Overview

Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children’s toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

Also Known As


Design Engineer, Designer, Industrial Designer, Mechanical Designer, Mold Designer, Product Design Engineer, Product Designer, Product Development Engineer, Sign Designer

Activities


  • Draw detailed or technical illustrations.
  • Develop artistic or design concepts for decoration, exhibition, or commercial purposes.
  • Collaborate with others to develop or refine designs.
  • Present work to clients for approval.
  • Estimate costs for projects or productions.
  • Coordinate construction or installation activities.
  • Conduct market research.
  • Coordinate design activities.
  • Conduct research to inform art, designs, or other work.
  • Monitor current trends.
  • Build models, patterns, or templates.
  • Develop promotional strategies or plans.

Skills


  • Active Listening – Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  • Reading Comprehension – Reading work-related information.
  • Complex Problem Solving – Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  • Critical Thinking – Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
  • Speaking – Talking to others.

Knowledgebase



Education Requirements


  • Education: Bachelor's degree
  • Experience: None
  • Training: No On The Job

Knowledge


  • Design – Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Engineering and Technology – Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Mechanical – Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Production and Processing – Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Computers and Electronics – Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Mathematics – Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English Language – Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Abilities


  • Fluency of Ideas – Coming up with lots of ideas.
  • Originality – Creating new and original ideas.
  • Near Vision – Seeing details up close.
  • Written Comprehension – Reading and understanding what is written.
  • Oral Expression – Communicating by speaking.
  • Deductive Reasoning – Using rules to solve problems.
  • Oral Comprehension – Listening and understanding what people say.
  • Visualization – Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
  • Speech Recognition – Recognizing spoken words.
  • Information Ordering – Ordering or arranging things.
  • Problem Sensitivity – Noticing when problems happen.
  • Speech Clarity – Speaking clearly.
  • Inductive Reasoning – Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.

Pathway Job Market and Predictions - Connecticut

Future Job Opportunities: Average
Typical Wages
Local National
10% $27,740 $41,860
25% $32,080 $54,820
Median $72,470 $71,640
75% $98,340 $94,190
90% $123,400 $118,440


Projected Employment
Connecticut United States
490
2018 Employment
31,500
2019 Employment
510
2028 Employment
33,330
2029 Employment
4%
Percent Change
6%
Percent Change
50
Annual Projected Job Openings
3,100
Annual Projected Job Openings