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Industrial design is a profession dedicated to creating new concepts across various aspects of human life. Emerging since the Industrial Revolution, this field is a science that defines the principles of designing products, environments, transportation, systems, and services. Today, the discipline is often referred to as product design and covers an extensive range of products. However, it is important to distinguish between the two: industrial design is a broader concept than product design.

The field of industrial design has also attracted many applicants for university admission in recent years. To enter this arena, an industrial design student must acquire various skills and gain diverse perspectives. In this article, we will first explain the concept of industrial design and answer the question, ‘What is industrial design?’.

We will then explore the history of industrial design and outline the responsibilities of an industrial designer. Subsequently, we will introduce the best universities for studying industrial design in Iran and abroad (including Canada, Germany, the USA, etc.) and discuss the career path available to an industrial designer. Therefore, if you are seeking more information about the field of industrial design and considering this path, please stay with us until the end of the article.

?What Is Industrial Design

Industrial design is a design process applied to products that are planned for mass production. Its main characteristic is that the design process is carried out completely separately from the production process. It is a creative activity that defines and determines the form of a product, its usage scenarios, and the ease of its functionality before its physical production begins. Establishing a separation between design and production is the main difference between industrial design and the design and production of handicrafts, where the act of making the product takes place at the same time as its design.

Industrial Design Example
Marc Newson’s concept car: a different approach to automobile design

Industrial design explores the function, form, and the relationship between the product, the user, and the environment. Industrial designers generally do not design engines, electrical components, or complex mechanical parts; instead, their activities may focus on usability studies, formal design issues, or ergonomics that can influence the technical aspects of a product. Industrial designers typically interact with marketing specialists to determine product features and identify the needs and expectations of users.

Explaining and describing design is often difficult for non-design professionals, such as engineers, because the concepts accepted within the design community do not always fit into words. Instead, definitions derived from a critical framework are used to analyze and create objects. One of the countless accepted definitions of industrial design, from Carnegie Mellon University, is as follows: ‘Design is a process that involves taking an existing thing and moving it to a desired state.’ This definition is applied to entirely new products that did not exist before, as well as to existing products that are redesigned for development and improvement.

Industrial design can significantly overlap with engineering design, and the boundaries between these fields may vary from country to country. In general, however, engineering design focuses on the mechanisms and technical details of products, whereas industrial design concentrates on the aesthetic features, ease of use, and user interfaces of products. Overall, in a product design process, the combination of engineers’ expertise and industrial designers’ skills complements one another and supports product development toward innovation and production.

CAID industrial design
Conceptual design is one of the most fundamental stages of industrial design

Over time, numerous definitions of industrial design have been put forth by prominent design organizations worldwide. The definition of industrial design is continuously being updated and evolved. However, the current definitions provided by the World Design Organization and the Industrial Designers Society of America are as follows:

A: Definition by the World Design Organization (WDO)

Industrial design is a strategic problem-solving process that drives innovation, fosters business success, and leads to an improved quality of life through innovative products, systems, services, and experiences. Industrial design bridges the gap between what is possible and what is not. It is an interdisciplinary profession that harnesses creativity to solve problems and create co-created solutions aimed at improving products, systems, services, experiences, or businesses. At its core, industrial design provides a more optimistic way of looking at the future by reframing problems as opportunities. This profession connects innovation, technology, research, business, and customers to deliver new value and competitive advantage across economic, social, and environmental domains.

American Industrial Design Association

B: Definition by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)

Industrial design is the professional practice of designing products, devices, objects, and services used by millions of people around the world every day. Industrial designers typically focus on the physical appearance, functionality, and manufacturability of a product, though they are often involved much more extensively throughout a development cycle. All of this ultimately extends to the overall sustainable value and experience that a product or service provides to end-users.

Every object you interact with daily at home, work, school, or in public spaces is the result of a design process. Throughout this process, countless decisions are made by an industrial designer (and their team) to improve life and communication.

Industrial designers place people at the center of the process. They gain a deep understanding of user needs through empathy and apply a practical, user-centered problem-solving approach to design products, systems, services, and experiences. Industrial designers act as key stakeholders in the world of innovation, uniquely positioned to bridge diverse professional disciplines and business interests. They value the economic, social, and environmental impact of their work and their contribution to improving quality of life.

designer industrial design

All industrial products are the outcome of a design process; however, the nature of this process can vary significantly in form and team structure. It may emphasize innate creativity or rely on calculated, research-driven decision-making. The process can be inspired by various factors such as materials and manufacturing methods, production processes, business strategies, or broader social, commercial, and aesthetic approaches.

The role of industrial designers is to create and implement design solutions that address formal, functional, ergonomic, marketing, brand development, and sales-related challenges.

History of Industrial Design

For decades prior to the emergence of industrial design as a distinct profession, technical expertise and production knowledge were in the hands of master craftsmen. They determined the form of products based on personal skill, inherited traditions, and the experience they had gained under the guidance of their mentors.

The craft guilds responsible for defining the foundations of industrial production have their roots in the pre‑industrial era. The growth of trade during the Middle Ages led to the emergence of large workshops in cities such as Florence, Venice, Nuremberg, and Nuremberg. Competitive pressures in the early sixteenth century resulted in the appearance of pattern books in Italy and Germany—collections of illustrated and engraved decorative forms and motifs that could be used to design a wide range of products before they were manufactured.

The use of drawing as a method for product design was first introduced during the Renaissance by an Italian architect and shipbuilder.

In the seventeenth century, the level of royal patronage for major architectural projects in cities such as Florence led to the expansion of large state‑run manufacturing operations in Paris. There, teams composed of hundreds of master craftsmen—including artists, decorators, and engravers—produced a wide variety of decorative products. For many years, however, the formal and artistic quality of products remained in the hands of individual craftsmen. As production volumes increased, this dynamic gradually began to change.

The emergence of industrial design is directly linked to the Industrial Revolution and the mechanization of production systems. The eighteenth‑century Industrial Revolution in England led to a significant increase in industrial manufacturing, which in turn transformed the way products were designed and how their formal characteristics were defined.

history of industrial design

Industrial design is largely a twentieth‑century phenomenon. Although the term industrial design was first used in 1839 at St. Peter’s Catholic Boys’ School in New Zealand in reference to the production of silk textile patterns, it was later adopted as a specialized technical–artistic field by the New Zealand designer Joseph Claude Sinel in 1919. Christopher Dresser is often considered the first independent industrial designer.

