Design - industrial, graphic, fashion

Although professional designers work in a wide range of industries, their work generally must fulfil at least three demands: it must be aesthetically pleasing and up-to-date (with the exception of retro chic of course); it must perform its function adequately (which rules out that natty glass hammer); and it must be economically profitable to produce (so perhaps less liberal use of that diamond encrusting).

Large areas of design therefore, have little to do with flashes of creative genius, but involve a sound understanding of project management and the business as a whole. Designers must take basic practicalities such as the marketing and manufacturing into account when designing a new product. 

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 a particular subject area. There are degrees available in Design, Industrial Design, Design (Visual Communications), Product Design, Digital Media Design and Fashion 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 level.

Many of these 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 – Photography, Printmaking, Illustration, Typography, Interior Design, CAD, Fabric Printing, Ceramic Design, Furniture Design, Industrial Design, Material Processes, Ergonomics and Mechanics, to name a few.

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 include specialist design businesses, the media, product manufacturers, the civil service, advertising agencies and marketing companies.

There are far too few top-level creative positions to satisfy every aspiring student designer, but there are many supportive roles such as design assistant, or technician, which involve a large degree of creativity and responsibility.

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 and advances in technology often facilitate revolutionary new designs; so all designers must have excellent IT and technical 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 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.

Work Environment

Designers need a combination of creativity and imagination, along with an appreciation of practical and technical subjects. Industrial designers will need good mathematical 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.

The Jargon

Ergonomics: The study of the interaction between the human body and machines or objects, used in design to make a product user-friendly

Haut Couture: Made-to-order and custom-fitted clothing in high fashion

Rendering: The process of creating, shading and texturing an image (usually a photograph) in artistic design

Job Titles

Graphic Designer
Industrial Designer
Magazine Designer
Fashion Designer
Production Designer
Interior Designer

Further Resources

Design Ireland
Unit 9, Bay 2
Digital Depot
Roe Lane
Digital Hub
Dublin 8
Phone: 01 489 3649
Web: www.designireland.ie
Email: info@designireland.ie 

Institute of Designers in Ireland
The Digital Hub
Roe Lane
Thomas Street
Dublin 8
Phone: 01 489 3650
Web: www.idi-design.ie
Email: idi@indigo.ie  

Image Magazine
Phone: 01 280 8415
Web: www.image.ie
Email: kodowd@image.ie 

Avenir Design
Garvey House
Castle Street
Castlebar
Co Mayo
Phone: 094 904 4771
Web: www.avenir.ie
Email: studio@avenir.ie 

Design Boom
Web: www.designboom.com