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Commercial and Industrial Designer

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What You Need to Know About Commercial and Industrial Designer

Job Description & Duties Develop and design manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children’s toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

Commercial & Industrial Designer Responsibilities

  • Design graphic material for use as ornamentation, illustration, or advertising on manufactured materials and packaging or containers.
  • Direct and coordinate the fabrication of models or samples and the drafting of working drawings and specification sheets from sketches.
  • Investigate product characteristics such as the product’s safety and handling qualities, its market appeal, how efficiently it can be produced, and ways of distributing, using and maintaining it.
  • Coordinate the look and function of product lines.
  • Read publications, attend showings, and study competing products and design styles and motifs to obtain perspective and generate design concepts.
  • Develop manufacturing procedures and monitor the manufacture of their designs in a factory to improve operations and product quality.

Things a Commercial & Industrial Designer Should Know How to Do

These are the skills Commercial and Industrial Designers say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Types of Commercial & Industrial Designer Jobs

  • Surfboard Designer
  • Creative Director
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Project Engineer
  • Ceramic Designer

Is There Job Demand for Commercial and Industrial Designers?

There were about 39,700 jobs for Commercial and Industrial Designer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.3% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,700 new jobs for Commercial and Industrial Designer by 2026. There will be an estimated 3,900 positions for Commercial & Industrial Designer per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Commercial & Industrial Designer are Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Kentucky, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Commercial & Industrial Designer Make?

The average yearly salary of a Commercial & Industrial Designer ranges between $38,630 and $108,040.

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Commercial and Industrial Designers who work in Arkansas, Louisiana, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Commercial and Industrial Designers in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $65,330
Arizona $77,920
Arkansas $82,070
California $77,580
Colorado $62,590
Connecticut $74,420
Florida $66,850
Georgia $60,030
Hawaii $58,960
Idaho $75,150
Illinois $67,550
Indiana $65,520
Iowa $60,750
Kansas $66,620
Kentucky $62,150
Louisiana $76,520
Maine $57,570
Maryland $63,020
Massachusetts $81,660
Michigan $75,430
Minnesota $66,780
Missouri $67,530
Montana $59,170
Nebraska $66,730
Nevada $69,010
New Hampshire $63,950
New Jersey $85,000
New Mexico $63,560
New York $74,830
North Carolina $74,880
Ohio $65,520
Oklahoma $63,360
Oregon $84,290
Pennsylvania $66,330
Rhode Island $74,170
South Carolina $81,570
South Dakota $43,950
Tennessee $56,800
Texas $74,600
Utah $53,540
Vermont $66,180
Virginia $65,300
Washington $82,740
West Virginia $54,840
Wisconsin $58,400

Tools & Technologies Used by Commercial and Industrial Designers

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Commercial and Industrial Designers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • JavaScript
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Python
  • jQuery
  • Microsoft Access
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Project
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • IBM Notes
  • Microsoft Publisher

How do I Become a Commercial & Industrial Designer?

Learn what Commercial and Industrial Designer education requirements there are.

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What work experience do I need to become a Commercial & Industrial Designer?

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Who Employs Commercial and Industrial Designers?

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Commercial and Industrial Designers work in the following industries:

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Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming a Commercial and Industrial Designer might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: Szilas in the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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