Another early and influential figure was the German architect Peter Behrens, who was strongly influenced by the nineteenth‑century English designer and poet William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement closely associated with him. Behrens himself went on to influence many designers and architects of the next generation, including Walter Gropius, the founder of Germany’s renowned Bauhaus school of design.

After Germany and other European countries, the United States was well positioned to develop the profession of industrial design. During World War II, industrial designers contributed by designing products that supported the war effort. Following the war, other countries also made significant progress in product design. Just before the economic recession of the early 1990s—which pushed design into a more restrained role and directed architecture toward a stronger focus on value engineering and the evaluation of service and product costs—industrial design had already been evolving rapidly.

Since then, two prominent tendencies have been evident in industrial design: one emphasizes the artistic creativity of a prominent and highly talented designer, while the other relies on collaborative teamwork among design and engineering specialists to shape the final product.

A more common approach in industrial design is for the designer to be part of a larger team responsible for creating a marketable product. The company Frog Design, founded in 1969 by Hartmut Esslinger, challenged the traditional modernist dictum that “form follows function” by promoting the idea that “form follows emotion. In the twenty‑first century, design environments increasingly present a company’s products in ways that are both aesthetically refined—worthy of a museum setting—and widely accessible. At the same time, as people gain broader access to products and objects, design has become increasingly intertwined with the integration of advanced technologies.

imac industrial design
Apple iMac: Simplicity and the Use of New Concepts in Design

The Importance of Industrial Design

Industrial design, as the point of intersection between science, industry, and art, is the process through which products intended for mass production are conceived and developed. This creative process involves defining the form and characteristics of a product before it is manufactured. In contrast, production primarily consists of repetition—often automated and process‑driven. This distinction sets industrial design apart from craft‑based design, where the form of a product is largely shaped by its maker simultaneously with its creation and function. The design process can be applied in two ways: first, to transform an initial idea into a tangible product; and second, to refine and further develop products that already exist in the market.

All products are the result of a design process, but the nature and structure of that process can take many different forms. It may be carried out by a single individual or by a team that includes specialists from multiple disciplines—for example industrial designers, mechanical and electronics engineers, marketing experts, and others. The process may rely on intuitive creativity or on carefully calculated, research‑based decision‑making, and in many cases it is a combination of both.

Design can also be influenced by various factors such as materials, manufacturing processes, business strategies, and broader social, commercial, or aesthetic perspectives. In general, industrial design can be described as an applied art that focuses on the integration of aesthetics and user‑centered considerations, while also providing solutions related to form, functionality, ergonomics, marketing, brand development, sustainability, and sales.

Industrial design examines the function and form of products, as well as the relationship between the product, the user, and the surrounding environment. In general, industrial design professionals work at a smaller scale, rather than designing large and complex systems such as buildings or ships. Industrial designers typically do not design the engines, electrical circuits, or gears that make machines operate. Instead, through design, they focus on usability and on creating effective relationships between different mechanisms to achieve the intended performance. They usually collaborate with other specialists—such as mechanical and electrical engineers—to ensure functionality and manufacturability, and they work with marketing professionals to identify and meet customer needs and expectations.

simut sketching

Industrial design can overlap significantly with engineering design, and the boundaries between these two fields may vary across different countries. In general, however, engineering primarily focuses on the functionality and application of products, while industrial design concentrates on their aesthetic qualities and user interface. In this sense, industrial design overlaps with industrial engineering mainly in the area of ergonomics.

Industrial design is a strategic problem‑solving process that drives innovation and business success, ultimately leading to higher‑quality products, systems, services, and innovative user experiences.

*Industrial design bridges the gap between what exists and what could be*

Designers reframe problems as opportunities and offer a more optimistic way of looking toward the future—one that connects innovation, technology, research, business, and customers to create new value and competitive advantage across economic, social, and environmental domains. They place people at the center of the process, gaining deep insight into user needs through empathy and applying practical, user‑centered solutions. Within the innovation process, products, systems, services, and experiences act as strategic assets, uniquely positioned to bridge different professional disciplines and business interests. The positive economic, social, and environmental impact of this work—and its contribution to improving quality of life—is considered a central objective of the process.

Although the design process is often considered “creative,” it also involves many analytical activities. In practice, industrial designers frequently employ a range of analytical methods as part of their creative workflow. Commonly used processes include user‑centered research, detailed design and analysis, formal structure analysis, model making, prototyping, testing, and gathering feedback. These processes are typically defined and carried out by industrial designers or other members of the development team.

Designers often use 3D software to translate their concepts into forms suitable for manufacturing. They may also build an initial prototype, evaluate and test it, and then refine the design to address identified issues. The entire design process is iterative—consisting of cycles of ideation, design, testing, and redesign. Through these feedback loops, the product is evaluated in real‑world conditions, and the insights gained lead to improvements and refinements. As a result, the production process itself may also be adjusted to enhance the final product.

Product characteristics defined by industrial designers may include the overall form of the product, the details and their relationships to one another, color, texture, shape, and aspects related to product use. In addition, they may determine elements related to the manufacturing process, material selection, and how the product will be presented to consumers at the point of sale. Involving industrial designers in the product development process can create added value for a brand by improving usability, reducing production costs, and enabling the development of more appealing products.

bottle design

Industrial design may also focus on technical concepts, products, and processes. Beyond aesthetics, usability, and ergonomics, it can encompass engineering considerations, functionality, market positioning, and other aspects such as user psychology, desire, and emotional attachment. These values and associated dimensions that form the foundation of industrial design may vary across different schools of thought and among professional designers.

Further Reading: What Is Product Design and What Are Its Applications?

Every product has certain requirements, and its users have needs that must be addressed. To meet these requirements, an industrial designer becomes involved in the process. Industrial designers develop products based on the specific needs of both the customer and the manufacturer, providing clear and concise recommendations through drawings, models, and explanatory documentation.

They often work within multidisciplinary teams that include professionals from management, marketing, engineering, and manufacturing, collaborating with these departments throughout the product design and development process.

The market is saturated with similar products, and the only factor that truly differentiates one brand from another is design. While products typically serve a specific function, at a higher level they can also convey a deeper meaning. The role of product design is to communicate this meaning effectively to the consumer. Brands that aim to succeed must listen carefully to consumers’ needs and desires and respond with creative design solutions that resonate with them.

Industrial Design and Engineering Design

The integrated collaboration of engineering design and industrial design is essential for bringing successful products to market. However, it is clear that engineering design and industrial design follow different design methods, and in some respects their approaches can even be at odds with one another. The role of industrial designers involves improving the user’s experience of a product and developing its form and user interface. They apply their knowledge and skills in aesthetics and ergonomics to achieve these goals.

