Product/Industrial Design

Product/industrial design courses combine theoretical and practical activities. Alongside the academic and technical knowledge developed through your studies, you also gain other skills highly valued by employers not only in the engineering and manufacturing sectors but also in other sectors too.

Over the course of your degree you develop a wide mix of subject-specific and technical skills, you should consider these skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

Working as Head of Design

See the full video at Careers4U 

Prospects

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicates that six months after graduation, just over 60% of product/industrial design graduates were in UK or overseas employment. Of these, 38% found jobs in arts, design, culture and sports organisations and 17% were in retail catering, waiting and bar work. Around 7% landed jobs in commercial, industrial and public sectors, while 5% entered the engineering profession.

This wide variety reflects the nature of the courses, which can develop quite diverse skills in individuals.

Where are the jobs?

Graduates from product/industrial design courses seek employment in a wide range of fields. Companies involved in the manufacture and marketing of products will require product designers as design skills are needed in every aspect of the company's business. As well as being involved in the research, design and manufacture of the product, these graduates are also involved in commercial aspects such as sales and marketing, and logistics and supply chain.

Both the private and public sector employ these graduates. Examples of work in the public sector could include designing interactive facilities such as public information points and equipment used by services such as the police, fire and ambulance.

For an insight into potential employment areas consider exploring:

• Manufacturing
• Engineering
• Creative arts

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Industrial/product designer
• Exhibition designer
• Secondary school teacher

Further education lecturer/Higher education lecturer

• Jobs where your degree would be useful
• Industrial buyer
• Advertising account executive
• Marketing executive (consumer products)
• Sales executive
• Automotive engineer

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk