About the job
Industrial designers develop and design countless manufactured products such as cars, home appliances, children's toys, computer equipment, and medical, office, or recreational equipment. They are employed by manufacturing industries and private design firms or they may be self-employed.
- Consult with client, engineers or production specialists to establish product requirements.
- Analyze the intended use of product and user preferences.
- Conduct research into cost, properties of production materials and methods of production.
- Prepare design concepts, sketches or models for approval.
- Prepare manufacturing drawings, specifications and guidelines for production and construct prototype of design.
- Consult with engineers and production staff during manufacturing stage.
- business products designer
- consumer products designer
- container designer
- ergonomic products designer
- fixture designer
- furniture designer
- industrial design consultant
- industrial designer
- product designer
- toy designer - industrial design
To work in this field, you should be creative, imaginative, and artistic. You must be able to communicate ideas both visually and verbally. You must be able to work well with people and be open to new ideas and influences. Computer skills, especially familiarity with computer-aided design (CAD), are an asset.
- A university degree in industrial design, architecture, engineering or a college diploma in industrial design is required.
The rate at which new manufacturing technology is adopted will affect the number of job openings in these jobs. There is mobility between positions in this group. Mobility is possible to other design occupations. Creative ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, is required.
Labour Market Information
This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Industrial Designers most commonly work full-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions.
The median employment income for 53% of Industrial Designers who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $72,287. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
| Occupation | Estimated employment in 2018 | Estimated change in employment between 2017 and 2019 | Estimated openings due to growth and retirements, 2017-2019 | Estimated rate of unemployment in 2018 | Estimated hourly earnings in 2015 (learn more) | Estimated annual earnings in 2015 |
| Industrial Designers | 55 | x | x | x | Minimum: N/A Median: N/A Maximum: N/A | Minimum: N/A Median: $57,115 Maximum: N/A |
| Occupations in Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology | 25,875 | Strong growth | 3,095 | Low | Minimum: $17.69 Median: $31.35 Maximum: $47.18 | Minimum: $13,568 Median: $60,422 Maximum: $107,009 |
| Industrial Designers | Compared to: Occupations in Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology | |
| Percent employed full-time | 87% | 94% |
| Percent self-employed | 10% | 7% |
| Area of Employment | Industrial Designers | Compared to: All NS Occupations | ||
| % Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
| Southern | N/A | x | 12% | $30,581 |
| Northern | 12% | x | 16% | $33,660 |
| Cape Breton | 18% | x | 13% | $32,974 |
| Halifax | 59% | x | 47% | $41,209 |
| Annapolis Valley | 12% | x | 13% | $32,958 |
| Age | Industrial Designers | Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology |
| % Employed | % Employed | |
| 15-24 | N/A | x |
| 25-34 | 50% | 14% |
| 35-44 | N/A | 33% |
| 45-54 | 50% | 32% |
| 55-64 | 50% | 18% |
| 65+ | N/A | 4% |
| Median Age | 37 | 43 |
| Gender | Industrial Designers | Compared to: Occupations in Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology |
| % Employed | % Employed | |
| Female | 29% | 20% |
| Male | 71% | 80% |
| Education | Industrial Designers | Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology | ||
| % Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
| Less than high school | x | x | 0.7% | $28,107 |
| High school | 20.0% | x | 12.1% | $35,125 |
| Trades certificate | x | x | 6.8% | $54,923 |
| College certificate or diploma | 13.3% | $37,945 | 33.7% | $52,476 |
| University certificate or diploma | x | x | 3.7% | $52,446 |
| Bachelor's degree | 53.3% | x | 29.7% | $58,011 |
| University advanced certificate or diploma | x | x | 2.0% | $54,917 |
| Master's degree | x | x | 9.7% | $37,706 |
| Doctorate | x | x | 1.7% | $65,565 |
| Medicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry | x | x | 0.1% | $57,566 |
| Total | 100% | 100% | ||
Hourly earnings data are from the Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada. Data are not available for all occupations. Hourly earnings are calculated based on usual hours worked per week. This is how an annual salary, for instance, gets converted to an hourly rate. The data include full and part-time workers along with new and experienced workers. Self-employed workers are excluded.
Annual employment income data reported in the Work Prospects section, are from the 2011 National Household Survey by Statistics Canada. Much of the data (around 70%) came directly from tax records. The data relates to the year 2010 and includes total wages and salaries and net income from self-employment.
Employment Requirements & Contacts
Training Paths & Education
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling contained living environments and for monitoring and controlling factors in the external natural environment, including pollution control, waste and hazardous material disposal, health and safety protection, conservation, life support, and requirements for protection of special materials and related work environments.
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to apply artistic and computer techniques to the interpretation of technical and commercial concepts. These programs include courses in computer-assisted art and design, printmaking, concepts sketching, technical drawing, colour theory, imaging, studio technique, still and life modelling, communication skills and commercial art business operations.
This instructional program class comprises any program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via the creation of effective forms, shapes, and packaging for manufactured products. These programs include courses in designing in a wide variety of plastic and digital media, prototype construction, design development and refinement, principles of cost saving, and product structure and performance criteria relevant to aesthetic design parameters.
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of physical systems used in manufacturing and end-product systems used for specific uses, including machine tools, jigs and other manufacturing equipment; stationary power units and appliances; engines; self-propelled vehicles; housings and containers; hydraulic and electric systems for controlling movement; and the integration of computers and remote control with operating systems.
There are no additional resources for this occupation.