series development
Packaging Design: Create exceptional, high-quality product packaging to give the best first impression for new customers

30. Senior Industrial Designer Tasks

Design Leadership: Lead design activities in close cooperation with hardware and thermal engineers
Marketing Liaison: Liaise with marketing managers to understand how to fruitfully engage with customers
Trend Analysis: Continuously follow trends in product and industrial design, including new possibilities with VR and XR
Network Creation: Create networks for analyzing new product use cases, including customer aspects
Requirement Capture: Capture design requirements such as usability, safety, and appearance
Concept Development: Develop design concepts, including 3D models, renderings, and prototypes in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders
Solution Validation: Validate new solutions together with product end-users
Project Support: Support multiple projects at different levels of involvement

31. Industrial Designer Roles

Design Process: Drive the full end-to-end design process from working with clients and internal teams through initial problem definition and concept generation to detailed CAD models and CMF
Team Collaboration: Work effectively and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to design and develop world-class products at various scales, from wearables to complex medical instruments
User Research: Design and facilitate user research, client workshops, brainstorming sessions, and stakeholder interviews to establish a shared vision and elicit design requirements
Project Development: Help drive the early-stage development of new projects and client relationships
Trend Awareness: Stay up to date on the latest design trends, standards, materials, and manufacturing techniques
Supplier Relations: Help identify and foster relationships with suppliers
Team Mentorship: Mentor and coach other design team members to develop their technical expertise
Prototype Support: Support prototype development with the model shop team
Technology Evaluation: Work with engineers to evaluate new and emerging technologies and develop sketches, CAD, and prototypes for product presentation

32. Industrial Designer Additional Details

Team Collaboration: Work closely with research, design, product, and engineering teams (local and overseas) to build product experience offerings for current and new customers
Data Synthesis: Help synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights
Solution Prototyping: Conceptualize, visualize, and prototype solutions for product interaction and packaging
Design Documentation: Create detailed documentation of solutions for internal and external communication of design intent
Work Presentation: Proactively present work and design rationale to multidisciplinary teams and at executive-level reviews
Brand Language: Design within and continue to develop the visual brand language
Growth Contribution: Work with a team of seasoned designers across industrial design and user experience to contribute to new growth initiatives for the business
External Collaboration: Work with external consultants, product representatives, furniture dealers, and fabricators

33. Industrial Designer Essential Functions

User Research: Research, analyze, and recommend while demonstrating a deep understanding of the wants and needs of the global airline network and its passengers
Project Management: Manage time and deliverables of multiple projects through various phases of design, development, and delivery
Design Creation: Create and refine a wide variety of compelling designs through ideation, rapid sketching, sketch renders, CAD, V-Ray, and physical mockups
Trend Application: Understand and apply future trends in brand, design, technology, and materials
CAD Modeling: Create 3D CAD models for product visualizations, development, and prototyping
Concept Communication: Communicate concepts and ideas concisely through verbal, visual, and written mediums
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with marketing, design, and engineering leadership to translate strategic business goals into relevant product solutions
Data Review: Review new product test data and assist in establishing and implementing corrective actions to debug problems

34. Industrial Designer Role Purpose

Concept Development: Design and develop product concepts and specifications that reflect aesthetic, functional, and manufacturing requirements
User Research: Research and analyze the intended use of products and user preferences
Insight Translation: Translate user insights and market requirements into sketches, prototypes, and CAD models to visually communicate the design concept
Product Support: Support product development across product lines, ensuring the effective execution of concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value, and appearance of products and systems
Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with stakeholders including engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and suppliers, to produce final designs that meet safety, manufacturability, timeline, and cost constraints
CAD Tools: Use a variety of 3D/2D CAD rendering, prototyping, and animation tools
Supplier Communication: Conduct onsite supplier visits as a member of the industrial design team and communicate with suppliers to achieve quality standards
Part Review: Review parts for cosmetic quality throughout development to ensure they meet the standards established by the industrial design team
Assembly Review: Review fully assembled devices to assess build quality, fit and finish, and step and gap
Accessory Design: Lead the design of power adapters, accessories, and sustaining products
Process Research: Design and conduct different types of research to identify and document insights and improvement opportunities in the product assembly process for modular solutions
Innovation Development: Apply research insights and design skills to conceptualize and develop unique and innovative product and component recommendations

