Professional designers think creatively and use their imagination to design products or concepts. Designers can work across a wide variety of work environments and industry sectors, but they are generally involved with making a product or brand aesthetically pleasing, recognisable, functional and practical.

Some designers can work in the arts or the media, whereas others work for industry or big businesses. The world of art and the world of design often overlap and result in artists designing products and designers producing outstanding works of art. One big difference is that a designer is more likely to have a straightforward career and a steady job, whereas the career of an artist tends to be less structured.

If you have a talent for art and design, enjoy problem solving and creative thinking, and are looking for a career that caters for these interests, then a higher-level design course could be worth considering.

Education

There is a broad range of courses available in design disciplines, with each course focusing on particular subjects and areas. There are degrees available in Design, Industrial Design, Design (Visual Communications), Product Design, and Digital Media Design. There are also higher certificates in Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Art & Design and Furniture Design. There are many more options available at further education or PLC level.

Many of the above courses offer similar core subjects such as Design Fundamentals, Computer Graphics, 3D Studies, Design History, Theory of Design and Colour Theory. Each individual course then consists of different specialist subjects, such as Photography, Printmaking, Illustration, Typography, Interior Design, CAD, Fabric Printing, Ceramic Design, Furniture Design, Industrial Design, Material Processes, Ergonomics and Mechanics.

Students considering a higher-level design course should research and examine the college prospectuses and web sites before making their CAO choices, to be sure they pick the course most suited to their interests.

Options after Qualification

Your career prospects after graduation will obviously depend on the particular higher-level course you do, and the subject options you choose. You could become a graphic designer, industrial designer, product designer, magazine designer, web designer or a multimedia expert – and there are many other options besides these. Potential employers can then include specialist design businesses, the media, product manufacturers, the civil service, advertising agencies and marketing companies.

Many designers continue to improve their skills and qualifications over the course of their careers. New computer software packages are constantly being developed, and designers need to keep their skills up to date. There are also many postgraduate courses and professional training qualifications available in design disciplines.

The Work

The type of design work you do will obviously depend on which area of design you decide to pursue. However, there are certain similarities in the working practices of most design jobs. Most design tasks are performed using the computer, so all designers have excellent IT skills. Most designers work on specific projects for a manager or client, and must produce work that is satisfactory and meets their expectations.

Designers will usually work to a design brief. They are told what the client wants – a new web site, a milk carton, a chair or a logo, perhaps – and they are given particular instructions about the content, shape and materials that they can use. The designer then comes up with a number of possible designs, from which the client selects the most appealing.

Graphic designers design and create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, including logos, adverts in newspapers, illustrations in books, catalogues and brochures, graphics on web sites and packaging.

Industrial designers design all kinds of products, including everything from toasters to aeroplanes. They make detailed drawings of the proposed object, showing its size, shape and texture, and taking into account functionality, ergonomics, safety, durability, cost and aesthetics. They often create models and prototypes of the product for testing, before it is produced and sold.

Production designers can work for theatres, film or TV companies, designing and choosing scene backgrounds, props and costumes. Textile designers produce embroidered, printed or woven textiles. Designers can also be involved in designing and creating jewellery, clothes and ornaments.

Personal Qualities & Work Environment

Designers need a combination of creativity and imagination, along with an appreciation of practical and technical subjects. Industrial designers will need good mathematics skills. Communication and teamwork skills are also important.

Most designers work with computers in a studio or office. Others will have a workshop where they can build models or prototypes. Many designers will work for a company or agency at first, before moving on to freelance project work as their skills develop; most aim towards the ultimate goal of having their own design company.

The Money

It is hard to predict starting salaries, given the wide range of industries and job titles in design. Starting salaries can average at about €23,000 per year, which can rise quickly depending on luck, talent and experience. Graphic designers generally start on lower salaries than industrial designers.

 

Jargon

Aesthetics: The appreciation of beauty, art and good taste

Brief: A project outline given to a designer, containing instructions for what is needed

CAD: Computer Aided Design

 

Job Titles

 

Graphic Designer

Graphic Artist

Industrial Designer

Magazine Designer