What Does a Product Designer Do?
You might have seen job listings for "product designers" and been curious about what the position entails.
In general, a product designer is responsible for designing and overseeing the production of products. They work with teams of engineers and other designers to come up with innovative new products and improve existing ones. They often have a strong focus on user experience, and strive to create products that are both practical and appealing to customers.
If you're interested in becoming a product designer, or just want to learn more about what the job entails, keep reading. In this post, we'll take a closer look at what the job involves, what skills you need to succeed, and how to get started.
What Is Product Design?
You might be wondering what a product designer does. And the answer is, they design products. But not just any old products. They design products that are user-friendly, innovative, and meet the needs of the customer.
They come up with new ideas for products and work with engineers and other team members to make those ideas a reality. They also need to be able to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to problems.
A good product designer is someone who understands the needs of the customer and can translate those needs into a product that is both functional and attractive.
What Does a Product Designer Do?
You may be wondering what a product designer does. They are responsible for the design of a product, from start to finish. This includes researching the competition, designing the product, and then overseeing the production process.
A product designer is someone who can take a concept and turn it into a reality. They have to be able to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions that meet the needs of the customer. And they also have to be able to communicate effectively with other members of the team, so that everyone is on the same page.
It's a challenging job, but it's also very rewarding. If you're interested in becoming a product designer, there are some things you need to know. You need to be able to sketch your ideas, and you need to be good at using software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. And you need to be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
The Skills a Product Designer Needs
So what do you need to be a product designer?
Well, obviously, you need to have a passion for design. You need to have a good sense of design. You should be able to take an idea and turn it into a finished product that looks great and functions well.
Second, you need to be able to communicate well. As a product designer, you'll be working with engineers, manufacturers, and other people who need to understand your designs. You'll also need to be able to understand their needs and translate them into designs that they can build.
Third, you need to be able to think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions. As the saying goes, the customer is always right. And that means you'll need to be able to adapt your designs as needed in order to satisfy the customer's needs.
And let's not forget the technical skills. You need to be able to use software to create sketches and 3D models. You need to be able to work with a variety of materials and understand the properties of each one. And you need to be able to follow detailed engineering drawings.
It's a lot of responsibility, but it's also a lot of fun. So if you think you've got what it takes, why not give it a try?
The Steps in the Product Design Process
As a product designer, you'll go through a process to create the best possible product. This process usually starts with understanding the needs of the customer and ends with the release of the product to the market.
There are a few steps in between that you'll need to go through, and each one is just as important as the last. Here's a quick rundown of what those steps are:
1. Research: This is where you'll gather all of the information you need about the problem you're trying to solve. You'll want to talk to customers, competitors, industry experts, and anyone else who can help you get a better understanding of the issue.
2. Ideation: This is where you'll come up with all of your ideas for solving the problem. You'll want to brainstorm as many solutions as possible and then narrow it down to the best ones.
3. Design: This is where you'll turn your ideas into a reality. You'll create sketches, prototypes, and anything else you need to show how your solution works.
4. Testing: This is where you'll test your prototypes with actual customers to see how they respond. You'll want to get feedback on everything from usability to aesthetics.
5. Refinement: This is where you'll take all of that feedback and make changes to your design based on what you learned in testing. You'll continue refining your design until you have a product that meets all of your customer's needs.
Product Designer Salaries
So you want to be a product designer? That's great! But what does that mean, exactly?
A product designer is responsible for the look, feel, and function of a product. They work with teams of engineers and other designers to come up with ideas and then turn those ideas into a reality.
Salaries for product designers vary depending on experience and location.
A product designer in the US makes an average base salary of $81,845 in 2022, according to Glassdoor. Average additional pay such as bonuses, commission, and profit sharing is $14,923, bringing the average total pay for a product designer in the US to $96,768.
But on average, you can expect to make somewhere in the range of $60,000 to $80,000 per year.
Keep in mind that this is just a general guideline—salaries can vary quite a bit depending on the company you work for and the type of products you design.
Conclusion
So you want to be a product designer?
Great! Product designers are responsible for the look, feel, and function of a product. They come up with ideas, sketch out designs, and work with engineers to make their ideas a reality.
If you want to become a product designer, you'll need to have a good eye for design, be able to think outside the box, and have strong engineering skills. You'll also need to be able to work well with others and be able to take feedback.
If you're up for the challenge, a career in product design may be right for you.
