Industrial Design vs Product Design :
In the world of design, the terms “industrial design” and “product design” often get used interchangeably, blurring their distinctions. However, a closer examination reveals nuanced differences that can significantly impact how we perceive and execute the design processes.
What is Industrial Design?
Industrial design involves the aesthetic and functional aspects of mass-produced items. Industrial design is a bit broader. It covers the design of anything and everything that can be mass-produced. This could be products, packaging, furniture, or vehicles. It’s a balance of art & feasibility, aiming to enhance the user experience as well as the product’s market appeal. It is one of the crucial steps in hardware product development.
Industrial designers craft the appearance, ergonomics, and usability of objects, prioritizing seamless integration into users’ lives.
Industrial design is focused on optimizing manufacturing processes, using effective materials and reducing cost. Born in the era of industrial revolution it now spans various industries, from consumer electronics to furniture, automobiles to household appliances.
What is Product Design?
Product design is a branch of Industrial design. Product design focuses on both physical and digital products and its experiences. It involves understanding user behaviors, market dynamics, and social trends to create products that resonate on a deeper level. Product designers often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, marketers, and psychologists, to realize comprehensive design visions.
Same, same but different?
Industrial designers infuse products with aesthetic appeal and ergonomic efficiency, while product designers infuse them with narrative coherence and emotional value.
Both disciplines are increasingly influenced by technological advancements and sustainability. From 3D printing and IoT integration to eco-friendly materials and circular design principles, designers are embracing innovation to address evolving social needs and environmental concerns.
Still confused?
Industrial design encompasses a variety of design streams such as visual design, product design, automotive design, and space and environmental design. When you choose to focus on a specific stream like product design, you become a product designer. This can involve creating tangible or digital products, and UI/UX design is a subset of this field.
The rise of the IT sector and corporate usage of the term “product designer” for UI/UX roles has led to the misconception that product design is limited to UI/UX. However, all industrial designers understand the product design process, but only product designers specialize deeply in it.
Let’s end this war:
In conclusion, both industrial design and product design offer rich insights into the multifaceted nature of the creative endeavor. While each discipline brings its unique perspective and methodologies to the table, their convergence herald’s boundless opportunities for synergy and growth.
As designers, let’s embrace this diversity, transcending boundaries to solve problems that inspire and enrich human experience. Whether we’re sculpting tangible toys or orchestrating intangible interactions, let’s make a design with purpose, passion and empathy. After all, design is design and it can evolve in many forms in future as well.
AUTHOR
Shibi Kabilan
Lead Industrial Designer, Srushty Global Solutions
A seasoned Lead Industrial Designer with extensive experience in creating innovative, user-centered products, committed to blending functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability in design. By collaborating with engineers and other stakeholders, I bridge the gap between design vision and manufacturability.