Here at MentorCruise, our amazing set of mentors can help to give you a competitive advantage in order to jumpstart your product designer career path. We have leading mentors in the industry, ready and waiting to share their knowledge with you.
What Is A Product Designer?
A product designer is someone who finds a gap in the market, before creating a product to fill it. In most cases, these gaps are based on problems faced by customers. As a product designer, is it then your job to identify a potential solution, before making it a reality. This can be through creating a new product, or improving an established one.
Keep in mind that not all of these products will be physical. With the technology industry being one of the fastest growing sectors in the world, product designers are needed to create digital solutions too.
It’s not all about inventing and innovating, though. There are various other responsibilities that you are expected to take care of. These include, but are not limited to:
Optimizing products – Through a combination of testing and theory, you will improve products to make the user experience as positive as possible.
Research – Use all available sources to research the relevant sector and customer profiles. This can include focus groups and surveys with clients and customers alike.
Communication – Being able to communicate effectively is another skill you will need. Talking to clients to understand their requirements is essential.
Production – You will have to consider the feasibility of production. This can include surveying relevant sites and reviewing machinery, if the product is physical. For digital products, you may have to put together a team with the required skill set.
Presentation – In a competitive sector, you will occasionally be bidding for work. Creating a presentation and pitching to potential clients is another aspect of the job.
If you wish to be a freelance product designer, or run your own business within this area of work, the responsibilities become greater. Finding clients, setting prices and performing all of the needed administrative work are just a few examples of this.
Is Product Design A Good Career?
Many people would consider product design an outstanding career path to pursue. To understand whether or not this role is right for you, there are a few different areas to consider:
The Working Hours Of A Product Designer
Working hours are typically the same as most other jobs, with a 9am start and 5-6pm finish. You can expect to do this 5 days a week. However, with product design, deadlines need to be respected. If a project is due and extra work is required, your hours can be extended as necessary.
Luckily, most product designers are not asked to work on the weekend, or during public holidays. As working within this industry can be stressful, the required time off is given by employers. In rare instances, you may need to travel as part of the job. This can include meetings with clients that are located overseas, meaning a few days away from your home. In these instances, travel, accommodation and expenses are often reimbursed by the employer.
The Working Environment Of A Product Designer
Most product designers feel a sense of achievement working within their role, being valued and respected for their high skill set. You will likely be working from a shared office space, with a dedicated station for each employee. This allows you to communicate effectively with other workers, organizing your workflow whilst sharing your progress.
You may also have a manager within close proximity. It is likely that they will be responsible for relaying information to the production team. If you plan on working as a freelancer, or starting your own business, you can work from home if needed.
The Salary Of A Product Designer
One of the main perks to any job that requires extensive skills is the salary. Becoming a product designer can be lucrative, with salaries increasing steeply as you progress with your career. The average yearly earnings are:
£20,000 to £30,000 for entry level workers.
£35,000 to £50,000 for employees with 5+ years of experience.
£50,000 to £75,000 for senior employees, managers and principal product designers.
For anyone working for themselves, your salary may vary. This depends on how many hours you are prepared to work on a weekly basis, the amount you charge and availability of work. Demand for these services is steady throughout the year, so seasonality isn’t a discerning factor.
Is It Hard Being A Product Designer?
Yes, being a product designer can be a challenging career path. The main reason for this, is that other people within the industry tend to be incredibly hard working. You need to be focused, while also being ready to sacrifice time in order to progress. Adopting a different style of thinking is also required, which is far different from other fields of work. The customers should become your main priority, understanding their needs clearly.
Furthermore, there is a large hierarchy of job roles, meaning it takes a long time to reach the top. Here are just a few of the different levels for product designers:
Entry level employees – This can include apprenticeships. At this stage, you can expect to be focused on the basics, with a heavily emphasis on learning the craft.
Mid-level product designers – Progression can see you expanding your skills, while also receiving more responsibilities.
Senior team member – These workers tend to be more focused on the communication aspect of the job. Understanding the needs of clients and customers is often the primary objective.
Principal product designer – When becoming a principal designer, you will likely have a full team that rely on you. The ability to consistently make the right decision is needed.
Staff product designer – Only the very best reach this position. Daily work usually consists of organizing your workforce while communicating with clients.
It goes without saying, but most people within the industry are looking to become a principal or staff product designer. One of the best ways to climb the product design career ladder is with practical experience. There are some skills that can only be taught while on the job. This can include your line of thinking, understanding of the overall process and commercial awareness.
Furthering Your Career
In some cases, people will get a job as a product designer, with the intention of simply gaining experience. Working for themselves, as a freelancer or business owner, becomes the main goal. This is often done at entry level, including those who opt for an apprenticeship. By doing this, you can establish a reputation, while also improving your abilities. Networking and broadening your contact list are also key.
Another useful tip for furthering your career, is to keep your eye on fresh product designer jobs. Startups looking for product designers may ask you to assume a more senior position. These opportunities don’t appear often, but when they do, positions tend to be filled quickly. This is due to how fast the industry moves. Creating a portfolio and brief cover letter in advance could be something to consider. You could also utilize job advertisement websites, such as Indeed and Simply Hired. These platforms allow you to set notifications for certain careers, with emails being sent to you whenever a position is available.
Becoming A Product Designer
While it may sound like an exclusive job, the road to becoming a product designer is very accessible. There are multiple different ways to get your foot on the ladder. Of course, this can start by gaining the right qualifications, however these are not essential. You can expand your knowledge by using E-Learning courses.
With these resources, you can start at any age, with no background as a designer. Being able and willing to learn vast amounts of information is one of the only requirements. Having lots of patience, motivation and determination will also help greatly.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has given you an insight into the career of a product designer. With this information, you can get an idea of whether or not this is the right career path for you. It’s no secret that becoming a product designer will require hard work, but the rewards are clear to see. This line of work is becoming increasingly in demand, with many tech companies looking to grow their list of employees.
Does being a product designer sound like something you’d like to investigate further? If so, MentorCruise is here to help. We can connect you with leading product designers that have many years of experience within the industry. You can contact them directly, while also receiving resources to learn at your own pace.