Art and applied science standards

In collaboration with industrial designers, engineering designers are responsible for implementing the design concept developed by the industrial design team. They provide the technical foundation that ensures functionality, reliability, and manufacturability of the product.

It is often argued that engineering designers adopt an “inside‑out approach,” developing the product from function to form (focusing on the design of internal components), whereas industrial designers follow an “outside‑in approach,” shaping the product from form to function (focusing on the external design and user-facing aspects).

industrial design and engineering design

Industrial Design and Product Design

Design is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of disciplines. Each type of design pursues a distinct objective and requires a specific set of skills. For example, industrial design and product design are both related to product development, yet they differ from one another.

Industrial design refers to the development of products and the improvement of their functionality, constraints, and aesthetics, with a focus on achieving mass production. This process draws on principles used in product design and applies them to create systems and processes suitable for producing products at a larger scale. It may involve evaluating the purpose or existing need of a product and exploring ways to improve its appearance and aesthetic performance. Industrial designers are both contemporary engineers and artists, drawing inspiration from each to create products that are cost‑effective, aesthetically appealing, and attractive to everyday consumers.      

what is industrial design

Product design, which is often a component of the industrial design process, focuses specifically on the development of products. This process emphasizes the reasons behind creating a product and identifying its target audience. Product design is a comprehensive process that follows a product from initial ideas and conceptual development through research and rendering, ultimately concluding with prototyping. It is less concerned with how something is manufactured and more focused on why it is created and for whom. Below are some of the key differences between industrial design and product design from three perspectives: objectives, output, and technical considerations.

Purpose: Both industrial design and product design are concerned with creating and refining products. However, product design focuses more on developing products to provide a specific solution. In contrast, industrial design involves implementing these potential product solutions within manufacturing processes and delivering them to end users. In this sense, the conceptual and developmental work involved in product design often makes it a component of the broader industrial design process.

Product: Industrial design often focuses on the mass production of specialized products such as automobiles or computers. In contrast, product design encompasses everything related to a product and more often concentrates on the development of everyday products. However, product design continues to evolve, and today it also includes the design of software and other non‑physical products.

Technical Knowledge: It is important for both industrial designers and product designers to understand the overall product development process. However, in some areas of product design, designers may not possess the same level of technical specialization that industrial designers have in fields such as 3D modeling or materials and manufacturing. Conversely, industrial designers are expected to have a solid understanding of engineering principles, production processes, and business models. Despite these differences, many design processes and tools are shared across design disciplines, and there are significant overlaps in their methods and approaches.

industrial design product design

Key Approaches in Industrial Design

1. Inclusive Design

Inclusive design is a design methodology and philosophy centered on meaningfully including diverse individuals in their interaction with organizations, products, and services. This approach considers cultural, social, and other contextual needs that extend beyond those of the “average” or “typical” user.

inclusive design

Inclusive design does not imply designing a single product that can meet the needs of the entire population. Rather, it represents an appropriate design response to diversity within the population through the following approaches:

  • creating a family of products and their derivatives to provide the broadest possible coverage of the population’s needs.
  • ensuring that each product has clearly defined target users.
  • reducing the level of ability required to use each product in order to improve the user experience for a wide range of customers in different situations.
Comprehensive design
The Pyramid Model of Diversity can be used to illustrate how the goal of inclusive design is to expand the target market by including, as much as possible, people with lower levels of ability. At the same time, it acknowledges that meeting the needs of those at the top of the pyramid may require more specialized solutions

2. Universal Design

Universal design is the process of creating products that are accessible to people with a wide range of abilities, disabilities, and other characteristics. Typically, products are designed to be most suitable for the “typical” user. In contrast, products developed according to universal design principles are created to be usable by as many people as possible.

principles of universal design

3. Sustainable Design

According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainability is “a form of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainable design shares this broader perspective, recognizing that the choices we make affect not only the present but also the future. Effective sustainable design takes a comprehensive approach to selecting and integrating products and processes that ensure long-term consumer satisfaction while protecting the environment. It focuses primarily on minimizing negative environmental impacts and improving the overall performance of buildings and products. The main goal is to reduce the consumption of non‑renewable resources, minimize waste, and create functional and productive environments.

Sustainable industrial design

4. Green Design

Green design refers to the creation of energy‑efficient infrastructures that are resilient and designed for long-term use. Its primary goal is to minimize impacts on the environment and surrounding ecosystems. Developing a green design requires careful consideration in material selection and performance, while avoiding the depletion of natural resources.

Green design can be distinguished from sustainable design because of its relatively short‑term approach to environmental protection. The green design process is optimized to minimize negative impacts while reducing the consumption of resources available in the natural environment. In contrast, sustainable design is more oriented toward building a better future for coming generations. Sustainable design can make buildings more appealing and visually striking while also improving the quality of indoor environments. In addition, green design helps minimize environmental impacts through the conservation of materials and resources.

green design

5. Emotional Design

Emotional design is a design approach focused on creating products that evoke positive experiences for users. UX/UI designers apply this approach to craft creative interfaces that trigger positive emotional responses and foster meaningful user engagement.

emotional design

6. Critical Design

Critical design is a conceptual, thought‑provoking, and often provocative approach that may incorporate dark or satirical elements. It does not always result in commercially viable or fully functional products; rather, it encourages long‑term thinking, presents alternative perspectives on consumers as complex and sometimes contradictory individuals, and proposes speculative solutions that demonstrate change is always possible.

critical design

Industrial Design as an Academic Discipline

Although industrial design is generally classified as an art-related field of study, many of its students come from other academic backgrounds, particularly mathematics and natural sciences. Unlike most art disciplines, industrial design requires a solid understanding of physics and mathematics.

On the other hand, students entering the field from art schools should keep in mind that the primary goal of industrial design is to create a functional product rather than a purely artistic work. Industrial design students spend a significant portion of their time—especially in the early semesters—conducting research and gathering information. This knowledge later helps them develop more effective designs and better understand the needs of both users and manufacturers during their projects. At the same time, the term “student” literally implies a seeker of knowledge.

Industrial design students are therefore expected not only to learn within the university but also to actively pursue new knowledge and experiences in their free time. To begin with, reading industrial design books, learning how to use 3D design software, and developing sketching skills are strongly recommended for students in this field.

Industrial design field

History of Industrial Design as a Discipline

Industrial design is a phenomenon of the twentieth century. One of the earliest industrial designers is considered to be the German architect Peter Behrens. He was strongly influenced by the nineteenth‑century English designer and poet William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement, with which Morris was closely associated.

