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What is product design- an introduction:
“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul”
From the beginning of the human history, the inquisitive nature of the human beings has always tempted them to come up with new ideas. These ideas helped them to push the boundaries of new product innovations and unique scientific breakthroughs.
For many design aficionados, the very idea of fabricating a new product by brainstorming thousands of design concepts is quite fascinating. Proficient product designers spend hours to ideate a new concept and then they transform that abstract idea into a full-blown product. The pleasure of creating something new, the pleasure of playing God is what motivates the inventive product designers to come up with new designs every day.
Product design is nothing but conceptualizing an idea and then transforming that idea into an actual tangible product. The main aim is to create a balance between aesthetics and functionality while improving both at the same time.
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Career in product design in India:
Consumer needs are ever changing. The companies that are being able to cater to these needs first are the companies that stay ahead of the competition. Organizations do this in one of these two ways: adding incremental improvements to the existing product or conceptualizing/manufacturing a totally fresh product. This is where the product designers step in to help these companies manufacture unique products so that they can stand out from the crowd.
With the ongoing boom in the startup culture in India, this competition is getting intense day by day. Every company wants to provide the best possible solutions to the consumers and they are doing it by providing customized product designs to targeted customers. These companies can do it precisely only with the help of skillful visionary designers and this is the main reason that the demand of product designers are increasing day after day. A product designer today is a sought after professional who is directly responsible for a company’s success or failure. It’s a challenging yet gratifying career option. So, people with good analytical skills and an inquisitive mind can choose this field as their profession.
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Job opportunities in product design:
A product with great usability and appealing aesthetics can save one’s time and effort by altering the way he/she interacts with the product. The main idea is to increase the level of satisfaction one gets after using the product and product designers achieve this by designing innovative new products. Product designers usually work as a part of the Research and Development team and contribute at every stage of manufacturing a product.
There are plenty of job opportunities available in the product design domain. Every manufacturing company needs product design professionals in order to come with the best product in the market and they can’t do it without the help of proficient product designers. Product designers aren’t only concerned about the functionality and usability of a specific product but they are also responsible for the ROI (Return on Investment) of the company. That’s why a product designer’s position is considered to be one of the most respectable and highest paid jobs in the Industry.
The modern day product designers’ work in various organizations that deal with design consultancy, architecture, manufacturing (commercial/industrial), software etc. and the need for skillful product designers are increasing day by day.
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How to become a product designer:
In order to become a successful product designer, you have to first decide if you want to become one. A product designer’s job is quite challenging. From user satisfaction to company’s ROI, a product designer contributes at every stage of the product lifecycle. Skills can be acquired through proper training but one’s attitude towards his/her responsibilities is what makes all the differences.
A product designer has to analyze and resolve complex design problems through intensive research. Then they ideate a concept to implement and then evaluate the whole process through feedback. To do all these tasks, one needs to have really good analytical skills and a creative mind. Good drawing skills and excellent communication skill will be an added advantage.
On the next step, after deciding that you really want to become a really successful product design professional, you should start searching for good Design colleges where they provide Bachelors Degree in Product Design. Good Product Design Institutes will teach you all the nitty-gritty of designing various products and will provide you placements based on your performance during the course. You can also decide if you want to work for some reputed company, pursue higher Degree or you want to start your own venture.
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Product designer responsibilities:
A modern day product designer has to take a lot of responsibilities in an organization that includes (but is not limited to):
Product Designers work hand in hand with the product managers. Firstly, they know all the specifications, requirements and features that the product manager wants to incorporate into the product. Then, they team up with the fellow engineers, market researchers and marketing personnel to come up with the best possible design
A Product Designer doesn’t limit his/her activities to the “Design stage” only. A modern day product designer involves himself/herself in numerous activities ranging from design to manufacturing to sales/after sales to upgradation
A good User Interface (UI) doesn’t always necessarily results into a great User Experience (UX). That’s why a modern day Product Designer focuses more on designing a holistic User Experience rather than designing the best looking UI
Product designers also take into consideration the ROI (Return on Investment) of the product. Companies set the budget and timeline for a specific product line. So, the product designers have to create the best possible customer experience with limited amount resources
After generating the product concept, product designers use 3d-modelling, CAD, 2D- sketches etc. to communicate the idea to various departments
Product designers often test the product using certain prototypes and then constantly take feedback to improve the product even further
Making presentations of the product to enhance its reach
Product designers also work on existing products and make them better. These incremental updates increase the lifespan of the product.
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Famous product designers:
The history has always been written and rewritten by talented product designers. From James Dyson to Apple’s Jony Ive, great product designers always came up with unique products that changed the course of the history. Below you will know about some of the most renowned and influential product designers who changed the way we interact with various products today.
Apple’s Jony Ive: Sir Jonathan Paul Ive is a reputed name in the field of product and Industrial Design. Under his mentoring, Apple came up with groundbreaking products such as MacBook Series, iPod Series, iPhones, iPad Series, Apple Watch etc. The core mobile Operating system namely “IOS” which is so popular because of its ease of use is also the brainchild of Jony Ive.
Jesse W. Reno, George A. Wheeler, and Charles Seeberger: This designer trio came up with the escalator. This new invention saved a lot of effort and time of the people and going from floor to floor became so much more exciting.
Arne Jacobsen: Arne Jacobsen designed two timeless beauties in the form of two differently structured chairs (Egg Chair and Swan Chair). His design is still found to be contemporary and used everywhere even though half a century has passed since its inception.
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Product designer salary in India and abroad:
A product designer’s salary depends on his technical skills and experience that he might have. Fresher candidates can expect an average salary of up to 6 Lakhs per annum. With experience this salary will increase exponentially and one can expect salaries as high as 10-12 Lakhs per annum within few years.
Conclusion:
“The goal of a designer is to listen, observe, understand, sympathize, empathize, synthesize, and glean insights”-This famous quote by renowned designer Hillman Curtis explains a designer’s job profile perfectly. It’s a job with high responsibility and if you are good enough then the sky will be the only limit.
So, do you want to be a Product Designer? Who’s your favorite product designer? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.