How to become an Industrial Designer
Also called: Product Designer
Plans, designs, develops and documents industrial, commercial or consumer products for manufacture, and prepares designs and specifications of products for mass or batch production.
Main tasks
- Undertakes product research and analyses functional, commercial, cultural and aesthetic requirements
- Generates ideas and concepts for new industrial products or product improvements
- Develops detailed design specifications and documentation for production of products such as toys, home appliances and furniture
- Creates design sketches, illustrations, models and samples for presentation to clients and manufacturers
- Selects, specifies and recommends functional and aesthetic materials, production methods and finishes for manufacture
- Prepares and commissions prototypes and samples
- Collaborates with engineers, manufacturers and product testers to ensure design feasibility and manufacturability
Ways in
- University: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
- TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Manufacturing (MSF40222); Diploma of Furniture Design and Manufacturing (MSF50322); Certificate IV in Design (CUA40720)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- About 14,600 people work in this job group now, and about 17,700 are projected by 2035. (+20.9%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Industrial Designer?
Ways in include: Creative Arts & Design degrees; Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Manufacturing; Diploma of Furniture Design and Manufacturing.
Is an Industrial Designer a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 14,600 to about 17,700 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become an Industrial Designer?
Usually. 69% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of an Industrial Designer?
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04