The Bauhaus School, which laid the foundation for modern industrial design, was a German art school that operated from 1919 to 1933 and was founded by Walter Gropius. The word Bauhaus literally translates to “house of building” (or “building house”). Although the school’s founder was an architect, the Bauhaus placed a strong emphasis on design, integrating art, craft, and industry into a unified approach.

After the Nazi regime forced the school to close, many Bauhaus teachers and artists emigrated to other countries, including the United States. During the 1930s, they influenced design education at universities such as Harvard and Columbia and established the New Bauhaus in Chicago.

bauhaus school

Although Germany is often cited as a leader in the development of industrial design, the United States also played a significant role. Despite its share of social unrest, the country was relatively more stable. During the war years, it gained a strong reputation for its large‑scale industrial production.

Thus, the United States was well positioned at that time for the development of the industrial design profession. In fact, the United States Patent Office officially recognized the term industrial designer in 1913, and organizations were established to bring together professionals in the visual and applied arts. For example, the American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen (AUDAC) (1927), the American Designers Institute (1938), and the Society of Industrial Designers (1944) eventually merged to form the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).

Industrial Design Bachelor’s Degree in Iran

The aim of the Bachelor’s program in Industrial Design in Iran is to prepare designers who can work in various fields needed by society and contribute to achieving industrial independence in the country. Applicants must first take the national university entrance exam (Konkur) and then pass a practical exam. However, some universities in Iran also admit students based solely on their academic records. At the master’s level in Industrial Design, greater emphasis is placed on specialized theoretical studies. These include topics such as economic and social issues, industrial sociology, emerging technologies, and contemporary methods of industrial design.  

The total number of credits required for a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design is 135 credits. These credits are divided into general education courses and specialized courses. General courses are shared with other academic disciplines. The specialized courses in industrial design include practical studios, theoretical subjects, and final design projects, the titles of which are listed below.

Industrial Design Curriculum (Syllabus)

  • General Courses (20 Credits): These include Islamic Studies, Physical Education, Persian Language, English Language, and Art History.
  • Foundation Courses (42 Credits): These include Visual Arts Fundamentals, Basic Design Studio, Basic Photography, Sculpture, Modeling, Form and Space, Geometry, Human Factors Engineering (Ergonomics), Applied Mathematics, and Statics.
  • Core Courses (36 Credits): Physics (Kinematics), Physics (Electricity and Light), Industrial Technical Drawing, History of Industrial Design, Human Factors Engineering (Ergonomics), Evaluation of Industrial Products, Object Design in Islamic Civilization, Economics and Management of Industrial Production, Materials and Manufacturing Processes (Wood, Metal, Plastics), Industrial Sociology, Computer‑Aided Design (CAD), Technical Design (Fundamentals), Technical Design (Machine Elements), Technical Design (Hydraulic and Pneumatic Control Systems), and Research Methods.
  • Specialized Courses (37 Credits): Fundamentals of Industrial Design, General Internship, Specialized Internship, Industrial Design Project: Design Process, Industrial Design Project: Packaging, Industrial Design Project: Human Factors Engineering, Industrial Design Project: Rapid Sketching, Industrial Design Project: Environment, Industrial Design Project: Present and Future, Industrial Design Project: Furniture Design, Industrial Design Project: Bionics, Industrial Design Project: Industry Collaboration, and Final Project (Thesis).

Top Universities for Industrial Design in Iran (Undergraduate Level)

Top Universities for Industrial Design in Iran (Undergraduate Level)

If you intend to choose Industrial Design as your field of study, it is better to become familiar with the top universities offering Industrial Design programs in Iran. In the list below, the leading Iranian universities that offer Industrial Design are presented in order:

  1. University of Tehran (Faculty of Fine Arts)
  2. Tehran University of Art
  3. Alzahra University
  4. Iran University of Science and Technology
  5. Tabriz Islamic Art University
  6. University of Isfahan
university of tehran
The Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran is one of the best institutions in Iran for studying Industrial Design.
university of art
Tehran University of Art is one of the best universities in Iran for studying Industrial Design

Top Universities for Industrial Design in Iran (Master’s Degree)

  • University of Tehran (Faculty of Fine Arts)
  • Tehran University of Art

Top Universities for Industrial Design Outside Iran

  • Parsons School of Design, New York, United States
parsons school of design
  • OCAD University, Ontario, Canada
ocad university
  • Polytechnic di Milano, Milan, Italy
politecnico di milano italy
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (USA)
virginia polytechnic insitute and state university usa
  • University of the Arts London, United Kingdom
university of arts london
  • Royal College of Art, London, United Kingdom
royal collage of art london

Major Specializations in Industrial Design

Industrial design is a broad field that you can choose as your main path. However, to continue along this path, you need to select one or more primary specializations and focus your activities within those areas. Industrial designers gain general knowledge across all of these specializations, but to become truly professional, they must explore their chosen field more deeply. Below are several of the main specializations within the field of industrial design:

  1.  Product Design

Product design is the largest subset of industrial design, and therefore it is not considered a specialization in the strict sense. The skill set required for this field is broadly covered by any advanced industrial design curriculum you may enroll in. As an undergraduate, taking courses in design, art history, and drawing will provide an excellent foundation for your continued studies. Additionally, if you can find part‑time work or a summer internship at a design studio, you will place yourself far ahead of the competition. (You can explore this field in full detail in the Product Design article).

Alexandrite laser device design medical and beauty equipment

2. Car Design

Car design is the process of developing the appearance (and to some extent the ergonomics) of motor vehicles—including automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, buses, pickup trucks, and more. The functional design and development of a modern motor vehicle is usually carried out by a large team from many different disciplines, which are also part of automotive engineering. Within this context, automotive design primarily focuses on the visual appearance or aesthetics of vehicles, while also contributing to the creation of product concepts. As a professional practice, automotive design is carried out by designers who often have an artistic background and hold degrees in industrial design or transportation design.

Transportation designers are commercial and industrial design professionals who create designs for vehicles and transportation‑related products. Many of them develop deeper expertise through working for a specific company or organization and focus on particular segments of the field. These areas may include concept car design, public transportation, aircraft interiors, or other transportation systems. These specialists must have a strong background in design as well as considerable knowledge of computer software used for design.

