Product designer

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree to get into this career. Useful subjects include:

• design
• product design
• industrial product design
• engineering

You could also do a course covering a particular industry, which has design options. Examples include automotive engineering and furniture design.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

If you're working in the furniture industry, you may be able to start on a furniture product developer advanced apprenticeship.

You could also do a product design and development degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Career tips

Entering design competitions and exhibitions can be a good way of getting yourself noticed by employers.

You'll need to show employers that you have creative skills, technical knowledge and the ability to work to a design brief. This will usually involve presenting a portfolio of your design work to them.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Chartered Society of Designers for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

You'll need:

• design skills and knowledge
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• analytical thinking skills
• persistence and determination
• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

In your day-to-day duties you could:

• discuss what your client wants
• investigate how existing products work or how services are used
• develop ideas and make initial sketches or outline plans
• decide on suitable materials or resources
• use computer design software to produce detailed blueprints
• make samples or working models, known as prototypes
• test and refine designs

You could work in a workshop, in a creative studio or in an office.