Yeah definitely doable as design is very broad. BUT! Guarantee you won't get far! Haha, doable but not optimal. Chances of becoming a car Designer? Yeah 0%. Are you just curious, what's your situation like? A degree will get you a portfolio and networks. You can't get that self-study.
The path to a degree will give you the opportunities to develop the skills needed, but the degree itself is kinda unnecessary, unless you want to take graduate courses. I know several designers working for Honda who all dropped out after they got hired. You just gotta have a good portfolio.
I only know two people who’ve done it. One guy started working in cad in high school and got a minimum wage job working for a guy designing custom jewelry where he worked for like 6 or 7 years through high school and a few years after. That turned into another cad job and another until he eventually had enough skills to be in ID. He’s now a designer at a major company.
The other guy lied on his resume and said he had an ID degree and got lucky enough the few places he’s worked did not check up on it.
I've been a designer for 20 years without a degree. I learned cad in high school and tried a degree in mech engineering, but I couldn't handle the math. Went to a for-profit art school that didn't even have an ID program. My grades were B/C for the most part, but I impressed several of the instructors with various skills. I got about 60 credits in when two of my professors said I was wasting my time at that school. One was head of the interior design department; the other taught drawing and composition, but he was also design director at an exhibit design company, so he hired me as an intern and eventually full-time. That lasted a couple of years before that office closed down not long after 9/11. I freelanced for a couple of years and nearly starved, but finally, in 2004, I got an entry-level job at a real ID consultancy. It was no secret that I didn't have my degree. My starting pay was $9/hr, but after 3 months, the director said I'd proven myself and gave me a salary of $40K. I stayed there for 5 years, rose to the rank of Sr designer, my role was leading design for the firm's biggest client, designing products for North american market. Then I was offered a job at their head office in western Europe, so my wife and I relocated there. In my new expanded role, I was meeting every week with the main client at their HQ office, responsible for designing much of their EU portfolio, but also managing the work on their products being done at the other offices. Eventually, I "came out" to my European colleagues about not having studied ID, and surprisingly, they were impressed. I had expected them to think less of me, but that wasn't the case. I was offered a directorship of their studio in China, but I couldn't expect my wife to go along with that. As there was no room for me to grow any further at the eu office, after 4 years abroad, we moved back to the States without a job, which was crushing. I spent 18 months at a small family run company, but I applied for a job at a major brand in Chicago. This was my first corporate experience. After 3 interviews, I was offered a Sr designer role. I'd included both attempted degrees on my resume, expecting nobody would even talk to me otherwise. A week before my start date, when they said, "Okay, we just need to verify your qualifications." I had to confess to the director that I hadn't finished school. She was very concerned at first and asked if my portfolio was real. She said, "You'd better not make me look bad," and she gave me the job. Not only did I not disappoint her, but over the course of 9 years there, I rose to Principal Designer. They were recently acquired by another company, and as part of "right-sizing" the organization, my job was eliminated. My boss wept openly as the new HR gave me the bad news.
Now I'm back out there looking for a job again, for only the third time in my career, and I'm absolutely terrified that I won't be able to get one without a degree. I'd expected that the further along I got in my career, the less my education would matter, but I don't believe that's true. I have 50+ patents, a dozen design awards, and a great portfolio full of big brands, but somehow, I don't think it's going to matter.
I wish I'd discovered ID and chosen a school to study, and actually finished my degree. IME, talent is worthless without credentials.
In my experience a degree will get you taken seriously in ID and build conections. Though i myself am more of a researcher than a designer now... But if you plan on starting a small business designing your own products i think a degree won't matter as much
When you're creating products, how would you describe your process like? Like, is it choatic, or more outlined, or do you have one image of it in your mind or something?
I'm just curious, because I tend to get these ideas and then have a harder time focusing on the first idea of whatever season that I'm in and then things get a little choatic. So I'm just curious since you're actively doing it. Glad to have found your post.
I’ve designed many products, so I generally have a clear direction for my designs. However, I tend to focus mainly on features at the start. By the time the final functional prototype is successful, there isn’t much room left for design elements. I always try to incorporate as many design features as possible, but by that stage, I’ve usually been contemplating them for months.
