Industrial Design vs Product Design

The differences between industrial design and product design might seem subtle at first glance. These differences affect career paths and earning potential by a lot. Product designers earn an average salary of $110,164 in the U.S., which is higher than what UX and industrial designers make.

Industrial designers work on the aesthetic and functional aspects of mass-produced goods. Product design includes creating products that meet specific user needs and deliver continuous experiences. It’s worth mentioning that all product designers are industrial designers, but this doesn’t work the other way around. The gap between product design and industrial design becomes clearer when compared to UX design. UX design adds more visual elements and interface work. Recent data shows varying pay scales between product designer and UX designer roles. UX designers earn around $97,848 while product designers make $94,234.

This piece explains what industrial design is and how these design disciplines differ. You’ll learn what top studios look for when hiring for each role. Understanding these details will help you make better decisions about your career path, whether you’re starting design education or thinking about a career change.

Understanding the Core: Industrial vs Product Design

Let’s get into what makes these two fields different by looking at their origins and basic principles.

What is Industrial Design? Key Concepts and Scope

Industrial design emerged in the early 19th century and was tied to the industrial revolution when craft production gave way to mass manufacturing. The field shapes everything we use daily by focusing on how products look, work, and can be manufactured. Designers in this field balance beauty with practical use to make products that are both good-looking and functional. They work with engineers, strategists, and manufacturers to develop items suitable for mass production. At its heart, industrial design creates products for volume manufacturing while keeping an eye on materials, production costs, and visual appeal.

What is Product Design? Role in Modern Product Development

Product design brings together what users need and what businesses want to create successful products. Unlike industrial design’s focus on manufacturing, product design puts user experience first and looks at how products work for the people using them. The designers find problems through research and feedback, then create solutions that make products easier to use. On top of that, they build product roadmaps with development teams to make sure designs can be built. These designers dig deep into user experiences while product managers handle the what and why of products.

Difference Between Product Design and Industrial Design

The main difference lies in what each field cares about most – industrial design focuses on mass production while product design solves specific user problems. Here’s more:

• Industrial designers need to know a lot about manufacturing methods and materials
• Product designers excel at user research and interface design
• Industrial design looks at the whole physical product, but product design goes beyond to user experience

The relationship works like this – product design creates solutions that industrial design then prepares for manufacturing.

What Top Studios Expect from Each Role

Top design studios set different expectations for industrial and product designers. These expectations mirror their unique roles in product development and shape both hiring decisions and career paths.

Design Thinking and Problem Solving Approaches

Leading studios value creative thinking in their design teams but seek different approaches to problem-solving. Industrial designers must show strong capabilities in solving functional problems. They focus on materials, manufacturing processes, and aesthetic integrity. Product designers must apply design principles that put users first. The design process requires product designers to look at problems from multiple angles before creating solutions. Design thinking begins with empathy. Understanding user needs comes before jumping to solutions – a fundamental requirement for product designers at prestigious firms.

Focus Areas: Mass Production vs User-Focused Design

Industrial design aims at efficient mass production and broad usability. Studios expect designers to have deep knowledge of manufacturing processes. Product design studios look for candidates who excel at understanding specific user needs and market trends. Industrial designers show how their designs scale economically in manufacturing. Product designers prove their expertise in developing solutions through thorough user research. A clear difference exists: industrial design starts with production reality, while product design focuses on human interaction with products and problem-solving.

Collaboration with Engineering and Marketing Teams

Industrial designers work with engineers and manufacturers, which demands technical communication skills. Product designers team up with marketing and user experience professionals, requiring strong people skills. Studios value designers who build effective relationships. Product designers transform marketing goals into user-centred designs. Industrial designers explain complex manufacturing requirements to engineering teams. The best products emerge when both disciplines work together with their respective partners.

Portfolio Expectations: Physical vs Digital Product Examples

Industrial designers’ portfolios must showcase physical product development, manufacturing insights, and material expertise. Studios want to see detailed process work with sketches, models and production-ready designs. Product design portfolios highlight user research, digital prototypes, and interface design examples. Both portfolios must show problem-solving processes beyond final products. Each portfolio needs visual appeal with brief explanations of design decisions. Clear problem statements lead to thoughtful solutions, despite their different focuses.

Skills That Set Candidates Apart

Success in design takes more than simple qualifications. You need to master specific skills that set outstanding candidates apart in each field.

Technical Tools: CAD, Figma, Adobe Suite

The mastery of technical tools sets industrial and product designers apart. Industrial designers rely heavily on CAD software like SOLIDWORKS, Rhino, and Autodesk Fusion 360 to create precise 3D models for manufacturing. These tools help designers visualise products with exact specifications and get them ready for production. Product designers tend to work with Figma and Adobe XD for interface design, prototyping and teamwork. Figma has become popular because it lets multiple designers work on the same file at once, like in Google Docs but for design. It also uses visualisation tools like KeyShot to create realistic renderings when presenting to stakeholders.

