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Text File | 1995-10-24 | 19.5 KB | 385 lines

385
Designers

(D.O.T.  141.051, .061, and .067; 142 except .051-010 and .061-030)

Nature of the Work

Designers organize and design articles, products, and materials in
such a way that they not only serve the purpose for which they were
intended but are visually pleasing as well.  Pleasant surroundings,
beautiful clothes, and floral arrangements can boost our spirits,
and products and packaging that are eye catching are more likely to
attract buyers than those that are not.

   Many designers specialize in one particular area of design for
example, automobiles, clothing, furniture, home appliances,
industrial equipment, interiors of homes and office buildings,
exhibits, movie and theater sets, packaging, or floral arrangements.
Others, work in more than one design field.  In developing a new
design or altering an existing one, designers first determine the
needs of their clients and potential users.  Then they consider the
size, shape, weight, color, materials used, and the way the product
functions, as well as ease of use and maintenance, safety, and cost
of the design.  Designers may compare similar or competitive
products.  They take into account, and often set, style and fashion
trends.  Designers usually develop, by hand or with the aid of a
computer, sketches of several design concepts which they present for
final selection to a client, an art or design director, a product
development team, or producer of a play, film, or television
production.  The designer then makes a model, a prototype, or
detailed plans drawn to scale.  Designers in some specialties are
increasingly using computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create and
better visualize a final product.  Computers greatly reduce the cost
and time necessary to create a model or prototype, which gives a
real idea of what the product will look like.  Industrial designers
use computer-aided industrial design (CAID) to create designs and to
communicate them to automated production tools.

   Designers may supervise craft workers who carry out their designs.
Those who run their own businesses also may devote a considerable
amount of time to developing new business contacts and to
administrative tasks such as reviewing catalogs and ordering
samples.

   Design is not one but a number of different fields.

   Industrial designers develop and design countless manufactured
products like cars, home appliances, children's toys, computer
equipment, and medical, office, or recreational equipment.  They
combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing,
materials, and production methods to create the most functional and
appealing design and to make the product competitive with others in
the marketplace.

   Furniture designers design furniture for manufacture, according to
knowledge of design trends, competitors' products, production costs,
capability of production facilities, and characteristics of a
company's market.  In order to faciltiate the construction of the
furniture they may design and prepare detailed drawings of fixtures,
forms, or tools required to be used in production.  They may also
design custom pieces or styles according to a specific period or
country.  They must be strongly involved with the fashion industry
and must be aware of current trends and styles.

   Interior designers both plan the space and furnish the interiors of
private homes, public buildings, and commercial establishments such
as offices, restaurants, hospitals hotels, and theaters.  They also
may plan additions and renovations.  With a client's tastes, needs
and budget in mind, they develop designs and prepare working
drawings and specifications for interior construction, furnishings,
lighting, and finishes.  Increasingly designers use computers to
generate layout plans that can be easily changed to include input
received from the client.  They also design lighting and
architectural details such as crown molding, coordinate colors, and
select furniture, floor coverings, and curtains.  Interior designers
must design the space in accordance with Federal, State, and local
building codes.  Increasingly, they plan spaces that meet
accessibility standards for the disabled and elderly.

   Set designers design movie, television, and theater sets.  They
study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to
determine appropriate architectural styles.

   Fashion designers design clothing and accessories.  Some
high-fashion designers are self-employed and design for individual
clients.  They make fashion news by establishing the line, colors,
and kinds of materials that will be worn each season.  Other
high-fashion designers cater to specialty stores or high-fashion
department stores.  They design original garments as well as follow
the established fashion trends.  Most fashion designers, however,
work for apparel manufacturers, adapting men's, women's, and
children's fashions for the mass market.

   Textile designers design fabrics for garments, upholstery, rugs, and
other products, using their knowledge of textile materials and
fashion trends.  Computers are widely used in pattern design and
grading.  In the future, intelligent pattern engineering (IPE)
systems will enable even greater automation in generating patterns.

   Floral designers cut and arrange fresh, dried, or artificial flowers
and foliage into designs to express the sentiments of the customer.
They trim flowers and arrange bouquets, sprays, wreaths, dish
gardens, and terrariums.  They usually work from a written order
indicating the occasion, customer preference for color and type of
flower, price, and the date, time, and place the floral arrangement
or plant is to be delivered.  The variety of duties performed by a
floral designer depends on the size of the shop and the number of
designers employed.  In a small operation, the floral designer may
own the shop and do almost everything from growing flowers to
keeping books.

   Designers must have artistic ability in addition to knowledge of
computers and their applications.

Working Conditions

Working conditions and places of employment vary.  Designers
employed by manufacturing establishments or design firms generally
work regular hours in well-lighted and comfortable settings.
Self-employed designers tend to work longer hours especially at
first, when they are trying to establish themselves and cannot
afford to hire assistants or clerical help.