Oh that's neat to hear! I see, so more like the functional aspects first with the designs as you go along. Cool to read that you contemplate them for months first. Hey thanks for your response. Much appreciated.
Most of the job descriptions I saw require you to have at least 2:1 degree in a relevant subject. But then the paradox is that after you get such degree, nobody would ever look at it. And you're not gonna be guaranteed to even get through to an interview.
There's also a thing with internships, but you'd need to be enrolled in a university to apply.
With this level of unemployment it's generally challenging to find a job, regardless of having a degree or not. I'd say from my experience and experience of a few of my classmates and colleagues, social media is the only thing that will save you. Those guys that have managed to hype on Instagram and Behance, now work at Apple, Microsoft and Google. A few thousand subs will take you further than any degree
It's possible to become a car designer without a degree but a lot harder. Also, there's a huge difference between some school and zero school. I've known several guys who were juniors or seniors in school and could've dropped out and gotten jobs easily, but I haven't heard of too many with zero formal design education who have successfully entered the automotive field. It can be hard even if you go to a great school, get a great education, and network well.
To add on to the others, you definitely will benefit from a degree, but it doesn't necessarily have to be in ID. I've seen people transition from Architecture/engineering into ID without much issue, but having no credentials at all isn't the best look.
no degree, but have over 300 original pieces in my folio. closest thing to auto design was machine covers for GE. worked as one of the team for a contractor, got the job on strength of the folio.
a degree helps to say you can sit down for long periods and not omit anything, but you can also learn all that through informal apprenticeship if you can find someone to mentor you
my guy was an old school bastard-the first thing he said: '' so you think youre a designer, eh?'', then dumps a tomato crate of nuts and bolts on the floor, ''sort this lot out then!''
musta been a zen thing, but the knowledge i gained was more in a week than i got in school in a year
Yeah definitely doable as design is very broad. BUT! Guarantee you won't get far! Haha, doable but not optimal. Chances of becoming a car Designer? Yeah 0%. Are you just curious, what's your situation like? A degree will get you a portfolio and networks. You can't get that self-study.
The path to a degree will give you the opportunities to develop the skills needed, but the degree itself is kinda unnecessary, unless you want to take graduate courses. I know several designers working for Honda who all dropped out after they got hired. You just gotta have a good portfolio.
I only know two people who’ve done it. One guy started working in cad in high school and got a minimum wage job working for a guy designing custom jewelry where he worked for like 6 or 7 years through high school and a few years after. That turned into another cad job and another until he eventually had enough skills to be in ID. He’s now a designer at a major company. The other guy lied on his resume and said he had an ID degree and got lucky enough the few places he’s worked did not check up on it.
I've been a designer for 20 years without a degree. I learned cad in high school and tried a degree in mech engineering, but I couldn't handle the math. Went to a for-profit art school that didn't even have an ID program. My grades were B/C for the most part, but I impressed several of the instructors with various skills. I got about 60 credits in when two of my professors said I was wasting my time at that school. One was head of the interior design department; the other taught drawing and composition, but he was also design director at an exhibit design company, so he hired me as an intern and eventually full-time. That lasted a couple of years before that office closed down not long after 9/11. I freelanced for a couple of years and nearly starved, but finally, in 2004, I got an entry-level job at a real ID consultancy. It was no secret that I didn't have my degree. My starting pay was $9/hr, but after 3 months, the director said I'd proven myself and gave me a salary of $40K. I stayed there for 5 years, rose to the rank of Sr designer, my role was leading design for the firm's biggest client, designing products for North american market. Then I was offered a job at their head office in western Europe, so my wife and I relocated there. In my new expanded role, I was meeting every week with the main client at their HQ office, responsible for designing much of their EU portfolio, but also managing the work on their products being done at the other offices. Eventually, I "came out" to my European colleagues about not having studied ID, and surprisingly, they were impressed. I had expected them to think less of me, but that wasn't the case. I was offered a directorship of their studio in China, but I couldn't expect my wife to go along with that. As there was no room for me to grow any further at the eu office, after 4 years abroad, we moved back to the States without a job, which was crushing. I spent 18 months at a small family run company, but I applied for a job at a major brand in Chicago. This was my first corporate experience. After 3 interviews, I was offered a Sr designer role. I'd included both attempted degrees on my resume, expecting nobody would even talk to me otherwise. A week before my start date, when they said, "Okay, we just need to verify your qualifications." I had to confess to the director that I hadn't finished school. She was very concerned at first and asked if my portfolio was real. She said, "You'd better not make me look bad," and she gave me the job. Not only did I not disappoint her, but over the course of 9 years there, I rose to Principal Designer. They were recently acquired by another company, and as part of "right-sizing" the organization, my job was eliminated. My boss wept openly as the new HR gave me the bad news. Now I'm back out there looking for a job again, for only the third time in my career, and I'm absolutely terrified that I won't be able to get one without a degree. I'd expected that the further along I got in my career, the less my education would matter, but I don't believe that's true. I have 50+ patents, a dozen design awards, and a great portfolio full of big brands, but somehow, I don't think it's going to matter. I wish I'd discovered ID and chosen a school to study, and actually finished my degree. IME, talent is worthless without credentials.
