Nature of the Work
Designers organize and design articles, products, and materials in such a way that they not only serve the purpose for which they were intended but are visually pleasing as well. Designers usually specialize in one particular area of design, for example, automobiles, clothing, furniture, home appliances, industrial equipment, movie and theater sets, packaging, orfloral arrangements.
In developing a new design or altering an existing one, they first determine the needs of their clients and potential users. Then they consider the function, size, shape, weight, color, materials used, and the way the product functions, as well as ease of maintenance, safety, and cost of the design. Designers may compare similar or competitive products. They take into account and often set style and fashion trends. Designers usually develop sketches of several designs which they present for final selection to an art or design director, a product development team; a play, film, or television producer, or a client. The designer then makes a model, a sample, or detailed plans drawn to scale.
Designers may supervise craft workers who carry out their designs. Those who run their own businesses may devote a considerable amount of time to developing business contacts and to administrative tasks such as checking catalogs and ordering samples.
Design is not one but a number of different fields. Industrial designers develop and design countless manufactured products like cars, home appliances, computers, stethoscopes, filing cabinets, fishing rods, pens, and piggy banks. They combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, materials, and production methods to create the best and most appealing design and to make the product competitive with others in the marketplace.
Interior designers plan and furnish the interiors of private homes, public buildings, and commercial establishments such as offices, restaurants, hotels, and theaters. With a client's tastes and needs in mind, they develop designs and prepare working drawings and specifications for interior construction, furnishings, lighting, and finishes. They coordinate colors; select furniture, floor coverings, and curtains; and design lighting and architectural details such as crown molding. They also plan additions and renovations. Interior designers must design the space in accordance with Federal, State, and local building codes. In addition, they plan spaces that meet accessibility standards for the disabled and elderly.
Package designers create product containers that are not only attractive but easy to handle and store. Set designers design movie, television, and theater sets. They study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.
Fashion designers design coats, suits, dresses, hats, handbags, shoes, gloves, jewelry, underwear, and other apparel. Some high-fashion designers are self-employed and design for individual clients. They make fashion news by establishing the line, colors, and kinds of materials that will be worn each season. Other high-fashion designers cater to specialty stores or high-fashion department stores. They design original garments as well as follow the established fashion trends. Most fashion designers, however, work for apparel manufacturers, adapting fashions for the mass market.
Textile designers design fabrics for garments, upholstery, rugs, and other products, using their knowledge of textile materials and fashion trends.
Floral designers cut and arrange fresh, dried, or artificial flowers and foliage into a design to express the sentiments of the sender. They trim flowers and arrange bouquets, sprays, wreaths, dish gardens, and terrariums. They usually work from a written order indicating the occasion, customer preference for color and type of flower, price, and the date, time, and place the arrangement or plant is to be delivered. The variety of duties performed by a floral designer depends on the size of the shop and the number of designers employed. In a small operation, the floral designer may own the shop and do almost everything from growing flowers to keeping books.
Working Conditions:
Working conditions and places of employment vary. Designers employed by manufacturing establishments or design firms generally work regular hours in well-lighted and comfortable settings. Self-employed designers tend to work longer hours, especially at first, when they are trying to establish themselves and cannot afford to hire assistants or clerical help.
Designers frequently adjust their workday to suit their clients, meeting with them evenings or on weekends when necessary. They may transact business in clients' homes or offices, in their own offices, or in other locations such as showrooms.
Industrial designers usually work regular hours but occasionally work overtime to meet deadlines. In contrast, set designers, especially those in television broadcasting; often work long and irregular hours. Television production tempo is very fast, and set designers are often under pressure to make rapid changes in the sets. Fashion designers who work in the apparel industry usually have regular hours. During production deadlines or before fashion shows, however, they may be required to put in overtime. In addition, fashion designers may be required to travel to production sites overseas and across the United States. Floral designers usually work regular hours in a pleasant work environment, except during the holidays when overtime may be required.
All designers face frustration at times when their designs are rejected or when they cannot be as creative as they would like. Independent consultants, who are paid by the assignment, are under pressure to please clients and to find new ones to maintain their incomes.
Employment:
Nearly two-fifths of designersare self-employed, a much higher proportion than in most occupations.Salaried designers are found in a number of different industries, depending on their design specialty. Most industrial designers, for example, work for consulting firms or for large manufacturing companies. Interior designers usually work for architectural or design firms; department stores and home furnishing stores; or hotel, restaurant, and other hospitality chains. Many do freelance work, full time, part time, or in addition to a salaried job.
