Product design is a form of industrial design that involves designing products used by millions worldwide. This could be anything from a chair to an aircraft. However, what makes product designers special is how they think consumers will interact with their product — before, during, and after purchase. That’s because product design isn’t just about creating a solution but also delivering an experience that reflects the brand promise. It’s also about making the production process efficient to make the product available at a reasonable cost.
As a market, product and industrial design is valued at $3.4 billion as of 2022 — an increase of 5.5% from 2021. There are over 17,948 product designers currently employed in the United States. That number is projected to grow 6% by 2030. In addition, it has been reported that businesses that embrace design generate 32% more revenue on average and 56% more shareholder returns.
Whether you’re a product designer looking for a new job or changing your career entirely, it’s important to know what the industry looks like and what opportunities are available. So we have created this comprehensive guide to help you determine and achieve your product design career goals. Yellowbrick’s Ultimate Product Design Career Guide is your source to discover careers and learn entry points into the product design industry. In this guide, you can explore the jobs that drive the market, then search for your perfect career by area of interest, skills, companies, or industry experts.
Learn about your skills and interests, articulate them confidently to identify career options you might pursue, and implement a successful strategy to attain your desired career outcomes.
In this guide, you’ll find the following information:
- Overview of the product design industry
- Future of the product market
- Product Design Career Library
- Career Planning Strategy to get into the design industry
You’ll also find simple exercises that help you:
- Form a career planning strategy to get into the product design industry
- Find your passion for design and identify an area of interest to pursue
- Learn the industry through top companies, brands, and its key players
- Identify your skills and match them to a place of interest
Looking to learn more about the product industry, the opportunities in design, or build the skills you need? Explore our product design course — Product Design Essentials — featuring Parsons and Wallpaper* industry experts to learn the ins and outs while building your expertise in design thinking, prototyping, and packaging.
