The Ultimate Product Design Career Guide Are you interested in starting a career in product design? Find out the opportunities and skills you'll need to have with this career guide. Product design is a form of industrial design that involves designing products used by millions worldwide. This could be anything from a chair to an aircraft. However, what makes product designers special is how they think consumers will interact with their product — before, during, and after purchase. That’s because product design isn’t just about creating a solution but also delivering an experience that reflects the brand promise. It’s also about making the production process efficient to make the product available at a reasonable cost. As a market, product and industrial design is valued at $3.4 billion as of 2022 — an increase of 5.5% from 2021. There are over 17,948 product designers currently employed in the United States. That number is projected to grow 6% by 2030. In addition, it has been reported that businesses that embrace design generate 32% more revenue on average and 56% more shareholder returns. Whether you’re a product designer looking for a new job or changing your career entirely, it’s important to know what the industry looks like and what opportunities are available. So we have created this comprehensive guide to help you determine and achieve your product design career goals. Yellowbrick’s (www.yellowbrick.co) Ultimate Product Design Career Guide, which is a supplement to the Product Design Essentials certificate program from Parsons School of Design and Wallpaper* (https://ylearn.co/productbook), is your source to discover careers and learn entry points into the product design industry. In this guide, you can explore the jobs that drive the market, then search for your perfect career by area of interest, skills, companies, or industry experts. Learn about your skills and interests, articulate them confidently to identify career options you might pursue, and implement a successful strategy to attain your desired career outcomes. In this guide, you’ll find the following information: • Overview of the product design industry • Future of the product market • Product Design Career Library • Career Planning Strategy to get into the design industry You’ll also find simple exercises that help you: • form a career planning strategy to get into the product design industry • find your passion for design and identify an area of interest to pursue • learn the industry through top companies, brands, and its key players • identify your skills and match them to a place of interest Whether you’re a novice, a student, or a professional, you can further your career path by accessing this guide that will help you understand product design opportunities available and the skills and qualifications you need to succeed.

1. THE
ULTIMATE
PRODUCT
DESIGN
CAREER
GUIDE

2. SPECIAL OFFER
2
OUTLINE

3. SPECIAL OFFER
3
04
09
14
18
Industry 101
Prospective Highlights
Future of Work
Design
Research & Development
Manufacturing
Marketing
Novice Strategy
Alumni Strategy
Expert Strategy
05
07
08
10
11
12
13
15
16
17
21
24
27
33
34
36
CAREER LIBRARY
CAREER PLANNING STRATEGY
GETTING STARTED
Pinpoint Your Passion for Product Design
Learn The Industry
Identify Your Skills
Brand Research
Set Your Career Goals
General Rules of Exploration
OVERVIEW

4. SPECIAL OFFER
4
OVERVIEW
INDUSTRY 101
PROSPECTIVE
HIGHLIGHTS
FUTURE OF WORK

5. 5 SPECIAL OFFER
OVERVIEW
INDUSTRY 101
Product design is the process of creating
a new product for consumer use.
Designers assess a specific user problem
and evaluate the market opportunity for
a potential product to create a solution.
Product design follows a product from
conceptualization to distribution, with
designers pulling elements from art,
business, technology, and science to
create tangible products. Industrial
design is often used interchangeably
with product design. However, the most
important distinction between the two
is that industrial design focuses more on
mass production.
As a market, product and industrial
design is valued at $3.4 billion as of
2022 — an increase of 5.5% from 2021.
There are over 17,948 product designers
currently employed in the United States.
That number is projected to grow 6% by
2030. In addition, it has been reported
that businesses that embrace design
generate 32% more revenue on average
and 56% more shareholder returns.