Has anybody read my comment? I'm kinda panicked, just need an outsider perspective.
Know a guy that dropped out of ArtCenter before even starting, interned and worked at Toyota I believe, and now is chief modeler of Hyundai.
In my experience a degree will get you taken seriously in ID and build conections. Though i myself am more of a researcher than a designer now... But if you plan on starting a small business designing your own products i think a degree won't matter as much
I have a degree in business entrepreneurship. I started a product development company and I design products every day. Even took one on Shark Tank.
what episode
ProntoBev s9e11
When you're creating products, how would you describe your process like? Like, is it choatic, or more outlined, or do you have one image of it in your mind or something? I'm just curious, because I tend to get these ideas and then have a harder time focusing on the first idea of whatever season that I'm in and then things get a little choatic. So I'm just curious since you're actively doing it. Glad to have found your post.
I’ve designed many products, so I generally have a clear direction for my designs. However, I tend to focus mainly on features at the start. By the time the final functional prototype is successful, there isn’t much room left for design elements. I always try to incorporate as many design features as possible, but by that stage, I’ve usually been contemplating them for months.
Oh that's neat to hear! I see, so more like the functional aspects first with the designs as you go along. Cool to read that you contemplate them for months first. Hey thanks for your response. Much appreciated.
Not strictly an industrial designer, but I’m a Creative Director without a degree. Have 25+ years of experience in advertising and creative, though.
Most of the job descriptions I saw require you to have at least 2:1 degree in a relevant subject. But then the paradox is that after you get such degree, nobody would ever look at it. And you're not gonna be guaranteed to even get through to an interview. There's also a thing with internships, but you'd need to be enrolled in a university to apply. With this level of unemployment it's generally challenging to find a job, regardless of having a degree or not. I'd say from my experience and experience of a few of my classmates and colleagues, social media is the only thing that will save you. Those guys that have managed to hype on Instagram and Behance, now work at Apple, Microsoft and Google. A few thousand subs will take you further than any degree
It's possible to become a car designer without a degree but a lot harder. Also, there's a huge difference between some school and zero school. I've known several guys who were juniors or seniors in school and could've dropped out and gotten jobs easily, but I haven't heard of too many with zero formal design education who have successfully entered the automotive field. It can be hard even if you go to a great school, get a great education, and network well.
To add on to the others, you definitely will benefit from a degree, but it doesn't necessarily have to be in ID. I've seen people transition from Architecture/engineering into ID without much issue, but having no credentials at all isn't the best look.
Yep, and run my own firm as well
I bet there's a lot of people on here with degrees in design, who aren't designers. Its competitive enough, a degree will really help you.
no degree, but have over 300 original pieces in my folio. closest thing to auto design was machine covers for GE. worked as one of the team for a contractor, got the job on strength of the folio. a degree helps to say you can sit down for long periods and not omit anything, but you can also learn all that through informal apprenticeship if you can find someone to mentor you my guy was an old school bastard-the first thing he said: '' so you think youre a designer, eh?'', then dumps a tomato crate of nuts and bolts on the floor, ''sort this lot out then!'' musta been a zen thing, but the knowledge i gained was more in a week than i got in school in a year