A transportation designer typically works in an office environment where they have access to computers and computer‑aided design (CAD) programs. They may also spend time in meeting rooms, brainstorming design ideas with colleagues or discussing client requirements. Most transportation designers work for large companies or organizations. The manufacturing industry accounts for about 30 percent of transportation design jobs and is the largest employer of these professionals.

car design

3.  Packaging Design

Packaging design is the integration of form, structure, materials, color, imagery, typography, and regulatory information with complementary design elements to create a product suitable for marketing. Put more simply, your packaging is a key component of your marketing strategy. Packaging design encompasses not only graphics, but also the physical container of the product that the consumer purchases. A packaging designer guides the design process from start to finish. Using design elements such as shape, color, graphics, and typography, they develop prototypes, refine the design, and execute it to create packaging that is both functional and appealing to customers.

In most cases, the following responsibilities can be expected from a packaging designer:

  • Lead the design process for product packaging materials, including brainstorming, designing, and creating prototypes.
  • Work closely with clients to understand their needs and requirements.
  • Evaluate market trends and packaging design trends.
  • Collaborate with marketing and creative teams, especially graphic designers, to create eye‑catching designs.
  • Present ideas to clients and stakeholders using sketches and design software to help ensure the brand’s success.
  • Redesign prototypes based on feedback from clients, engineers, and consumers.
packaging design

4. Service Design

Most organizations are structured around products and delivery channels. A large portion of organizational resources—time, budget, and logistics—is devoted to customer-facing outputs, while internal processes (including the employee experience) are often overlooked. Service design focuses on these internal processes. Service design is a process in which designers create sustainable solutions and optimized experiences both for customers in specific contexts and for the service providers involved. Designers break services down into components and develop tailored solutions that align with users’ needs in a given context—based on people, location, and other influencing factors.

In the service design process, you use a deep understanding of the business and its customers to ensure that all service touchpoints function seamlessly and, most importantly, that the organization can consistently deliver an excellent service experience. It is not only about designing customer interactions; you must also design the entire ecosystem that surrounds those interactions.

Imagine a restaurant with many staff members: a host, waiters, chefs, and others. Service design focuses on how the restaurant operates and delivers the meals it promises—from sourcing and receiving ingredients to training new chefs, and from the communication between waiters and chefs about a customer’s allergy to the preparation of the food itself. Every moving part plays a role in the meal that ultimately reaches the diner’s table, even if it is not directly part of the customer’s visible experience.

Service design

The three main components of service design are:

  1. People: This component includes anyone who creates or uses the service, as well as individuals who may be indirectly affected by it.
  2. Props: This component refers to the physical or digital artifacts (including products) required for the successful delivery of the service.
  3. Physical environment: shop windows, service counters, conference rooms.
  4. Digital environment: websites, blogs, and social media platforms.
  5. Processes: These include any workflows and procedures carried out by employees or users during a service, such as withdrawing money from an ATM, resolving an issue through customer support, interviewing a new employee, or sharing a file.

Returning to the restaurant example, people include the farmers who grow the produce, restaurant managers, chefs, hosts, and waiters. Props include the kitchen, ingredients, uniforms, and similar items. Processes include staff onboarding, waiters entering orders, cleaning dishes, and storing food.

5. UI/UX Design

UI stands for User Interface. The user interface is the graphical layout of an application (whether a website, mobile app, or other digital product). It includes the buttons users click, the text they read, images, sliders, text input fields, and any other elements users interact with. It also encompasses page layouts, transitions between screens, and interface animations. Every visual element, interaction, and animation must be intentionally designed.  

UX stands for User Experience. It focuses on the user—or more precisely, the human experience. This field involves analyzing users’ intentions when interacting with a product: what they should feel, what they need to understand, and ultimately what action they should take.

ui ux design

In most cases, this stage comes first, followed by visual design. User experience design (UX) is the process design teams use to create products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences for users. It involves designing the entire process of acquiring and integrating the product, including aspects such as branding, design, usability, and functionality.

Don Norman describes UX as follows: “User experience encompasses all aspects of the end-user’s interaction with the company, its services, and its products.”

6. Tool Design

Tool design is a specialized field within manufacturing engineering that involves the analysis, planning, design, production, and use of tools, methods, and processes required to improve manufacturing efficiency. The design of a tool depends on the function it is intended to perform. Factors such as the tool’s function, safety considerations, materials, size, and the type of machine for which the tool is designed all have a significant influence on tool design.

Tool design in industrial design

7. Toy Design

Toy design involves a unique set of considerations that distinguish it from other products and consumer goods. Children perceive the world differently from adults and respond to an entirely different set of standards regarding the features, forms, and functions of the toys they use for play. Considering play itself is perhaps the most defining difference in the way a toy designer thinks. At the undergraduate level, you can prepare for a career in toy design by taking courses in sculpture, ceramics, painting, and drawing.

toy design

8. Medical Equipment Design

Medical device design is the process of designing devices intended for medical purposes. In general, several key stages take place throughout the medical device design process. Because medical devices directly affect patients’ health and well-being, their design and development always involve a certain level of risk. There are far more parameters involved in the design and development of medical devices than simply forming an idea, building it, and mass-producing it. It is a complex process filled with regulatory considerations, specifications, application requirements, and user needs that must be carefully addressed in order to produce a safe, reliable, and effective product that can succeed in the market.

medical design

Required Skill Set in Industrial Design

To become a good industrial designer, you need to develop and strengthen the following skills:

  • Design and Sketching:

Sketching is a distinct form of drawing that designers use to propose, explore, refine, and communicate ideas. As a designer, you can use sketching as your first line of attack when addressing a design problem. Sketches are easy, fast, inexpensive, and repeatable, and they can be discarded with little effort when necessary. Unlike written or verbal communication, sketches set aside the rules of grammar and help convey ideas clearly.

sketching in industrial design
  • 3D Modeling:

3D modeling is the creation of a simulated three-dimensional object within software. The object can range from simple shapes to complex polygonal models. 3D modeling enables efficient and time-saving prototyping. In product design, it allows early prototypes of items to be created quickly and without additional costs. For example, 3D designers can easily optimize a 3D model for 3D printing and instantly send it to a manufacturer.

modeling in industrial design
  • 3D Rendering:

Product 3D Rendering, also known as product visualization, is the process of generating photorealistic or non-photorealistic images from three-dimensional models created using specialized software. The resulting output is called a 3D render. The primary advantage of 3D rendering is that it enables stakeholders to visualize a product long before it physically exists. A product can be explored in multiple color variations, from different angles, in any number or type of environments, either individually or alongside other objects.

