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Build a career in product design
This career guide is designed to help University of Portsmouth students and recent graduates explore job options, key employers, and entry routes into the product design sector.
In this guide:
Product design, as a concept, is the creation and development of ideas (through a series of processes) that lead to new products. With this in mind, it can be said that the product design industry is a very broad employment sector and job seekers should look beyond generic job titles and explore key words (such as prototyping, designing, production, manufacturing, engineering) to reveal further or hidden opportunities.
Current research suggests that product/industrial design plays a leading role in 38% of the world's largest organisations and up to 65% of business startups. However the sector is notoriously competitive, and you need to be innovative and have a passion for researching and developing solutions and devices of the future as well as be confident in marketing yourself to succeed in this area of work.
Potential Job Roles
Prospects has a useful list of job profiles, each containing relevant information about key responsibilities, skill requirements, starting salaries, entry requirements, career prospects with links to major employers and current graduate vacancies. Some roles include:
Professional Qualifications
Professional qualifications can support career development in product design, but your portfolio is often more important when applying for roles.
Employers will usually want to see evidence of your design process, creativity, technical skills and ability to develop ideas into finished products. A strong portfolio should show selected projects, sketches, prototypes, CAD work, user research, testing, development stages and final outcomes.
Relevant professional bodies and recognition include:
- Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) membership
- Chartered Designer status, usually for more experienced designers
- specialist training in areas such as CAD, 3D modelling, prototyping, UX/UI, sustainable design or design for manufacture
Students should focus on building a high-quality portfolio alongside their degree. This can include university projects, placement work, live briefs, competitions, freelance work or self-directed design projects. Professional recognition may become more useful later in your career, once you have built up experience and a stronger body of work.
Creating a Portfolio
You can start building up a portfolio of work while you're an undergraduate student. Your portfolio should:
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provide examples of your own ideas as well as your coursework
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demonstrate your evolving skills - so remember to add to this with any work experience you get.
Use the advice and tips in our product design portfolio guide to choose the type of portfolio that will work for you.
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Gaining Experience
Getting relevant experience is essential. Many employers recruit through internships, placement programmes, or work experience programmes. Overall, additional experience will boost your employment prospects by helping to build a network of contacts. Most of your graduate competition will have degree-related work experience.
Types of opportunities
Below are some examples of the different types of opportunities to gain experience while you study.
As part of your degree programme you may have the opportunity to take part in a salaried placement year, either in the UK or overseas to gain proven industrial experience by the time you graduate. This will provide you with an invaluable insight into working life and offer a unique opportunity to apply the industry knowledge you are learning as part of your studies.
Placements will also enable you to gain transferable skills in the workplace, such as communication, teamwork and time management, in addition to finding out more about a specific job role or industry, which will lead to more informed decisions upon graduating.
An internship is usually a work experience opportunity that is offered for a fixed period or a limited amount of time. Internships tend to be undertaken by students and graduates who are looking to gain more relevant/industry specific skills and experience in their particular field. These opportunities can be paid for a period of between one to four months and typically take place over the summer, with closing dates generally around January to March, but some can be earlier.
Finding placement and internship opportunities
The websites below provide further information about placement and internship opportunities related to product design:
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MyCareer – the Careers and Employability Service's online jobs board can be used to search for internships, work experience and summer opportunities across sectors and locations.
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RateMyPlacement – offers information on placements, internships, insights and work experience jobs with a range of relevant companies in the UK.
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Gradcracker – as the UK’s careers website for Technology students, Gradcracker provides a search function for placements and internships relevant to your degree discipline.
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TARGETjobs – provides a specific section on different career sectors, with the ability to search for placement and internship opportunities relating to design or engineering.
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Prospects – has its own search tool for work experience opportunities across sectors, including design and engineering.
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Milkround – provides a search tool for internships and industrial placements across sectors.
Getting involved in volunteering gives you the opportunity to develop employability skills and experience a variety of working environments to assist you in discovering the right career path for you. It provides the chance to network, meet new friends and boost your confidence.
Volunteering also enables you to gain practical experience and working examples to support your graduate applications. If you choose to commit a significant amount of time and impress the organisation during your volunteering, they may also provide you with a professional reference.
Volunteer to get practical experience
Approaching local organisations, charities or community groups who would benefit from your skills is one way of gaining that all-important experience. The competencies developed will be invaluable and enhance any speculative applications you make.
The Careers and Employability Service offers current students and graduates access to a Virtual Volunteering Bank, which provides local opportunities to undertake alongside your studies.
Examples of roles that the Volunteering Team have previously recruited to include:
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STEM Ambassador – supporting a local school or community youth group by helping to inspire young people to make the most of their talents and pursue careers in STEM.
