Product design: a brief intro

Just about every object you encounter in daily life is the work of a product designer—from staplers and dining chairs to pens and electronics; sometimes the lines are blurred, and many designers prefer to call themselves just that, given that during their long careers they experiment in several areas of design.

In this current period of high market demand and scarce availability of qualified professionals, now is the perfect time to consider a career in product design (also known in the industry as interior design). Product designers use design thinking to invent and develop solutions that serve both user and business needs.

The role requires a high degree of technical skill, so the right training is essential. An effective course must offer the opportunity to develop visual and spatial awareness, as well as commercial awareness and the use of the appropriate digital tools, most of which fall under the umbrella of CAD. Whether you are looking to become a system processor or an interior designer, product design covers a number of very interesting roles that can result in a highly fulfilling career. Let's take a look at three of the most successful product designers in the UK.

Tom Dixon

Infamously self-taught, Tom Dixon (OBE) is an internationally renowned British Designer, Creative Director of eponymous brand Tom Dixon (est. 2002). His works are included in permanent collections of the world's most prestigious museums, including the V&A and MoMA . Dixon rose to prominence in the mid-1980s as “the talented untrained interior designer with a line in welded salvage furniture". He set up ‘Space’ as a creative think-tank and shop front for himself and other young designers. By the late 1980s, he was working for the Italian giant Cappellini for whom he designed the Iconic ‘S’ chair. In the 1990s, the polyethylene "sitting, stacking, lighting thing"  - Jack - designed for his company ‘Eurolounge’ made him a household name, and in 1993, he participated in the ″greatest exhibition of British furniture design of the 20th century″, organized by Helmut Diez in Bremerhaven, Germany. In 1998, Tom was appointed head of design by Habitat, and later became Creative Director until 2008. He was the public face of a collective team responsible for rejuvenating the Habitat brand.

Jasper Morrison

Jasper Morrison CBE is an English product and furniture designer. Morrison has both a BA and Master's degree in Design, and throughout his career, he has published many books on design. He has collaborated with the Japanese retail company MUJI on a variety of interior design projects ranging from houseWARE to housING! Additionally, Morrison curated the Super Normal exhibition with Japanese Designer Naoto Fukasawa in 2006, which presented 200 ordinary or anonymously designed products that were devoid of gimmicks and branding. Named by design critic Alice Rawsthorn as one of the most influential product designers of our time, Morrison is currently the lead designer at boutique Swiss consumer technology company Punkt.

Thomas Heatherwick

Described by Terrence Conran as the 'Leonardo Da Vinci of our times', Thomas Heatherwick is an inventor, designer and artist. From his London studio has come some of the most recognisable, surprising, innovative and creative design work of the 21st century so far, from furniture and Christmas cards to buildings, bridges and a new bus for London. A couple of his most memorable designs include the Olympic Cauldron in 2012, a great source of national pride which managed to capture the spirit of the games as one of unison in celebration of human achievement. In 2010, he brought London's iconic Routemaster bus into the modern age, maintaining its recognisable features, and adhering to the brief that it should be fit for the big city in 50 years' time. Head to his site to explore some of his beautiful, bold works.

Become a product designer: what to study

BA in Product Design at Istituto Marangoni

If you are looking to start your own design career, and are seeking the highest quality education with experts in the field to guide and nurture your talent, look no further than Istituto Marangoni, London. Both furniture and industrial product design overlap with many creative fields including crafts, fashion, art, and interior design. Product designers understand where these areas meet, making use of contemporary influences and appropriate methods in their own creative process, designing luxury furniture, bespoke one-off items, or products for industrial design and commercialisation. The field is vast, and the possibilities are endless; if you would like to find out more about our BA in Product Design, please don't hesitate to contact us. 

Master's Degree in Product Design

Developed to support participants' careers in the design industry, the Master's Degree in Product Design at Istituto Marangoni is tailor made for those who have already acquired specific skills in the appropriate area at undergraduate level, or for industry professionals who wish to further their knowledge of a specific subject area in design. At Istituto Marangoni we offer an exciting opportunity to be mentored by two highly skilled designers, namely Luca Nichetto, a specialist in industrial design, product design and design consultancy, and Moreno Vannini with his broad world view and International background, he has a vast portfolio of work experience. From furniture designer to art director, the possible career paths a Master's in Product Design can open up are infinite. To discover the right path for your future, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to guide you.