6. 6 SPECIAL OFFER
OVERVIEW

7. 7 SPECIAL OFFER
On average, the
market size of the
industrial design
industry in the U.S.
has grown 6.7% per
year between 2017
and 2022.
In 2021, 3.4 million
patent applications
were filed, up 3.6%
since 2020.
In the fiscal year
of 2021, a total
of 33,914 design
patents were
granted by the
U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office,
2,399 less than the
previous year.
OVERVIEW
PROSPECTIVE
HIGHLIGHTS
6.7% GROWTH 3.4 MILLION
APPLICATIONS
2,399 LESS
PATENTS
In 2021, China filed more patents than any
other country with 1.59 million applications.
The U.S. was the country with the second most
patent applications filed at over 591,000 in
2021.

8. 8 SPECIAL OFFER
FUTURE OF WORK
Product design rapidly
changes as new technologies
are invented, and existing
ones are refined. In the
last five years, the field
has seen advancements in
computer-assisted design
and 3D printing, which have
considerably impacted the
design process. Artificial
intelligence-enabled digital
tools will support a new
generation of customer-
focused products as the
industry continues its shift to
more product customization.
Some experts have predicted
mobile and app development
will be superseded by virtual
and augmented reality.
More manufacturers are
under pressure to produce
with minimal waste, and
product designers will be
expected to understand
sustainability. According to
a report by NielsenIQ, 90%
of U.S. consumers say they
would switch brands to one
that’s associated with a
cause, if given comparable
price and quality. In addition,
66% of consumers globally
are willing to pay more for
sustainable goods.
Inclusive design has become
a core tenant in product
design. The idea of inclusive
design is to create a product
or service with functionality
that makes it accessible
universally and can be
used by as many people as
possible. Users should not
be restricted by age, gender,
and ability level. Despite
the emergence of inclusive
design, product designers
lack representation in race
and gender. For example,
67.9% of product designers
are men, and 73.7% are
white.
OVERVIEW

9. SPECIAL OFFER
9
CAREER
LIBRARY
Many careers can be pursued within
the product design industry. The
Product Design Essentials online course
with Parsons and Wallpaper* gives a
holistic understanding of the product
design industry — including the careers
responsible for driving the market forward
while developing necessary skills. Below
is a list of career possibilities for students,
along with highlighted industry experts
within the course you could learn from.

10. 10 SPECIAL OFFER
CAD Drafter
CAD Technician
CAD Engineer
Textile Technologist
Color Technologist
Prototyper Interaction Designer
CAREER LIBRARY
INDUSTRY EXPERT HIGHLIGHT
MARK PROMMEL
Partner & Design Lead, Pensa
Design Engineer
Graphic Designer
3D Artist
Concept Artist
Data Analyst
UX Designer
CAREERS IN DESIGN

11. 11 SPECIAL OFFER
CAREER LIBRARY
Research Analyst
Product Manager
Materials Engineer
Procurement Manager
Project Architect
User Researcher
Quality Engineer
Product Development Strategy
Manager
Product Development Scientist
Packaging Engineer
Packaging Research and
Innovation Specialist
INDUSTRY EXPERT HIGHLIGHT
SCOTT HENDERSON
Founder, Scott Henderson Inc.
CAREERS IN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

12. 12 SPECIAL OFFER
Assembler
Warehouse Worker
Woodworker
Machinist/Operator
Process Manager
Manufacturing Specialist
Manufacturing Engineer
CAREER LIBRARY
INDUSTRY EXPERT HIGHLIGHT
ALICIA TAM WEI
Parsons Faculty
CAREERS IN MANUFACTURING

13. 13 SPECIAL OFFER
CAREER LIBRARY
Product Marketer
Growth Marketer
Digital Marketing Analyst
User Acquisition Manager
Market Research Analyst
INDUSTRY EXPERT HIGHLIGHT
JOHN-MICHAEL EKEBLAD
Parsons Faculty
Copywriter
Customer Experience Architect
Customer Support
Representative
Community Manager
CAREERS IN MARKETING

14. SPECIAL OFFER
14
CAREER
PLANNING
STRATEGY
There is no set linear path to achieving
your dreams within the product design
industry. The following is a three-phase
career planning guide that reflects
industry experts’ experiences and tailored
to novices, alumni, and experts who are
either considering a career within product
design, navigating into the product design
management industry, or experiencing
growth and leadership in their roles.