   Designers frequently adjust their workday to suit their clients,
meeting with them evenings or on weekends when necessary.  They may
transact business in their own offices, clients' homes or offices,
or may travel to other locations such as showrooms or manufacturing
facilities.

   Industrial designers usually work regular hours but occasionally
work overtime to meet deadlines.  In contrast, set designers,
especially those in television broadcasting, often work long and
irregular hours.  The pace of television production is very fast,
and set designers are often under pressure to make rapid changes in
the sets.  Fashion designers who work in the apparel industry
usually have regular hours.  During production deadlines or before
fashion shows, however, they may be required to put in overtime.  In
addition, fashion designers may be required to travel to production
sites overseas and across the United States.  Interior designers
generally work under deadlines and often work overtime to finish a
job.  Floral designers usually work regular hours in a pleasant work
environment, except during the holidays when overtime may be
required.

   All designers face frustration at times when their designs are
rejected or when they cannot be as creative as they would like.
Independent consultants, who are paid by the assignment, are under
pressure to please clients and to find new ones to maintain their
incomes.

Employment

Designers held about 302,000 jobs in 1992.  About one-third were
self-employed, a much higher proportion than in most occupations.

   Salaried designers are found in a number of different industries,
depending on their design specialty.  Most industrial designers, for
example, work for consulting firms or for large corporations.
Interior designers usually work for design or architectural firms,
department stores and home furnishing stores, or hotel and
restaurant chains.  Many do freelance work full time, part time, or
in addition to a salaried job.

   Set designers work for theater companies and film and television
production companies.  Fashion designers generally work for textile,
apparel, and pattern manufacturers, or for fashion salons,
high-fashion department stores, and specialty shops.  Some work in
the entertainment industry, designing costumes for theater, dance,
television, and movies.  Most floral designers work for retail
flower shops but growing numbers work in floral departments of
grocery stores.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Creativity is crucial in all design occupations.  People in this
field must have a strong snese of color, an eye for detail, a sense
of balance and proportion, and sensitivity to beauty.  Sketching
ability is especially important for fashion designers.  A good
portfolio a collection of examples of a person's best work is often
the deciding factor in landing a job.  However, formal preparation
in design is important in all fields with the exception of floral
design.

   Educational requirements for entry level positions vary.  Some
design occupations, notably industrial design, require a bachelor's
degree.  Interior designers also generally need a college education,
preferably a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of applied arts degree.
Few clients especially commercial clients are willing to entrust
responsibility for designing living and working space to a designer
with no formal credentials.  Interior designers must also be
knowledgeable about Federal, State, and local codes, and toxicity
and flammability standards for furniture and furnishings.

   In fashion design, some formal career preparation, such as a 2-year
or 4-year degree, is almost always needed to land a job.  Employers
seek individuals who are knowledgeable about textiles, fabrics, and
ornamentation as well as about trends in the fashion world.

   In contrast to the other design occupations, a high school diploma
ordinarily suffices for floral design jobs.  Most floral designers
learn their skills on the job.  When they hire trainees, employers
generally look for high school graduates who have a flair for color
and a desire to learn.  However, completion of formal training is an
asset for floral designers, particularly for advancement to the lead
floral designer level.  Vocational and technical schools offer
programs in floral design that usually last less than a year, while
2- and 4-year programs in floriculture, horticulture, floral design,
or ornamental horticulture are offered by community and junior
colleges, and colleges and universities.

   Formal training for some design professions is also available in 2-
and 3-year professional schools which award certificates or
associate degrees in design.  Graduates of 2-year programs generally
qualify as assistants to designers.  Four-year colleges and
universities grant the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  The curriculum
in these schools includes art and art history, principles of design,
designing and sketching, and specialized studies for each of the
individual design disciplines such as garment construction,
textiles, mechanical and architectural drawing, computerized design,
sculpture, architecture, marketing, psychology, and basic
engineering.  A liberal arts education with courses in merchandising
and business administration along with training in art is also a
good background for most design fields, excluding industrial design.
Persons with training or experience in architecture also qualify for
some design occupations, particularly interior design.

   Computer-aided design (CAD) courses are very useful.  CAD is used in
many design areas, particularly in industrial design, and many
employers expect new designers to be familiar with the use of the
computer as a design tool.  Computers are used extensively in the
aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries, and are becoming
more popular in the other design fields as well.  For example,
interior designers are using computers to create numerous versions
of space designs.  Images can be inserted, edited, or replaced
making it possible for a client to see and choose among several
designs.  In furniture design, a chair's basic shape and structure
may be duplicated and updated by applying new upholstery styles and
fabrics with the use of computers.

   In 1993, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design
accredited 179 post-secondary institutions with programs in art and
design.  Most of these schools award a degree in art.  Some award
degrees in industrial design, interior design, textile design,
graphic design, or fashion design.  Many schools do not allow formal
entry into a bachelor's degree program until a student has
successfully finished a year of basic art and design courses.
Applicants may be required to submit sketches and other examples of
their artistic ability.

