Design - industrial, graphic, fashion

Design

The huge success of Apple and its aesthetically pleasing products reveals just how influential good design can be. Without wishing to over-generalise, the average designer has three goals in mind when working on a project:

I. Aesthetically attractive and stylish
II. Efficiently and effectively perform its function
III. Economically viable in terms of production cost

It is a highly desired career no matter what the sector (industrial, graphic, fashion) and as such, competition for a position is normally high. On the other hand, the public’s desire for evermore innovative, attractive and user-friendly products shows no sign of slowing down.

Education

Otherwise known as Visual Communications, Graphic Design is concerned with the creation of imagery, logos and typeface on everything from book jackets to online advertising and billboard posters. Degree courses in this subject include modules on Introduction to Design Software, Typography, Web Design, Photography and Image Making/Illustration.

Graphic Design is also available as a Level 5 Certificate in numerous PLC colleges around the country. Courses at higher and further levels, such as Digital Media, Multimedia, and Web Design/Development, all feature a significant Graphic Design component.

Industrial, or Product, Designers work with engineers in designing and producing material goods: anything from a toilet freshener to a lawn mower. Degree courses are multidisciplinary; introducing learners to all the processes - such as CAD (computer aided design), model making, engineering, manufacturing and marketing - involved in bringing a product from conception to the marketplace. Innovation and problem-solving are key aspects of industrial design courses.

Anyone wishing to start their own design business will be interested by IT Carlow’s BA in Product Design Innovation: a four-year programme that combines design modules with small business entrepreneurial skills.

Further ed. courses like Art, Craft & Design and Computer Aided Design serve as a useful preparation for an industrial design degree. Those who wish to specialise in Furniture Design will find relevant degree programmes in DIT and Galway-Mayo IT, and several PLC colleges that provide a dedicated FETAC Level 5 Certificate.

Degrees in Fashion are available from Griffith College Dublin (GCD), Limerick IT and NCAD (National College of Art & Design). Besides design skills like drawing and pattern cutting, students also acquire practical business knowledge of the fashion industry in areas such as manufacturing and marketing. A full time, three-year Diploma in Fashion Design is provided by the Grafton Academy of Dress Design. The course provides full professional training for the Irish and international dress trade.

Numerous FETAC Level 5 Certificates are available. Besides Fashion Design, which is a good preparation for traineeships and entry-level positions, courses are also available in areas such as Fashion Buying and Textile Design.

Graphic and fashion design courses generally require applicants to supply a portfolio of art work, so make sure to contact your intended college for further details.

The Work

Designers often work as a part of a team that might include, for example, other designers, engineers, marketers, or production technicians. Ability therefore to work effectively with others, and an awareness of their roles and requirements, will prove beneficial.

While creativity and a good imagination is obviously valuable, in the early years at least designers are nearly always working on a product brief handed down from management or senior designers. In these cases, the ability to effectively follow instruction and pay attention to detail can be even more important than a flair for colour or patterns.

Did you know?
John Callcott Horsley designed the first Christmas card in 1843.

Further Resources

• Imaginate – design competition for school students: www.imaginate.ie
• Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI): www.idi-design.ie
• Centre for Design Innovation: www.designinnovation.ie
   
  *See Architecture for information on Interior Design and Theatre for Set/Production Design