It can be presented in front, side, and top views, as well as in close-up and sectional perspectives. Through this capability, marketers can obtain promotional materials at earlier stages, manufacturers can clearly assess the final appearance of the product, and brands can effectively test the market through pre-sales strategies.

rendering
  • User Research:

Design research is a broad term for the process designers use to better understand the desires, needs, and underlying—sometimes hidden—challenges of end users, who are also known as the target audience

Industrial design field
  • Visual Storytelling (Storyboarding):

Storyboards are an excellent tool for ideation. They illustrate the user journey and help designers bring together personas, user narratives, and various research findings in order to develop product requirements.

user research
  • Rapid Prototyping and Testing:

Using product prototypes is a critical element in the design process of any product. Prototypes provide early market feedback on whether a product has the potential to lead a segment of the market, offer initial insights into necessary design changes, and help teams minimize risk at every stage of the product development lifecycle.

prototype in industrial design
  • Color, Materials, and Finishing (CMF):

Whether a product is intended for consumers or industrial users, the way it looks, feels, and behaves significantly influences both its functional value and its perceived value. In product development, these attributes are collectively referred to as Color, Material, and Finish (CMF).

Skills Materials Color
  • Fundamental Engineering and Manufacturing (Manufacturing Methods):

Designers sometimes engineer products in ways that make them easier to manufacture. Design for Manufacturing (DfM) exists across nearly all engineering disciplines, but its principles vary significantly depending on the manufacturing technologies involved. There are numerous manufacturing methods, including casting and molding, machining, plastic injection molding, cutting and forming processes, sheet metal fabrication, and others.

Construction methods
  • Familiarity with Manufacturing Processes:

Industrial processes are operations that involve chemical, physical, electrical, or mechanical steps used to produce goods, typically at a large scale. Manufacturing processes are designed to deliver the required quantity of products with the desired quality, at the right time, and at minimum cost. Familiarity with these processes helps designers develop products that are appropriate, feasible, and efficient to manufacture.

Production processes
  • Marketing and Branding:

Marketing is the process used to establish a connection between customers and a company. It encompasses a wide range of activities—such as advertising, sales, market exploration, and developing products based on demand—all of which contribute to a company’s profitability. Marketing promotes a product or service and communicates its message to the target audience, and it can be implemented through various strategies and channels. A brand ensures customer loyalty, while marketing motivates customers to purchase a product or service. Branding is used to create, communicate, and deliver the promise made by a brand, and it represents a long-term commitment.

marketing and branding
  • Design Process:

The design process is grounded in design thinking—a methodology that offers a solution-oriented approach to problem-solving. It is particularly useful when addressing complex issues that are poorly defined or not yet fully understood. Design thinking emphasizes understanding human needs, reframing problems in human-centered ways, generating multiple ideas through brainstorming, and adopting a hands-on approach to prototyping and testing. Learning about the five stages of design thinking empowers you to apply this methodology in your work and to tackle complex challenges that arise within organizations, across countries, and around the world.

Design thinking is a non‑linear and iterative process that, depending on the source, may include anywhere from three to seven stages. The five‑stage model of design thinking proposed by the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford (D.school) is internationally recognized for the way it teaches and applies design thinking.

design thinking 1

The five stages of design thinking are:

  • Empathize: Research your user’s needs.
  • Define: Clearly articulate your user’s needs and problems.
  • Ideate: Challenge assumptions and generate ideas.
  • Prototype: Start creating solutions.
  • Test: Try out your solutions.

There are various models of the design process, among which the most well‑known is the Double Diamond method. The Double Diamond is a visual representation of the design and innovation process. It provides a simple way to describe the stages involved in any design and innovation project, regardless of the methods and tools used.

design thinking

Conceptual Design

Conceptual Design is a phase of the product design process in which multiple design concepts are generated. These concepts are developed by comparing the specifications and characteristics of the product with the problem that the design aims to solve. Each design concept addresses the product’s requirements with different levels of performance, and the conceptual design stage focuses on creating a coherent design based on an understanding of the importance of each product need.

Conceptual Design is more than just diagrams and flowcharts. It involves developing a deep understanding of needs, creating and visualizing ideas, and then comparing these different ideas to meet the product’s requirements and determine which concept best satisfies them.

conceptual design

The conceptual design approach can be defined in four stages: Define, Research, Verbal Ideation, and Visual Ideation. It is important to note that these stages do not necessarily have to be completed in a specific order. For example, many designers begin sketching without having a fully formed idea in mind. How a person generates and expresses ideas is highly personal and depends on whatever helps stimulate their thinking.

Case Study

In this section, we examine several case studies from each of the industrial design fields introduced in this article.

A: Product Design – Neater Feeder at Spark

The challenge was to develop pet feeding systems that contain spills, reduce property damage, and allow pet owners to easily clean the feeding system in just a few steps. Another benefit of such systems is the significant savings in time and cost for pet owners, who would otherwise spend considerable effort on routine cleaning and maintenance. Another challenge was enabling the bowls to be raised to an appropriate height based on the size and breed of the animal.

  • Research: Several examples of pet feeders available on the market were examined. Existing trays for pet food bowls allow food and water to spill onto the tray and splash onto surrounding surfaces. Food that falls onto the tray quickly mixes with spilled water, creating an unhygienic and messy condition.
spark neater feeder
  • Preliminary Sketches: The initial idea was to create a feeder with protective walls around the food and water bowls, incorporating a potential filtration system to separate spilled water.
spark sketching

Once an idea evolves into a concept, the designs are refined in preparation for prototyping. Conceptual design refers to both stages in the product development cycle during which multiple product ideas are formalized for presentation and evaluation. It also refers to the finalized concept that is approved by the client for engineering development, documentation, and mass production. The designers generated validated ideas that were later consolidated into a single solution through the active participation of our satisfied clients.

  • Testing and Prototyping: The design process and methodology in this project focus on user research and rapid prototyping. The industrial design team uses various computer tools and experienced designers to transform hand‑drawn sketches on paper into more tangible ideas through the creation of three‑dimensional models. At Spark, filament‑based 3D printers are used for modeling, early prototyping, and physical evaluation of products and ideas. Testing and creating full‑scale (1:1) prototypes is essential. Prototyping ensures that measurements and functions work properly and allows modifications to be made when necessary. One of the most important benefits of 3D printing is the ability to physically handle and test ideas, enabling users to gain a more realistic understanding of the product.
spark design
  • Concept Development: Concept development is the process of generating ideas that lead to solutions for the defined problems through the refinement and advancement of design proposals. At Spark Studio, concept development is an iterative process that involves generating ideas, evaluating them, refining them through feedback cycles, designing concept models, testing functional prototypes, and assessing the designs for performance, usability, compliance with industry standards, manufacturability, and ultimately market acceptance.
  • Industrial Design Section: The scope of industrial design may include one or all of the following: visual design, primary modeling geometry, two‑dimensional drawings, product renderings, product models, and prototypes.
spark design 1
  • Final Product: The Neater Feeder is a unique pet feeding product. It features protective walls that surround the food and water bowls, along with a unique filtration system that separates spilled food from spilled water. The spilled food is captured by the filter, allowing it to remain clean and dry. As a result, it can either be safely reused or easily discarded. Spilled water flows down a sloped surface and through a filter into a lower reservoir, where it is safely stored away from the floor, preventing hazardous, slippery conditions and damaging stains.
spark design 2

B: Design of a Raman (Laser Spectroscopy) Device at Ekas Design Studio

Laser spectroscopy devices are used to determine the constituent elements of samples at the molecular level. This process is performed optically using a laser. The procedure works as follows: the sample is placed inside the device and, in complete darkness, is exposed to laser light. The spectra produced from the interaction are measured and then displayed in the software.