15. 15 SPECIAL OFFER
NOVICE
NOVICE
Begin to
understand your
interests within
the product design
industry
Explore career
options within the
product design
industry
Determine
when you want
to enroll in the
Product Design
Essentials course
led by Parsons and
Wallpaper*, other
relevant programs,
conferences, etc.,
to expand your
knowledge
Create a
LinkedIn profile
and reach out to
potential mentors
or industry experts
that align with your
area of interest
Learn more
about the Product
Design Essentials
course led by
Parsons and
Wallpaper*
Follow
Yellowbrick on
Instagram and
TikTok to learn
about expert
workshops on
topics related
to the industry,
networking, and job
searching
Identify the
career path(s)
you’re interested in
pursuing
Identify your
interests, values,
skills, and talents
Enroll in
programs, classes,
and attend
conferences that
allow you to gain
first-hand learning
experience about
the product design
industry
Learn the
timelines and
experiences of
potential mentors
and industry
experts you admire
Understand
recruiting timelines
based on the
product design
industry
KNOWLEDGE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
CAREER PLANNING STRATEGY

16. 16 SPECIAL OFFER
Have an expert
understanding of
how a product
is planned and
executed
Complete
templates,
assignments, and
work that apply to
the product design
industry
Upload work
completed onto
your portfolio and
LinkedIn
Review job
descriptions of
positions within
the product design
industry that
interest you
Attend events
to build a network
Attend
recruiting events
and employer
information
sessions
Connect with
mentors, industry
experts within your
field of interest,
and alumni to
better position
yourself for the job
search
Assess what
you’ve learned
about yourself and
the intersection
between product
design career paths
and the alignment
with your skills and
interests
Seek an
internship or entry-
level opportunity
within your field of
interest in product
design
Determine
the gaps in your
skillset and pursue
opportunities to
build those skills
needed
Revise and
tailor your resume
and cover letter
KNOWLEDGE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
CAREER PLANNING STRATEGY
ALUMNI
ALUMNI

17. 17 SPECIAL OFFER
In-depth,
hands-on
knowledge about
specific careers
within the product
design industry
Master
communication
within your
discipline and field
Have your hand
on the pulse with
industry trends and
topics
Develop
and maintain
relationships with
mentors and peers
within the product
design industry
Explore
leadership,
speaking
engagements,
and opportunities
within the industry
beyond your 9 to 5
Collaborate
with peers,
companies, and/or
organizations
Celebrate your
accomplishments,
growth, and
opportunities to
learn
Give yourself
permission to
pursue and grow
out of your comfort
zone
Ensure your
professional online
presence is up to
date: LinkedIn,
website, etc.
Prepare field-
specific application
materials (resume,
cover letter,
samples/portfolio)
KNOWLEDGE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
CAREER PLANNING STRATEGY
EXPERT
EXPERT

18. SPECIAL OFFER
18
GETTING
STARTED
PINPOINT YOUR
PRODUCT DESIGN
PASSION
LEARN THE INDUSTRY
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
BRAND RESEARCH
SET YOUR
CAREER GOALS
GENERAL RULES
OF EXPLORATION

19. 19 SPECIAL OFFER
GETTING STARTED
ON YOUR NEXT STEPS
The product design industry is made up
of an ecosystem of careers ranging from
conceptualization to manufacturing. The
possibilities may feel vast, but you can
follow a career planning process that will
help you make informed decisions beyond
completing the Parsons x Wallpaper*
Product Design Essentials course. Figuring
out what career you want to pursue and
creating a plan to get there involves
assessing your interests and skills,
exploring your options, making decisions,
and taking action to achieve your career
goals. While each person’s experience
will be unique, these key points apply to
everyone.
GETTING STARTED

20. 20 SPECIAL OFFER
GETTING STARTED
DISCOVER
Dig into your interests,
personal values, skills,
work environment
preferences, lifestyle,
and job responsibilities
to identify different
fields within the
industry you’re
passionate about.
ACT
Get hands-on
experience from
internships, projects,
volunteering, job
opportunities related to
your evaluation.
EXPLORE
Research and learn
a range of career
options that align with
your interests you’ve
discovered.
DECIDE
Assess and evaluate
your options and narrow
down your selections
to a few that match
best with your lifestyle,
work environment
preferences, and wants.
It’s important to practice a growth
mindset and be open to exploring your
passions, interests, wants, and needs.

