View occupational profile

Search the OaSIS

Industrial designers

OaSIS code 22211.00

Industrial designers conceptualize and produce designs for manufactured products.

Overview

Also known as

  • Furniture designer
  • Industrial design consultant
  • Industrial designer
  • Industrial products designer
  • Product designer

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • 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
  • Develop manual and computer-assisted design (CAD) 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.

Additional information

  • There is mobility between positions in this unit group.
  • Mobility is possible to other design occupations.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Architectural technologists and technicians (22210)
  • Drafting technologists and technicians (22212)
  • Civil engineering technologists and technicians (22300)
  • Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (22301)
  • Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (22310)
  • Graphic designers and illustrators (52120)
  • Interior designers and interior decorators (52121)
  • Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers (53123)
  • Engineering design and drafting technologist (in 22212.01 Drafting technologists)
  • Mechanical engineering equipment designer (in 22301.01 Mechanical engineering technologists)
  • Civil engineering design technologist (in 22300.01 Civil engineering technologists)
  • Electrical and electronics design technologist (in 22310.01 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

22 – Technical occupations related to natural and applied sciences

Sub-major group

222 – Technical occupations related to applied sciences (except engineering)

Minor group

2221 – Technical occupations in architecture, drafting, surveying, geomatics and meteorology

Unit group

22211 – Industrial designers

Occupational profile

22211.00 – Industrial designers

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Thinking Creatively
5 - Highest Level
Applying New Knowledge
4 - High Level
Developing Technical Instructions
4 - High Level
Interacting with Computers
4 - High Level
Analyzing Data or Information
3 - Moderate Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Standing
Duration
2 - Less than half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
3 - About half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
4 - Highly important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • Manufacturing industries
  • Private design firms
  • Self-employed

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Deductive Reasoning
5 - Highest Level
Fluency of Ideas
5 - Highest Level
Spatial Visualization
5 - Highest Level
Categorization Flexibility
4 - High Level
Colour Perception
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Product Design
5 - Highest Level
Digital Literacy
4 - High Level
Numeracy
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Active Listening
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Oral Expression
4 - High Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Creativity
5 - Extremely important
Innovativeness
5 - Extremely important
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: AER

Artistic (A)

Artistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail artistic expression to create, compose or produce visual, performing, literary or applied art. These occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns and often require self-expression and the accomplishment of work without following a clear set of rules.

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Realistic (R)

Realistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the explicit, ordered or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines and animals. Many of these occupations do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • A university degree in industrial design, architecture, engineering or a college diploma in industrial design is required.
  • Creative ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, is required.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Manufacturing, Processing and Production
3 - Advanced Level
Technical Design
3 - Advanced Level
Languages
2 - Intermediate Level
Logistics
2 - Intermediate Level
Mathematics
2 - Intermediate Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Date modified: