Industrial designers are professionals who can work in a variety of sectors, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, construction and industrial mechanics. They may be employed by companies that design or manufacture products, or by consulting firms.
Want to find out more about the profession before deciding on a career change? The experts at HARtech explain everything you need to know about working as an industrial designer in this article.
What does an industrial designer do?
An industrial designer is a professional who uses CAD (computer-aided design) software to create technical drawings and schematics of different types of industrial systems (mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, etc.). The industrial designer must ensure that the drawings they create are precise, detailed and meet industry standards.
Industrial designers play a vital role in industrial machinery design and manufacturing, as well as modifying and improving existing installations. They often collaborate with other professionals, such as industrial machining or industrial welding specialists, to ensure that the designs they create are viable and feasible.
It’s important to note that industrial designers do more than just create drawings and schematics. They also play a key role in communicating technical information to other members of the project team, as well as to customers and suppliers.
An industrial designer’s responsibilities and tasks
In order to create products, you need to be able to imagine and visualize them. Industrial designers use software to create technical drawings in two and three dimensions that can then be used to create prototypes.
Here are a few examples of tasks an industrial designer might be responsible for:
- Create technical drawings using CAD software
- Work with engineers and technicians to develop complex product designs
- Ensure that the designs are precise and meet industry standards
- Modify and update existing drawings to reflect design changes
- Prepare visual presentations to explain product designs to customers or employees
- Work with manufacturing teams to ensure that products are manufactured according to plan
How to become an industrial designer
To begin a career in the profession, you’ll need to obtain a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) in industrial design. The 1,800-hour program is available at several different vocational training centres.
Over the course of the program, students will learn how to solve problems related to industrial design, how to read technical drawings, computer concepts related to industrial design, how to draw parts in detail, various materials and industrial processes, measurements and interpretation, how to meet specifications, how to solve applied problems and much more.
What is an industrial designer’s salary?
The average salary for an industrial designer in Canada is $55,190 per year. In Quebec, the average is $40,848 per year. Naturally, the salary varies depending on experience, training and the industry the designer is working in.
Skills and aptitudes needed for industrial design
Both during their studies and in the workforce, there are certain skills and abilities an industrial designer needs to succeed in the profession:
- The ability to create faithful visual representations of objects in space
- Meticulousness and eye for detail due to the precision required for designs
- Creativity
- Organization and autonomy
- Excellent computer skills, particularly with specialized CAD software
Develop your industrial design skills at HARtech
An industrial designer is a versatile professional who uses advanced technical skills to create accurate and detailed drawings for industrial systems. Their work is crucial when it comes to designing and constructing new industrial installations, as well as improving and modifying existing ones.
If you want to further develop your industrial design skills in a dynamic sector, submit an application or contact us!
