Industrial Designer
Develops the concepts for manufactured products — cars, home appliances, electronics and toys.
Overview
An Industrial Designer develops the concepts for manufactured products such as cars, home appliances, electronics, and toys. By combining art, business, and engineering, they make products that people use every day.
Where they work
- Testing Facilities
- Design Centers
- Clients' Exhibit Sites
- Users' Homes or Workplaces
- Product Manufacturing Sites
Work environment
You will typically work 5 to 6 days a week for 8 to 9 hours per day. Shift system is applicable. Entrepreneurship: you can also start a private firm.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to build things
- You are interested in artistic occupations
- You are comfortable working in groups
- You are good with computers
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream.
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree (B.Des.) in Industrial Design
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree (B.Des.) in Industrial Design followed by Master's degree (M.Des.) in the same or related field.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Design. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand
- Industrial Design Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- National Institute of Design, Jorhat, Assam
- National Institute of Design, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- National Institute of Design, Kurukshetra, Haryana
- National Institute of Design, Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh
- National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha
- Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Maharashtra
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
- D J Academy of Design, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Priyadarshini Institute of Architecture and Design, Nagpur, Maharashtra
- Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune, Maharashtra
- Terna Engineering College, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Unitedworld Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Trainee Industrial Designer
- 2Industrial Designer
- 3Senior Industrial Designer
- 4Design Lead
Related careers to explore
Product Designer
Oversees the design of a product from start to finish, or the improvement of an existing one.
Design Engineer
Focuses on the engineering design process, using software to create designs and test prototypes.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Arts, Science.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to creating.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Mann Singh — An Indian Product/Industrial Designer and is also the Design Director of HOF, an award winning Indian furniture brand. He has completed his Bachelor's in Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Mann Singh has won an Elle Decor International Design Award in 2009 and again in 2010.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 497 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Industrial_Designer/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
State names are misspelt in several entries on this card ("Maharastra", "Gurjarat"); they are given in their standard spelling here.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.