Graduate careers advice: you and your product design degree

raduate careers advice on career options with your degree in product design

Related jobs include:

• Aeronautical engineer
• Automotive engineer
• Clothing/textile technologist
• Costume designer
• Design engineer
• Designer, industrial products
• Designer/maker
• Exhibition designer
• Fashion designer
• Furniture designer
• Interior designer
• Production manager/planner
• Textile designer

Work experience

Relevant work experience will help you to build a portfolio and establish contacts. If an industrial designer exists in your area, enquire if you can take a placement with them during your degree. A placement might even lead to a full-time position.

Enter design competitions and take part in exhibitions. It can all be added to your portfolio and will help demonstrate your talent and special interests.

Read design journals to keep up with industry trends and new technology.

What sectors?

Opportunities exist in both the private and public sectors. Private sector work may involve manufacturing products for domestic and industrial markets. The public sector may see you designing interactive facilities like public information points or equipment used b y the emergency services.

Employers include:

• retailers;
• point of sale designers;
• car manufacturers;
• product manufacturers, both industrial and domestic.

Some product design graduates may choose to start up their own business, or work for a design-based consultancy.

Your product design CV

A design degree equips you with technical knowledge and creative design skills, along with other skills like:

• communication;
• presentation;
• problem solving;
• time management;
• entrepreneurship;
• teamwork;
• IT skills;
• spatial awareness.

Postgraduate study

A Masters in industrial or product design is an option to further your studies. Specialist course are available in subjects like product design and innovation, and product design and development management. You may choose to study in a connected area like graphic, exhibition or interior design.

Professional qualifications can be obtained from relevant bodies within the industry, or you could pursue a business-related qualification like a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) or MSc in project management.

More information can be found in our Further Study section.