The design of this product’s body was carried out with the goal of introducing it to both domestic and international markets, and therefore it needed to present a high level of visual and functional quality. The components were also designed so that they could be manufactured easily and at a reasonable cost. All of these considerations were incorporated into the final design. In addition, the product features elements such as harmony of form and color with the surrounding environment, improved device performance, lower weight compared to existing products on the market, easy access to different parts of the device, and a distinctive and aesthetically appealing appearance.

Another notable feature of the design is a new and creative mechanism for opening the main door. In addition to maintaining a light‑sealed interior space, this mechanism prevents the door from occupying extra space when open, as the doors slide inward on rails.

ekas studio design

Product Design Challenges

  • Competitiveness with foreign products
  • Low weight (portable by two people)
  • Ensuring complete darkness within the optical components area
  • Opening and closing of the device door for access to the interior space
  • Compatibility with optical components available on the market
  • Aesthetic appearance distinct from existing products on the market

Features of the Proposed Design

  • Distinctive and aesthetically appealing appearance
  • Combined use of metal and plastic
  • Use of a new mechanism for the device’s main doors
  • Full accessibility to all parts of the device
  • Easy access to different parts of the microscope
  • Maximizing simplicity in assembly
  • Use of lightweight materials to minimize the device’s weight

C: Service Design for Property Management, Leasing, and Ownership at Beaker & Flint

  • Main Challenge: For more than fifteen years, Kolmeo had paved the way for creating standard software for the real estate industry, but eventually ran into difficulties. While the company had strong teams in sales and customer service, its development team was relatively weak. As a result, their product no longer seemed to meet contemporary needs. Kolmeo partnered with Beaker & Flint to create a product that would enable people to love renting, owning, and managing property.
  • What Beaker & Flint Did: Product strategy, product management, rapid project delivery, experience design, customer research, journey mapping, ideation, early prototyping, and concept validation.
  • Design Process: Using its product management framework, the Beaker & Flint team helped Kolmeo transform into a more customer‑centric organization.
service design 1
  • The team worked closely with Kolmeo’s existing user base and staff to generate insights into their behaviors and needs.
  • The team translated the research into actionable insights and built a business case for a new approach to service delivery centered on a mobile‑optimized experience.
  • Within a few months, the company developed a prototype of a new tool.
  • The company used this prototype to rebuild confidence and trust among the organization, its board, and its customers.

Outcome: The service designers on the team built a body of knowledge through customer research focused on user needs. Through this approach, a completely new and highly popular product was created for Kolmeo’s three‑sided market. The process helped rebuild trust between the organization, its board, and its users. Ultimately, the structures, teams, and roadmaps were aligned to bring the new product successfully to market.

Some of the software used by industrial designers

1. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe Inc. for Windows and macOS. Photoshop is where designers and editors crop images, adjust compositions, correct lighting, and present almost any subject in the best possible way. It is particularly strong in texture work and lighting adjustments. The software includes many tools that enable designers to work on three‑dimensional visual tasks. However, its limitations include a lack of advanced modeling tools and relatively slow rendering.

photoshop

2. Rhinoceros (Rhino)

Rhinoceros (commonly abbreviated as Rhino or Rhino3D) is a commercial 3D computer graphics and computer‑aided design (CAD) software application. Rhino is used for computer‑aided design (CAD), computer‑aided manufacturing (CAM), rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and reverse engineering across industries such as architecture, industrial design (e.g., automotive and ship design), and product design (for example, jewelry design).

rhinoceros

3. SolidWorks (3D CAD)

SolidWorks is a computer‑aided design (CAD) and computer‑aided engineering (CAE) software application. It is used to develop complex industrial systems from start to finish. In the early stages, the software supports planning, visual ideation, modeling, feasibility evaluation, prototyping, and project management. It is then used for the design and development of mechanical, electrical, and software components. SolidWorks is also particularly well‑suited for modeling injection‑molded plastic products and sheet metal parts, thanks to its comprehensive features and specialized tools.

solidworks

4. Autodesk Inventor

Inventor is a computer‑aided design application for 3D mechanical design, simulation, and visualization developed by Autodesk. The software allows users to integrate 2D and 3D data within a single environment and create a virtual representation of the final product, enabling them to verify the form, fit, and function of the product before it is manufactured.

autodesk inventor

5- Blender

Blender is a free and open‑source 3D computer graphics software suite used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D‑printable models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, virtual reality content, rendering, and more.

blender

6. 3ds Max

Autodesk 3ds Max, formerly known as 3D Studio and 3D Studio Max, is a professional 3D computer graphics program used for creating animations, models, games, and rendered images.

7. KeyShot

KeyShot is software used for creating 3D renderings, animations, and interactive visuals. With a CPU‑based architecture, it can produce photorealistic renders on both Mac and PC—even on laptops—without requiring high‑end graphics cards.

keyshot

Industrial Design Rights

Industrial design rights are a category of intellectual property rights that specifically protect the visual and aesthetic aspects of products—features that are not purely functional. Within this framework, a design patent (or registered industrial design) also falls under the same category. An industrial design may consist of the creation of a shape, configuration, composition of lines, patterns, or colors, or a combination of these elements in a three-dimensional form with aesthetic value. Such a design may be expressed as a two‑dimensional or three‑dimensional pattern applied to products, industrial equipment, or handcrafted items.

Under an important international agreement concerning the international deposit of industrial designs, an official system exists for the international registration of industrial designs. Applicants can file and document their designs in member countries. Once registered, these designs are protected by all members of the agreement.

eames industrial design
Eames wooden chair: innovative uses of wood

?What is the career path of industrial designers like

Industrial designers typically have three main career paths to choose from for their professional future. These positions may be temporary, and individuals may change their path due to experience, financial considerations, or available opportunities. Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you can select one based on how well it aligns with your lifestyle and personality type.