21. 21 SPECIAL OFFER
21
PINPOINT
YOUR
PRODUCT
DESIGN
PASSION
The most important elements in figuring
out your career path and next steps are
understanding your passion and how
your interests relate. This career prep
exercise is your starter guide for exploring
your passion and interests within product
design and the industry.
CAREER PREP

22. 22 SPECIAL OFFER
1
4
7
2
5
3
6
DIRECTIONS
Take a few minutes to reflect on the
following topics. Come up with 3-5
answers to each. Once you are finished
answering the questions, identify
commonalities, and find themes in your
answers.
During my
free time, I...
I’m an expert at... I’m obsessed with
product design
because...
I’m energized by...
I like learning
about...
If I can learn
anything about
product design, it’d
be...
Naturally,
I’m good at...
PINPOINT YOUR PASSION
1
4
7
2
5
3
6

23. 23 SPECIAL OFFER
OF your answers, what common theme(s) are you seeing related
to these areas of interest within the product design industry?
DESIGN
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
MANUFACTURING
MARKETING
ACTION STEP
From the common themes you’ve seen from your answers, who
is one person you can talk to and learn more about your area
of interest?
PINPOINT YOUR PASSION

24. SPECIAL OFFER
24
LEARN
THE
INDUSTRY
How well do you know the product design
industry? Use this research exercise to
learn more about key players in the
industry, your favorite firms and their
competitors, and discover what type
of businesses you want to work for (or
start!).
CAREER PREP

25. 25 SPECIAL OFFER
LEARN THE INDUSTRY

26. 26 SPECIAL OFFER
LEARN THE INDUSTRY

27. SPECIAL OFFER
27
IDENTIFY
YOUR
PRODUCT
DESIGN
SKILLS
As you understand your interests within
the product design industry, you must be
aware of the skills you have developed
and already possess, especially when
planning your career goals or beginning
your job search.
CAREER PREP

28. 28 SPECIAL OFFER
Each box represents a skill and area of interest
within the product design industry. Within each box below:
Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled
Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled
Place a “1” if there’s room for improvement
DESIGN
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Innovative
Ability to conceptualize new ideas
Good at Brainstorming
Collaborative
Imaginative
Detail-oriented
Strong presentation skills
Organized
Intuitive
Visualization skills

29. 29 SPECIAL OFFER
Each box represents a skill and area of interest
within the product design industry. Within each box below:
Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled
Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled
Place a “1” if there’s room for improvement
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Critical thinker
Analytical mindset
Process-oriented
Resourceful
Time management skills
Curiosity
Strong written and verbal communication
Multitasker
Ability to anticipate outcomes
Can think outside the box

30. 30 SPECIAL OFFER
MANUFACTURING
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Can work under deadlines
Self-motivated
Can-do attitude
Consistent
Technologically savvy
Problem solver
Leadership
Patient
Strategic planner
Dependable
Each box represents a skill and area of interest
within the product design industry. Within each box below:
Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled
Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled
Place a “1” if there’s room for improvement

31. 31 SPECIAL OFFER
MARKETING
IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS
Enthusiastic
Interpersonal skills
Adaptable
Strong work ethic
Empathetic
Active listener
Confidence
Accountable
Salesperson
Quick learner
Each box represents a skill and area of interest
within the product design industry. Within each box below:
Place a “3” in the box if you are highly skilled
Place a “2” if you are moderately skilled
Place a “1” if there’s room for improvement

32. 32 SPECIAL OFFER
BECOME
AN EXPERT
Hiring managers and head hunters are
impressed with what you know and the
skills you can bring to the table. Making
time for yourself to become an expert
is how you’ll find your lane and make
yourself stand out. This can appear in
different ways: investing in your career
with time, money, and knowledge.
Constant exposure to new information
can be overwhelming to figure out where
to start and how to keep up. Begin with
what you know and where your interests
fall — by researching the agencies,
groups, and firms you gravitate towards
or their competitors.

