Product Design Jobs
Designers in this area design a wide range of products from furniture and ceramic goods to cars and boats.
Product Designer
Product designers create designs for three-dimensional objects. The products range from household items such as kettles, hairdryers and washing machines, to industrial appliances.
The product designer works to a brief. First, they carry out research. They are concerned with the look and purpose of the product, materials, costs, technical requirements and methods of production.
Then, they produce a series of drawings that are used to create a model. If this is approved by the client or employer, the product designer produces a final working drawing for production staff to use.
Ceramics Designer
Ceramics designers create designs for pottery products.
Ceramics designers who work in industry design goods for mass production. These include table and ovenware, floor tiles and bathroom fittings. They follow a brief that includes details such as the type of ceramics required and what the product will be used for. After they have done some research, they sketch their ideas for designs. If these are approved, production begins.
Potters or designer-craftworkers produce goods on a small scale. They use traditional craft methods, such as a potter’s wheel, to produce the goods.
Furniture Designer
Furniture designers create designs for mass-produced and hand-crafted furniture products.
The furniture designer works from the client’s brief which outlines the type of furniture required, what it will be used for and who it would appeal to. Furniture designers research which designs are already in the marketplace and how well they are selling.
After their research, they make rough sketches for the client’s approval. They then make more detailed, cross-sectional drawings and models. They normally use computer-aided design (CAD).
Designer-craftworkers make one-off pieces of furniture for individual clients. They use traditional craft methods to produce the finished item.
Glass Designer
Glass designers work in three main areas: studio glass, architectural glass and stained glass.
In all forms of glass work, glass designers develop ideas and make decisions about which materials to use and how the product should be produced. They aim to design functional, reliable, cost-effective products for manufacture.
Studio glass work involves the design and production of glassware items on a small or medium scale. Traditional techniques such as blowing, casting and engraving are used.
Most stained glass designers are employed on renovation projects, or decorative design for new or existing buildings.
Architectural glass is manufactured using mass production methods. This includes the design and manufacture of products such as windows, lighting and architectural panels.