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Home Safety Advisor with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service – acting as a representative to engage with members of the community, visiting households in pairs to conduct a Home Fire Safety Visit; identifying fire hazards and inspecting/fitting smoke alarms if required. An opportunity to enhance communication and interpersonal skills by engaging with a range of organisations.
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Graphic Design Volunteer with the Groundlings Theatre - developing and delivering promotional materials and website content to promote performances and activities for the organisation, offering the opportunity to utilise design and technical skills.
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Social Media and Website Management Volunteer with Portsmouth Food Bank – assisting with the development and maintenance of the organisation’s dedicated website and promotion of work through social media channels.
You can also choose to take a Self-Employed Placement. If you are interested in establishing yourself as a freelance designer and/or establishing your own business or social enterprise, you can work for yourself during your placement year and receive support from the University's Student Startup Team. You will have access to funding opportunities, networking events and workshops to assist you in finding out all you need to know about growing your ideas.
Be proactive and try to gather inspiration and ideas from the world around you: join industry clusters and attend networking events. This is a great way to meet people working in the creative industries and will help you with your networking skills. LinkedIn is a useful platform to network with sector employers.
You can also speak to your tutors about potential contacts and opportunities for work experience over the Easter period or summer vacation.
If you wish to instigate voluntary work experience during the vacation periods please refer to the 'External sites' on the voluntary work experience section of our website.
Where to find work experience opportunities
There are plenty of ways to find work experience in accounting, finance and economics. Some key online platforms include:
Tips to build experience
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Explore the various areas within product design before you apply for work experience; knowing what you want to specialise in will help you to focus your research and ensure you gain relevant skills. Find out about a range of design careers and opportunities to enhance your career prospects through Creative and Cultural Skills.
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Being proactive throughout your course by gaining experience and developing contacts in the industry will be viewed positively. You may consider becoming a member of relevant professional organisations, such as the Chartered Society of Designers to help you to expand your contacts and keep up to date with developments in the industry.
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Consider connecting with relevant industry professionals via LinkedIn, which may enable you to make speculative applications to secure relevant experience with a company.
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Explore online learning opportunities to continue to develop your design/technical skills. There are a range of websites that offer free or fee-paying opportunities, including Future Learn, Google Digital Garage or Udacity to name a few.
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Speak to your tutor or other members of faculty staff researching/working in areas that interest you, as students may sometimes be recruited to work on projects over the summer period.
Getting the most out of work experience
Whether you already have a career path in mind or are still exploring your options, our work experience pages guide you to finding opportunities that match your interests and goals. You'll find advice on choosing an industry, broadening your search, and standing out while building valuable skills and experience.
Finding a Job
We recommend starting your search using our online jobs board, MyCareer. You can also find general online job boards and advice through our Graduate Jobs page.
Job Boards for product design
Recruitment agencies
Recruitment consultants work with individuals to help them find suitable work to match their skills. Agency Central is the UK's leading recruitment agency directory. An advanced search and filter system finds the agencies which match your needs.
Are you looking for a role in Hampshire? Our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy can help!
If you're in the final year of your degree, you can register for support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy. They work with over 3,000 employers in the local area to place our students into fantastic graduate careers.
Speculative applications
Speculative applications involve sending a CV and cover letter to an employer to ask if they have any vacancies, even if the company is not currently advertising for a role. They're a great way to access "hidden jobs" that go unadvertised.
Submitting a speculative application shows your interest in a specific company and your willingness to go above and beyond to develop your skills and understanding of the industry.
Working for yourself
Got an idea you'd like to turn into something bigger?
Whether you're planning a business, side hustle or freelance career, our Student StartUp team can help you build your confidence and develop your plans. Access expert guidance, funding opportunities, workshops and workspace designed to help you move your idea forward.
Keeping up to date with the industry
As part of your job-hunting strategy you will need to keep up to date on developments in this sector and keep track of any vacancies that are coming up. Below are some key resources to help you research opportunities available. The knowledge gained through your research may help you to target your applications and will help when preparing for interviews.
- Design Business Association - A trade association for persons seeking a career or working in the field of design.
- Dezeen - An online resource for the product design industry; providing the latest news and features, and details on new products and forthcoming events.
- Institution of Engineering Designers - A professional engineering institution which represents those working in the fields of Engineering and Technological Product Design.
- TARGETjobs - Provides information and advice for graduate industrial/product designers. Find out what industry sectors you can work in, how much you could earn and how to apply for jobs.
- The Design and Technology Association - A site which provides knowledge and information on living and working in the designed and made world.
- The Guardian UK - An insight into the top design, manufacturing and engineering employers.
Explore more from the Careers Service
CVs, portfolios and cover letters
Find out how to increase your chances of getting an interview by writing a strong CV and completing a successful application.
Building work experience
Get hands-on industry experience and showcase your knowledge before you graduate!
Graduate job search guide
Learn about the types of roles you will encounter, and how to search for roles.
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