33. 33 SPECIAL OFFER
Ammunition Group
ARTOP GROUP
Beyond Design
Bleck Design Group
Bresslergroup
Busse Design
Concepto Studios
Designaffairs
Designworks
Discommon
Fahrenheit Design
Frog Design
Fuse Project
GK Design Group
HLB
IDEO LLC
Jackson Hedden
Karten Design
LUNAR Design
Nectar
PDD
Pensa
R&D Design
RKS Design
Scott Henderson, Inc.
Teague
Trig
Whipsaw
Ziba Design
TOP DESIGN FIRMS
TO GET YOU STARTED
BRAND RESEARCH

34. SPECIAL OFFER
SET YOUR CAREER GOALS 34
SETTING
YOUR
CAREER
GOALS
You’ve narrowed in your passions and
done some research into the product
design industry. Identifying your career
goal and creating a plan around it will
help you with your next steps.
Setting career goals requires planning.
Identify academic requirements,
experience, barriers, and other factors
that will help you prepare for your career
goals on the next page.
CAREER PREP

35. 35 SPECIAL OFFER
SET YOUR CAREER GOALS
ACADEMICS
EXPERIENCE
BARRIERS
OTHER FACTORS
CAREER GOALS

36. 36 SPECIAL OFFER
GENERAL RULES OF CAREER
EXPLORATION WITHIN
THE PRODUCT DESIGN INDUSTRY
GENERAL RULES
EXPLORE
Take time to
explore how your
interests and
skills intersect
with different
career paths in the
product design
industry. This will
help you holistically
understand the
whole industry and
communicate your
value to future
employers.
BUILD
Each opportunity
you take on builds
a foundation of
applicable skills
for the next
opportunity.
START
Beginning allows
you to build a
wide range of
experiences,
explore various
fields, and give you
room to change
your mind or pivot
along the way.

37. 37 SPECIAL OFFER
37
READY TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THE
PRODUCT DESIGN
FIELD AND ALL
ASPECTS OF THE
PRODUCT DESIGN
BUSINESS?
Check out Yellowbrick’s Parsons x
Wallpaper* Product Design Essentials
course.

38. 38 SPECIAL OFFER
ZIPPIA | STATS & FACTS
https://www.zippia.com/product-designer-jobs/
demographics/
IBIS WORLD | MARKET SIZE
https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-
size/industrial-designers-united-states/
STATISTA | DESIGN PATENTS
https://www.statista.com/statistics/256589/number-of-
design-patent-grants-in-the-us/
ABSTRACT | THE FUTURE OF PRODUCT DESIGN
https://www.abstract.com/blog/product-design-in-2020s
RESOURCES

39. SPECIAL OFFER
39
PRODUCT
DESIGN
ESSENTIALS
Parsons faculty, together with design experts
from leading organizations, will help you build
your knowledge on key trends shaping the future
of product design and gain an understanding
of how design, manufacturing, and marketing
components work together within the product
creation process.
This 100% online course will build your product
design skills and expertise in key areas such as:
Design Thinking
Sketching and design visualization
Sustainable materials and processes
Creating and evaluating a user experience
Improving produce for its next generation
Learn more at ylearn.co/productbook.
ABOUT

40. 40 SPECIAL OFFER
EMPOWERING DREAMERS TO
ACHIEVE THEIR CALLING
In partnership with top universities
and brands, we create educational
experiences that tap into interests and
passions to spark success, fuel personal
advancement, and open doors to fulfilling
paths for our students.
Check out our full course offerings at
ylearn.co/ebook.
Join us on social media:
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ABOUT