- Training Graphic Design
At the crossroads of technical, commercial and cultural constraints, Product Designers are inventors, artists, technicians and ergonomists all rolled into one.
The aesthetician of the object
Your biscuit tin is so pretty, and your sofa is so nice! You regularly fall in love with everyday objects! Behind this or these favourites, there is a woman, a man, a Product Designer who has invented the shapes of the product while integrating the manufacturing constraints. An aesthetician of the object, but not only. Their mission is multifaceted.
The tasks of the product designer
As we have seen, the Product Designer’s main concern is to make the object attractive from a commercial point of view (shape, ergonomics, size, colour, etc). They must provide a de facto response to the needs of increasingly demanding consumers.
In essence, they have to adapt to the surveys carried out among the general public, while taking into account commercial, economic and financial parameters, juggling their imagination and creativity with purely economic constraints.
Required qualities/skills
At the crossroads of technical, commercial and cultural constraints, the Product Designer is an inventor, an artist, a technician and an ergonomist all rolled into one. Whether working in a company or an agency, the Product Designer spends most of his or her time in front of a computer.
They also take part in numerous meetings with clients, the marketing department or the design office.at the cutting edge of innovation, Product Designers need to keep abreast of the latest fashions, concepts and technologies. Cutting-edge and trendy!
Above all, they are creative people with a sense of industrial and commercial realities. The Product Designer obviously masters computer-assisted design technology and industrial design software.
Becoming a product designer is a matter of training. ESMA’s graphic design course prepares students to enter this field directly after leaving applied arts school.
How much does a product designer earn?
Product Designer salaries grow with experience, the complexity of the projects they handle, and whether they work in an agency, a startup, or a large company. While beginners earn modest starting salaries, experienced designers can reach much higher ranges as they take on leadership or strategic roles.
- Entry-Level: $55,000–$75,000 per year
- Mid-Level: $80,000–$110,000 per year
- Senior: $115,000–$150,000+ per year
- Freelance / Independent: $40–$80+ per hour, depending on project and industry