35. Industrial Designer General Responsibilities

Design Collaboration: Collaborate closely with cross-category design team members and product owners to deliver compelling design solutions for all bikes across the road, mountain, and active bike categories
Design Language: Unify and progress product design language across the bike line while respecting the unique needs of each product, positioning, and rider experience
Product Refinement: Edit and refine products throughout the creation, development, and production process to achieve brand and business objectives
Design Documentation: Create clear design documents and handmade prototypes that visually communicate and articulate design inspiration, concept, and intent
Stakeholder Presentation: Share and present each idea to key stakeholders for cross-functional alignment and buy-in
Feedback Implementation: Welcome feedback with a collaborative approach and implement it into design work throughout the process
Solution Innovation: Explore the needs of users and businesses and create innovative solutions
Product ID: Be responsible for product ID design, communicating with overseas teams, determining product design output, and related product definition work
Quality Coordination: Control the design quality and coordinate internal and external R&D resources to ensure the presentation of the product from concept to mass production
Product Commercialization: Be responsible for product commercialization, product introductions, videos, and packaging design, and output high-fidelity product renderings and high-quality visual design

36. Industrial Designer Key Accountabilities

Product Drawings: Create drawings for products, including graphics, material callouts, and user interface descriptions
Concept Creation: Create new product concepts through sketch, SolidWorks, and prototype
Project Communication: Communicate project needs, decisions, aesthetic direction, and other issues to vendors or other departments
Design Language: Design form and function of product categories and create a design language, including decal and color presentation that is consistent across multiple products
User Experience: Ensure the best user experience through the design of the product and the user interface
Team Collaboration: Work with a cross-functional team of developers in the product development department, as well as other departments (sales, marketing), to ensure a product that is successful with current and future customers
Aesthetic Development: Coordinate the development of external aesthetic design and usability of new products
Creative Collaboration: Collaborate with a wide range of design teams across the business to enhance creative strategies and achieve strong design solution outcomes
Design Compliance: Ensure design solutions are fit for purpose and meet cost, safety, compliance, schedule, and applicable standards
DFM/DFS: Ensure components and systems are designed for manufacturing (DFM) and designed for serviceability (DFS)
Business Contribution: Understand the key drivers of the business and contribute to the improvement of new products
Supplier Management: Manage and develop relationships with key suppliers and contractors

37. Industrial Designer Roles and Details

Product Cycle: Be responsible for the full product cycle from concept generation, design drawing, material sourcing, prototype development, product presentation, to production and market launch
CAD Design: Use CAD software to refine designs and create virtual models of products
Team Collaboration: Collaborate with licensing, merchandising, and production teams to ensure compatibility of all designs for production and sales
Prototype Evaluation: Evaluate product prototypes to determine production feasibility and costs
Market Research: Conduct product research and market analysis to identify product and material trends and create new product ideas
Competitor Analysis: Drive consumer and competitor analysis to identify new business opportunities
Aesthetic Direction: Be responsible for the aesthetic direction of the device portfolio
Trend Research: Collect user needs and research design trends
Concept Integration: Integrate user and technical requirements into compelling concepts
Design Visualization: Demonstrate designs in various stages through visualizations and models
User Testing: Test and validate devices, accessories, and packaging with users
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with product management, engineering, and marketing

38. Industrial Designer Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Design Management: Manage and run the Industrial Design development of a project from start to finish, based on a concept design and directions given by the Head of Design
Team Communication: Communicate with the product team in China, collaborating on creative solutions that ensure the design vision
Product Conceptualization: Work closely with the Head of Design to conceptualise new products
CMF Definition: Work with Senior CMF Designer to define product CMF, texture, and graphic specifications
DFM Oversight: Oversee and approve all DFM, surface classification and texturing specifications according to dept. standards
Mockup Development: Develop Industrial Design mockups
High-Quality Delivery: Deliver design at a high quality that delights consumers
Design Presentation: Communicate and present through sketches, prototypes, or models, and 2D/3D renderings, with demonstrated attention to detail
Idea Communication: Express ideas and concepts through visual and verbal communication skills by contributing to ideation as well as the proper implementation of ideas
Process Troubleshooting: Build process troubleshooting and CMF approvals that require travel to vendors (e.g., manufacturing facilities overseas, user research)
Product Research: Research, brainstorm, and head new product and product improvement plans

Relevant Information

What Does A CAD Designer Do?

What Does A Designer Do?