Progression to the role of the senior designer is the usual next step, although opportunities in smaller consultancies and organisations are often limited. In which case, progression is more likely through movement between employers or even between related fields of design, as opportunities arise.

Depending upon the type of experience gained and your personal interests, progression from the senior designer is sometimes possible to higher positions, such as creative director, or to a management role, such as new business director or project manager.

There is significant demand for experienced designers, especially those with experience in a niche area and with a technological background. Being able to relocate, either within the UK or overseas can enhance your promotion prospects.

It's possible, with significant experience and established contacts, to set up freelance work.

Textile Designer

Textile and Apparel Design, commonly referred to as Fashion Design, relates the physical properties of textiles to our human need for functional and fashionable clothing and home accessories. This option combines the art of design, the science of ..

Leather Design

Leather designing in fashion and luxury goods industry provides great opportunities to explore the industry world-wide.  A person specialising in leather designing can work as leather apparel designing, leather accessory designing, research a..

Jewellery Design

Jewellery Designing is a very rewarding career option for anyone entering the world of designing. An individual who has a good sense of fashion and accessories, as well as pays great attention to detail is an ideal candidate for a career in jewell..

Interior Design

People are becoming interested in customizing their homes as per their needs and choice in the urban as well as rural areas. This is where the interior designer steps in. The task of the Interior designer is to help clients in designing and decora..

Fashion Technology

Fashion Technologists use the application of Information Technology programs to contribute to the fashion domain. They are creative and possess a technical mind. The..

Fashion Designing

One of the most creative course options, Fashion Design is considered to be a very prosperous vocational education stream not only in India but abroad as well. This is primarily because the Fashion industry has grown by leaps and bounds and that t..

Fashion Communication

 Fashion communication includes consolidated course study associated with different areas such as fashion journalism, styling, advertising, public relations, graphic design, visual merchandising, space design, photography, display, exhibit, c..

Fashion Business Management

A Fashion Business Manager coordinates with designers and manufacturers, analyzes customer purchasing behaviour, explores current trends, manages customer relationships, and promotes products and brands to a specific target group. The practice of ..

Accessory Design

Accessory Designing is one of the most upcoming and interesting fields in the world of Fashion. Accessories can add a splash of color, personality, and style to the wearer. Accessories range from jewelry, footwear, scarves to handbags, belts, hats..

Product designers design most things we use in our day-to-day lives, from chairs and cutlery to clocks and computers, as well as specialist products like medical, electronics, or telecommunications equipment.

They aim to improve the way that existing products work and look and/or produce them at a lower cost. They may also be involved in designing entirely new products.

Product designers discuss designs with colleagues and clients, as well as work closely with engineers, model makers, sales and marketing staff, and other skilled people. They use drawings, 3-D models, and computer designs to express their ideas. They should understand technology, production methods, and materials, and be able to meet deadlines and work within budgets.

Product designers usually work around 37 hours a week from Monday to Friday. They are usually based in studios, offices, and workshops, but may also spend time in the factories where products are made.

Salaries may range from around £17,000 to over £45,000 a year.

Career Pros Details

• The best thing about the job is the creativity required to keep ahead of competitors in terms of content and functionality. --Darren Cottingham, product manager, DT Driver Training
• Most appealing is capturing the talents of a vast team and aligning the vast personalities to execute against a common vision.--Charley Miller, head of product and co-founder, TouchCast
• Understanding complex customer problems and building the right solutions for their problems is definitely appealing. -- Ashish Malpani, director of product marketing, HID Global. Malpani also enjoys driving product strategy and marketing requirements.
• There's a creative and intellectual challenge of balancing new vs. practical vs. profitable that is legitimately exciting.--Christopher Getner, chief product officer, wirewheel.io

Career Cons Details

• The worst thing about the job is having to overcome the limitations imposed by budget and technology.--Darren Cottingham, product manager, DT Driver Training
• The Product Manager role takes tremendous soft skills to align everyone, so you have to budget a lot of time around communication while concentrating on product details. I love communicating, but I dislike having to repeat myself to the same people yet that comes with the role.--Charley Miller, head of product and co-founder of TouchCast
• Malpani said that one aspect he doesn't enjoy is the expectation that product managers are very technical and deep into the weeds of the products. This sometimes impacts the ability to see the bigger picture and overall market needs.
• The challenge for any product leader is that you need to learn to be comfortable being accountable for things largely out of your control.--Christopher Getner, chief product officer, wirewheel.io. Guest added that the organization controls the resources to build, and sales and marketing control access for customers. The product is the one that brokers the intersection, often with limited resources.

• Be creative and have an eye for shape and colour
• Understand different materials and production methods
• Have technical, practical, and scientific knowledge and the ability
• Understand what customers look for in a product
• Be able to use drawings, 3D models, and computer designs to express creative ideas
• Have strong IT skills
• Be good at planning and organising
• Be able to work out costings and budgets
• Be good at explaining ideas to people with varying levels of technical knowledge
• Have listening and questioning skills for discussing design briefs and understanding feedback from colleagues
• Be persuasive and able to 'sell' their ideas to others
• Be able to produce clear, concise written reports
• Work well in a team
• Be accurate and pay attention to detail
• Be able to work within deadlines and budgets.
• A high degree of technical knowledge balanced with creative ability and a hands-on approach
• Visual and spatial awareness
• Commercial awareness
• Computer literacy includes three-dimensional conceptual ability and CAD
• Knowledge of industrial processes, techniques, and standards
• Communication and customer service skills
• The ability to cope with the pressure of deadlines
• A willingness to build and maintain positive working relationships and to share information with others
• Determination to achieve an end result, and optimism and enthusiasm when things don't go to plan
• The flexibility to travel abroad for work - this may be required if you work for a multinational manufacturer
• Foreign language ability - could be desirable when working for an international firm.
• Design skills and knowledge.
• The ability to come up with new ways of doing things.
• To be thorough and pay attention to detail.
• Understanding of technology, materials, and manufacturing methods.
• Analytical thinking skills.
• Persistence and determination.
• Thinking and reasoning skills.
• Complex problem-solving skills.