Research and Testing: User Research vs Market Research

These disciplines take different approaches to research. Product designers zero in on user research to learn about specific needs and behaviours. They use interviews, usability testing, A/B testing, and surveys to collect qualitative and quantitative data about how people use products. Industrial designers put more weight on market research to spot opportunities, confirm ideas, test prototypes, and review outcomes. This research helps them understand their target markets, establish what people need, identify competition, and pick the best materials for manufacturing.

Prototyping and Iteration Methods

Both fields have their own ways of prototyping. Industrial designers often test and revise their designs through multiple rounds. They compare several concepts at once to find the best solutions. 3D printing has made rapid prototyping incredibly valuable – designers can now create physical models quickly. They can revise designs during the day and print them overnight. Product designers usually stick to digital prototyping tools that aid quick feedback and user testing.

Soft Skills: Communication, Empathy, and Teamwork

Whatever your specialty, soft skills are crucial for success in design. Empathy is the life-blood of design – it helps designers understand their users’ viewpoints and connect with their challenges. Good communication helps designers express concepts clearly to stakeholders, cooperate with engineering teams, and present ideas convincingly. Strong teamwork skills help bridge different disciplines. Industrial designers often team up with engineers and manufacturers, while product designers work closely with marketing and UX teams. These people skills ended up shaping a designer’s career path just as much as their technical expertise.

Career Outlook and Compensation Trends

The salary data between these design disciplines tells an interesting story about how their career paths have evolved.

Industrial Design vs Product Design Salary Insights

Product designers earn more than their industrial design counterparts consistently. Australian product designers make an average of AUD 175,833.88 per year, while industrial designers earn AUD 104,722.07. Sydney’s design market shows an even bigger gap, with product designers earning AUD 214,058.63 yearly. Experience plays a huge role in earnings – junior industrial designers start at AUD 107,029.32, but senior product designers can earn up to AUD 229,348.53.

Job Titles and Career Progression Paths

Career advancement paths exist in both fields. Product designers start as Junior UX/UI Designers and move up to Product Designer, Senior Product Designer, Lead Product Designer, and ended up as Head of Product Design or Design Director. Industrial designers follow a similar path from Junior Industrial Designer to Creative Director or Chief Design Officer. Senior designers face a choice between staying hands-on creators or moving into management. Director-level industrial design roles focus on team leadership and creative vision.

Industry Demand: Consumer Goods vs Digital Products

Both disciplines have strong job prospects in different sectors. Product design jobs should grow 19.4% over five years. Technology companies, app developers and game creators drive this growth. Industrial design looks even better with 28.4% projected growth. Manufacturing, consumer goods, pharmaceutical and mining industries need these designers.

Comparison Table

Conclusion

The difference between industrial design and product design is crucial if you plan a career in these fields. Both disciplines share creative foundations. However, they differ in their focus areas and required skill sets.

The financial rewards definitely show these differences. Product designers earn much more than their industrial design counterparts, especially at senior levels. This salary gap exists because each role brings different value to businesses. Product designers have a direct impact on user experience and business outcomes, which leads to premium compensation.

Top design studios look for specific qualities in each role. Industrial designers need exceptional manufacturing knowledge, material expertise, and physical prototyping skills. Product designers need strong user research capabilities, digital prototyping proficiency, and interface design experience. Both roles need empathy but use it differently – industrial designers focus on broad usability while product designers target specific user needs.

Both fields offer structured advancement opportunities. Product designers start in junior UX/UI positions and work their way up to leadership roles like Head of Product Design. Industrial designers follow a similar path from junior positions to Creative Director or Chief Design Officer roles. Your choice between these careers depends on your interests and strengths.

New design students often ask which path fits them best. If you love physical objects, materials, and manufacturing processes, industrial design could be your calling. If you’re drawn to user psychology, digital experiences, and business strategy, product design might be better suited to you. Whatever you choose, strong technical foundations and excellent soft skills are essential to succeed.

These disciplines keep evolving and the boundaries between them will without doubt blur more. Notwithstanding that, knowing these key differences helps new designers make career decisions that line up with their natural abilities and professional goals.

FAQs

Q1. What is the main difference between industrial design and product design? Industrial design focuses primarily on the physical appearance, functionality, and manufacturability of mass-produced goods, while product design emphasises creating products that meet specific user needs and deliver seamless experiences.

Q2. Which design discipline typically earns a higher salary? Product designers generally command higher salaries than industrial designers. For example, in Australia, product designers earn an average of AUD 175,833.88 annually, compared to AUD 104,722.07 for industrial designers.

Q3. What technical tools are essential for each discipline? Industrial designers primarily use CAD software like SOLIDWORKS, Rhino, and Autodesk Fusion 360. Product designers often work with tools such as Figma and Adobe XD for interface design and prototyping.

Q4. How do the career progression paths differ between industrial and product design? Industrial designers typically advance from Junior Industrial Designer to Creative Director or Chief Design Officer. Product designers usually progress from Junior UX/UI Designer to Product Designer, Senior Product Designer, and eventually Head of Product Design or Design Director.

Q5. What are the key skills that top studios look for in each role? For industrial designers, studios value strong abilities in functional problem-solving, materials knowledge, and manufacturing processes. Product designers are expected to excel in user research, digital prototyping, and interface design, with a focus on solving specific user problems.