A: Join a company as a designer

Many industrial designers spend their entire professional careers working for companies in salaried positions. Many of them begin working after graduation at some of the world’s most successful companies such as Microsoft, Nike, and Sony, or at design firms such as IDEO or Whipsaw. According to recent reports, most salaried industrial designers work in manufacturing or in professional, technical, or scientific services.

– The advantages of being a salaried employee in a company, whether an established firm or a startup, include:

  • You will have reliable pay and benefits with defined working hours.
  • You will have the opportunity to climb the career ladder and advance to positions such as manager, senior executive, or beyond.
  • You will have the opportunity to work for some of the leading companies in developed countries around the world.
  • You can solve challenging problems through design in a focused manner.
  • If you love design, you can focus your entire role on designing rather than on management, production, payroll, and other responsibilities.

– The disadvantages include:

  • Your projects will not be your own choice; they will be assigned to you.
  • You must follow your company’s process and approach.
  • The product belongs to your company (or your client), not to you, so you must follow the company line.

B: Freelance (independent) design

For those who have worked for several years in a large organization, or who prefer the flexibility and variety of working with multiple clients, freelancing can be an excellent way to use your design skills while controlling your time and projects. According to reports, 30 percent of industrial designers are self‑employed, and this number is expected to grow. Whether you work for a design firm as an individual contributor or as a consultant, or even run your own industrial design company, working independently offers you a great deal of freedom.

– The advantages of freelancing include:

  • You control your own schedule, including where you work and how many hours you work.
  • You are almost always treated as a design specialist, and as a consultant you carry out your work independently, working directly with the client rather than under a supervisor.
  • You can take on several different projects or limit your commitments at any given time.

– The challenges include:

  • You are responsible for your own invoicing and taxes.
  • You need to consistently generate new business.
  • Your income may be high, but it may not always be stable.
  • You do not necessarily move up a hierarchy unless you run your own company, so if you want to manage a team, the path is not clearly that of a company.
  • Some clients can be challenging.
Freelance Design

C: Entrepreneurship as an Industrial Designer

You can take your desire to work independently to a higher level by going through the process of identifying a market and designing a product that meets its needs. You can also form a startup company around your product and manufacture, market, and sell it.

– The advantages of entrepreneurship include:

  • You will have the experience of being a CEO while also being intimately involved in the actual product design of the company.
  • You will have ownership of your company and its product(s), which is a significant accomplishment.
  • Other resources, such as 3D printing and manufacturing consultancy firms, support entrepreneurs.
  • You will have the freedom to pursue your unique ideas and bring them to fruition.

– The most challenging parts of running a company include:

  • Failure is a possibility. Although the path is easier than before, launching a startup is still complex and stressful.
  • You will need to manage accounting, payroll, and employee benefits.
  • You will need to hire, manage, and pay employees.
  • You will be responsible for your own manufacturing, shipping, and distribution.
  • You will need to think about financing for your startup or how to become profitable.
  • The timing isn’t always right; if you’re paying off loans or saving for a house, or if you haven’t found the right business partner yet, it makes sense to wait to achieve your dream.

?The future of industrial design careers in Iran is what

In Iran, companies have invested little capital in new and domestic designs. Due to weaknesses in domestic production and low-level technology, they mostly copy foreign designs and molds. As a result, the demand for industrial designers is lower. Therefore, designers looking for employment in a specific location are mostly hired for redesigns.

However, due to the relative advancement of technology and changes in market demand, there is always a need for manufacturers to utilize industrial and product design services to differentiate their products from existing market samples. In recent years, this approach has become more prevalent in leading and more up-to-date manufacturing companies, moving towards aligning with international and global design and production trends.

Conclusion

Effective industrial design considers the needs of end-users, businesses, and manufacturers. In general, the industrial design process optimizes form and function and simplifies production, ensuring you can bring your production to market faster and bring it to fruition. The industrial design profession is constantly changing and evolving to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology, cultural trends, and socio-economic forces. Designers now face new challenges that were unimaginable at the inception of this profession. In fact, it is an exciting time to work in the design industry. Many approaches are defined daily in this field, and with technological advancements, these are increasingly moving towards service and digital domains.

Industrial design is a thriving and growing field full of exciting opportunities. The best way to decide which path is right for you is to think about what you want most from your career right now. Once you have a list, compare it to our pros and cons here and see if you fall into a category. Then, think about what you need to do to choose a specific path; take your education seriously, build a great portfolio, seek financial advice, find a business partner, develop stronger marketing skills, and take courses, study, or network to develop these skills, and finally find people who will help you.

  • Is industrial design theoretical or practical?

In the field of industrial design at university, there are theoretical and practical courses that students must complete. Even after taking the entrance exam (Konkur), applicants must also participate in and pass a practical exam. Therefore, practical skills play a crucial role.

  • What is the relationship between industrial design and engineering?

Industrial design can significantly overlap with engineering design, and the boundaries between these two concepts can vary in different countries. However, in general, engineering primarily focuses on the function or application of products, while industrial design mainly focuses on the aesthetic aspects and user interface of products. As such, industrial design overlaps with the subfield of industrial engineering only in ergonomics.

  • What skills does an industrial design student learn at university?

Skills are taught to the student in two sections: practical knowledge and phased learning, so that the student can ultimately perform their future work projects well with a correct understanding of the design process.

  • What is the role of industrial design in product development and its position?

Designers, by viewing problems as opportunities, offer a more optimistic approach to the future by integrating innovation, technology, research, business, and customers to create new value and competitive advantage in economic, social, and environmental contexts. They place humans at the center, gaining a deep understanding of user needs through empathy, and utilize a practical, user-centered solution.

  • What are the main fields of industrial design?

Industrial design extends into fields such as product design, UI and UX design, packaging design, automotive design, jewelry design, and more. Designers, depending on their interests and skills, work in one or more of these areas.

  • What is the difference between industrial design and product design?

Industrial design and product design both relate to the creation and refinement of products. However, product design is more focused on developing products to provide a specific solution. Conversely, industrial design involves implementing these potential product solutions within manufacturing processes and bringing products to end-users.

  • Is it possible to enter the job market after a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design?

Entering the job market at any level and with any educational background requires sufficient skills and problem-solving abilities, and it varies from person to person. In this field, designers are evaluated based on their skills and abilities, not solely on their education.