Design: 3D, Product, Interior
What are careers in design?
Within design, a degree is often just an essential minimum requirement for success. Considerable talent, dedication, commitment, motivation and experience beyond this are usually necessary (Prospects). Covering a range of disciplines including communications, graphic, product and industrial, interior and exhibitions, digital and multimedia and service design, personal reputation and recommendations from previous employers are invaluable.
Prospects
Prospects is a graduate careers website with profiles on the following occupations:
Ceramics designer
Glass blower/designer
Exhibition designer
Furniture designer
Industrial/ product designer
Interior and spatial designer
Jewellery designer
Production designer (theatre/television/film).
Prospects also has a guidance sheet detailing what you can do with 'Your Degree in Product/Industrial Design.' and 'Your Degree in Art and Design'
Target Jobs
This graduate careers website has the following sector profile:
Art and Design
How do I get into it?
The Creative and Cultural Skills sector council sees the design sector as covering a range of disciplines including communications, graphic, product and industrial, interior and exhibitions, digital and multimedia and service design. Design is an integral part of modern culture combining aesthetic techniques, practicality and creativity to make our everyday life that bit simpler. It brings together ideas and innovation with people and the marketplace.
As with all the creative industries design is a competitive sector. Designers are likely to initially enter the industry as graduates of design degree courses, or with comparable art degrees, before progressing through various design roles. It is possible that some Designers may have no formal art training but, because they possessed the necessary passion and talent, they may have been promoted from a lower level role.
In such a relatively small and competitive industry, personal reputation and recommendations from previous employers are invaluable. Having a good portfolio is important in promoting yourself and demonstrating your capabilities to potential employers.
Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from Government and the National Lottery. Here you will find information about opportunities for funding, employment, exhibitions and much more.
www.artscouncil.org.uk
Finding a job or employer in this sector
According to The British Design Industry Valuation Survey 2001, UK design agencies employ 82,000 people, an increase on the 76,000 recorded in the 2000 survey. A third of all companies employ 5 or fewer people and 74% employ 20 or fewer staff.
According to Creative & Cultural Skills, the UK design industry is considered to be one of the best in the world. It is estimated that there are 47,400 freelance and self-employed designers in the UK, with 31% of design businesses being based in London.
General: Relevant to all design careers
University of Brighton careers centre newsletter for arts and architecture students. This is available free to students of the University of Brighton from the careers centre.
Creative Barcode
We are positively changing how knowledge, creativity & innovation is valued, exchanged and procured world-wide between creative industries, academics & brand owners
www.creativebarcode.com
Careers in Design
Specialist advice and guidance for graduates, as well as a range of vacancies.
www.careersindesign.com
Coroflot
This international community of design companies and individuals includes a vacancy posting services and tips on job hunting.
www.coroflot.com
Design Business Association
The Design Business Association exists to promote professional excellence through productive partnerships between commerce and the design industry to champion effective design which improves the quality of people's lives.
www.dba.org.uk
Design Directory
Database of UK designers.
www.designdirectory.org
Design-Nation
Design-Nation has three main activities. It promotes the excellence of British design, it manages the Eureka project (which creates links between designers, retailers and manufacturers) and it helps designers with business training after they leave college.
www.thedesigntrust.co.uk/
Design Week
This online magazine contains news, details of events and has a jobs section.
www.designweek.co.uk
Look Up Design
Search for design companies – Industrial, Graphic etc.
www.lookupdesign.com
Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce
The RSA aims "to embolden enterprise, enlarge science, refine arts, improve our manufactures and extend our commerce".
www.rsa.org.uk
The Chartered Society of Designers
The Society exists to promote concern for the sound principles of design in all areas in which design considerations apply, to further design practice and encourage the study of design techniques for the benefit of the community.
www.csd.org.uk
The Design Council
The Design Council is the national strategic body for design. It supports design excellence across a wide range of sectors from Business, Public Sector to Education and encourages skills training for school and university students.
www.designcouncil.org.uk
Transition Tradition
Transition Tradition is a portal for creative students and graduates experiencing the transition between university and work.
www.transitiontradition.com
Further information and useful links
3D Design
The Crafts Council
The UK's national organisation for the promotion of contemporary crafts.
www.craftscouncil.org.uk
British Jewellers Association
The British Jewellers’ Association is the national trade association which promotes and protects the growth and prosperity of UK jewellery and silverware suppliers.
www.bja.org.uk
Ceramics Industry Forum
The Ceramic Industry Forum (CIF) was established by the Department of Trade and Industry in September 2000 to offer support specifically to improve competitiveness for firms operating within the UK ceramic Industry.
www.ciflean.co.uk
Contemporary Glass Society
CGS is a non-profit making limited company by guarantee founded with dual objectives of encouraging excellence in glass as a creative medium and developing a greater awareness and appreciation of contemporary glass world wide.
www.cgs.org.uk
Society of Glass Technology
The objects of the Society of Glass Technology are to encourage and advance the study of the history, art, science, design, manufacture, after treatment, distribution and end use of glass of any and every kind.
www.societyofglasstechnology.org.uk
Product Design
Design and Technology Association
The D&T Association is the recognised professional association which represents all those involved in design and technology education and associated subject areas.
www.data.org.uk
The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID)
ICSID is a global not-for-profit organisation that promotes better design around the world.
www.icsid.org
Institution of Engineering Designers
A professional body for designers who operate in diverse fields of design practice. There is specific careers section on this website.
www.ied.org.uk
Interior Design
British Institute of Interior Design
Promotes high standards throughout the profession, encouraging and fostering proven design ability. The BIDA is an Associate Member of IFI, the International Federation of Interior Architects & Designers. There is a careers section on this website.
www.bida.org
100% Design
UK 's leading commercial contemporary Interior Design Exhibition (Annual). This year it takes place at Earls Court, London on 27th September 2007.
www.100percentdesign.co.uk
International Interior Design Association
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) is a professional networking and educational association. The site features a careers section, you can post your CV for potential employers to view, you need to register to use the site.
www.iida.org/