How to become a product designer

Product designers need to constantly think about innovative ways to make a product look better than the rest and stand out in the crowd

With the advent of more and more brands in similar domains in the industry, product designers play a key role in helping brands distinguish their products from one another.

A creative product design gives a brand an edge over others in winning the hearts of consumers. (istock)

A product designer needs a number of skill sets, these include high technological competence, creativity, visual and spatial awareness, competence on design related softwares, understanding of manufacturing processes, ability to commercially optimise designs for commercial success.

“Product designing ranges from jewellery design to furniture, banking, and even real estate. It also depends upon how important product designing is perceived within the company. Starting salaries vary – depending on the industry sector the product designer is working for,” says Siddharth Deshmukh, associate dean and in-charge of industry interfacing, MICA. Typically a product designer has to meet with clients to understand the concept and design brief, sketch initial designs, make samples (hand or computer generated), test these and discuss and solve issues related to commercial production.

“To ensure the success of the product and to get consumer’s buy-in for the product/brand a good product designer should have a good understanding of the market. They should understand the competitive landscape and also understand what it is that drives consumer demand in that category,” says Sanjeev Tripathi, associate professor in strategic marketing, MICA Ahmedabad.

A successful product designer can earn Rs 70,000 per month onwards depending on years of experience and level of creativity.