   The Foundation for Interior Design Education Research accredits
interior design programs and schools.  Currently, there are 105
accredited programs in the United States and Canada located in
schools of art, architecture, and home economics.

   People in the design field must be creative, imaginative,
persistent, and able to communicate their ideas both visually and
verbally.  Because tastes in style and fashion can change quickly,
designers need to be open to new ideas and influences.
Problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently are
important traits.  People in this field need self-discipline to
start projects on their own, and to budget their time in order to
meet deadlines and production schedules.  Business sense and sales
ability are important for those who are freelancers or run their own
businesses.

   Beginning designers usually receive on-the-job training and normally
need 1 to 3 years of training before they advance to higher level
positions.  Experienced designers in large firms may advance to
chief designer, design department head, or other supervisory
positions.  Some experienced designers open their own firms.

   Interior design is the only design field subject to government
regulation: The District of Columbia licenses interior designers,
and 18 States regulate use of the title.  While licensing is the
exception rather than the rule, membership in a professional
association is universally recognized as a mark of achievement for
designers.  Professional membership usually requires the completion
of 3 or 4 years of post-secondary education in design, at least 2
years of practical experience in the field, and completion of the
National Council for Interior Design Qualification examination.

Job Outlook

Employment in design occupations is expected to grow about as fast
as the average for all occupations through the year 2005.  In
addition, many openings will result from the need to replace those
who leave the field.

   Continued emphasis on product quality and safety; on design of new
products that are easy and comfortable to use; on high-technology
products in medicine, transportation, and other fields; and
increasing global competition among businesses should stimulate the
demand for industrial designers.  Floral design should experience
healthy growth with the addition of floral departments in many
grocery stores.  Growth in population and in personal incomes is
expected to encourage increased demand for fashion designers, set
designers, and textile designers.

   Designers in most fields with the exception of floral and furniture
design can expect to face competition throughout their careers.
Many talented individuals are attracted to careers as designers
among them, graduates of prestigious design schools.  In light of
the abundant supply, individuals with no formal education in design,
and without the necessary personal traits particularly creativity
and perseverance may find it very difficult to establish and
maintain a career in design.

   While most areas of design are highly competitive, this is not the
case in floral design.  Relatively low pay and limited opportunities
for advancement restrict the supply of suitable applicants.  As a
result, finding a job as a floral designer should be relatively
easy.  Opportunities should also be good for qualified persons in
specialized fields, such as furniture design.

Earnings

Median weekly earnings of experienced full-time designers in all
fields of design were about $585 in 1992.  The middle 50 percent
earned between $375 and $855 a week.  The bottom 10 percent earned
less than $260, and the top 10 percent earned more than $1,120.

   Earnings of floral designers were lower than most types of
designers.  According to a survey conducted by Floral Finance Inc.,
beginning floral designers had average earnings of approximately
$5.40 an hour in 1993.  Designers with 1 to 3 years of experience
earned $6.30, while designers with over 3 years of experience
averaged $7.60.  Managers had average earnings of about $9.40 an
hour in 1992.

   According to the Industrial Designers Society of America, the
average base salary for an entry-level industrial designer with 1 to
2 years of experience was about $27,900 in 1992.  Staff designers
with an average of 6 years of experience earned about $38,100, while
senior designers with an average of 10 years of experience earned
about $44,500.  Industrial designers in managerial or executive
positions earned substantially more up to about $75,000.

   According to the 1993 Top and Second 100 GIANTS surveys published by
Interior Design magazine, salaries of junior interior designers in
the largest interior design firms averaged $25,000, project and
senior interior designers averaged $38,000, and project managers
averaged $50,500 a year.

Related Occupations

Workers in other occupations who design or arrange objects,
materials, or interiors to improve their appearance and function
include visual artists, architects, landscape architects, engineers,
photographers, and merchandise displayers.

Sources of Additional Information

   For a list of accredited schools of art and design, contact:

   National Association of Schools of Art and Design, 11250 Roger Bacon
Dr., Suite 21, Reston, VA 22090.

   A brochure that describes careers in industrial design and lists
academic programs in the field is available from the Industrial
Designers Society of America.  For price and ordering information,
write to:

   Industrial Designers Society of America, 1142-E Walker Rd., Great
Falls, VA 22066.

   For information about careers in interior design, contact:

   American Society for Interior Designers, 608 Massachusetts Ave.
NE., Washington, DC 20002-6006.

   For a list of accredited programs in interior design, contact:

   Foundation for Interior Design Education Research, 60 Monroe Center
NW., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

   For information about careers in floral design, contact:

   Society of American Florists, 1601 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314.

   For a list of schools with accredited programs in furniture design,
contact:

   American Society of Furniture Designers, P.O.  Box 2688, High Point,
NC 27261.