Set designers work for theater companies, the film industry, and television broadcasting companies. Fashion designers generally work for textile, apparel, and pattern manufacturers, or for fashion salons, high- fashion department stores, and specialty shops. Some work in the entertainment industry, designing costumes for theater, dance, television, and movies. Nearly all floral designers work for retail flower shops.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement:
Creativity is crucial in all design occupations. People in this field also need a strong color sense, an eye for detail, a sense of balance and proportion, and sensitivity to beauty. A good portfolio, a collection of examples of a person's best work, is often the deciding factor in landing a job. However, formal preparation in design is important in all fields with the exception of floral design.
Educational requirements for entry level positions vary. Some design occupations, notably industrial design, require a bachelor's or master's degree. Interior designers generally need a college education. Few clients, especially commercial clients, are willing to entrust responsibility for designing living and working space to a designer with no formal credentials. Interior designers must also be knowledgeable about Federal, State, and local codes and toxicity and flammability standards for furniture and furnishings.
In fashion design, too, some formal career preparation is almost always needed to land a job. Employers seek individuals who are knowledgeable about textiles, fabrics, and ornamentation as well as about trends in the fashion world.
In contrast to the other design occupations, a high school diploma ordinarily suffices for floral design jobs. Most floral designers learn their skills on the job. When they hire trainees, employers generally look for high school graduates who have a flair for color and a desire to learn.
Formal training for designers is available in 2-year and 3-year professional schools which award certificates or associate degrees in design. Graduates of 2-year programs generally qualify as assistants to designers. Four-year colleges and universities grant the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The curriculum in these schools includes art and art history, principles of design, designing and sketching, and specialized studies for each of the individual disciplines such as garment construction, textiles, mechanical and architectural drawing, computerized design, sculpture, architecture, and basic engineering. A liberal arts education with courses in merchandising and business ad-ministration along with training in art is also a good background. Persons with training or experience in architecture also qualify for some design occupations.
It is highly recommended that students in the design field take computer-aided design (CAD) courses. CAD is used in many design areas, particularly in industrial design, and most employers expect new employees to be familiar with the use of the computer as a design tool. Computers are used extensively in the aerospace, automotive, and electronic industries.
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design has many accredited postsecondary institutions with programs in art and design. All of these schools award a degree in art. Some award degrees in industrial design, interior design, textile design, graphic design, or fashion design. Many schools do not allow formal entry into a bachelor's degree program until a student has successfully finished a year of basic art and design courses.
Applicants may be required to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability.
The Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) accredits interior design programs and schools. There are many accredited programs located in schools of art, architecture, and home economics. Some colleges and universities offer degrees in floriculture and floristry and provide training in flower marketing and shop management.Floral design is taught in private trade and technical schools.
People in the design field must be creative, imaginative, persistent, and able to communicate their ideas visually. Because tastes in style and fashion can change quickly, designers need to be open to new ideas and influences. Problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently are important traits. People in this field need self-discipline to start projects on their own, and to budget their time in order to meet deadlines. Business sense and sales ability are important for those who are freelancers or run their own businesses.
Beginning designers usually receive on-the-job training. Beginners usually need 1 to 3 years of training before they advance to higher level positions. Experienced designers in large firms may advance to chief designer, design department head, or other supervisory positions. Some experienced designers open their own firms.
Interior design is the only design field subject to government regulation: While licensing is the exception rather than the rule, membership in a professional association is universally recognized as a mark of achievement for designers. Professional membership usually requires the completion of 3 or 4 years of postsecondary education in design, at least 2 years of practical experience in the field, and completion of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination.
Job Outlook:
Employment in design occupations is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. However, most openings will result from the need to replace those who leave the field.
Continued emphasis on product quality and safety; on design of new products for businesses and offices; on high-technology products in medicine, transportation, and other fields; and in-creasing competition among businesses should stimulate the demand for industrial designers. Demand for industrial designers will also rise in those industries using advanced composites, ceramics, and materials being adapted to new uses. Growth in population and in personal incomes is expected to spur demand for interior designers, fashion designers, floral designers, and set designers.
Despite rapid growth in the number of jobs, designers in most specialties, with the exception of floral design, can expect to face competition throughout their careers. Many talented individuals are attracted to a career as a designer, among them, graduates of prestigious design schools. In light of the abundant supply, individuals with unexceptional talent, with no formal preparation in design, and without the necessary personal traits, particularly creativity and perseverance, may find it very difficult to establish and maintain a career in design.
While most areas of design are highly competitive, this is not the case in floral design. Relatively low pay and limited opportunities for advancement restrict the supply of suitable applicants. As a result, finding a job as a floral designer should be relatively easy.
Earnings of self-employed designers vary greatly, depending on their talent and business ability, but generally are higher than those of salaried designers.
Related Occupations:
Workers in other occupations who design or arrange objects, materials, or interiors to improve their appearance and function include visual artists, architects, landscape architects, engineers, photographers, merchandise displayers, and fur designers.
