I'm not very good with cad, so instead of just drawing the knob, I'll draw it as a separate part, and use it in an assembly.

If it works, it works.

Hi! I’m a newly graduated product designer about to start my first job. Since I don’t have any work experience in the industry, I have some questions, and I would greatly appreciate advice from experienced designers:

1. How is work assigned? Who decides on the tasks in a project, and how is work distribution handled?
2. How should I present my designs to developers and the team? Do I need to make formal presentations for my designs, or is informal sharing enough?
3. How should I communicate with other designers and developers? What is the best way to communicate effectively with different teams (designers, developers, PMs)?
4. How should I manage the feedback process? At which stages is it best to ask for feedback, and how should I organize revisions?
5. Which project management tools are used? What tools do you use for project and task tracking (e.g., Jira, Trello)? Is there anything I should be aware of when using them?
6. How are meetings organized? Are meetings planned in advance? Who organizes these meetings, and how should I prepare for them?
7. What are your top tips for succeeding in my first job? As a new product designer, what are the key things I should focus on in my first job?

If there are any other essential things I missed that I should know about working in the industry, I’d really appreciate it if you could point them out.

I haven’t started working yet, but I’m assuming a product designer role in a mid-sized tech company for the purpose of these questions. If there are any other essential things I missed that I should know about working in the industry, I’d really appreciate it if you could point them out. Thanks in advance!

I am having trouble deciding on a major to pursue in college but I am leaning towards product design, does anyone have a degree that could give me some insight or any other information?

I need help with designing a product, a pill box specifically, made with quality materials. I have no idea about this world/where I should be looking/reaching out to? Ideally it would be great if they could also assist with manufacturing recommendations. I’m based in Australia. Any guidance would be so appreciated.

I am a very amateur designer and am hoping there's a better way than Google to find examples of vintage designs related to stereos, small appliances, personal electronics, and similar items. I've been able to find some of course, but the variety is limited. Conceptual and experimental designs are wanted as well.

If there are any online galleries or even books that might be available from a library I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

This is a bit of a long shot, but here it goes.

I’m looking for guidance on how to build on my old product design degree from 2017. I studied product design from 2014-2017, graduating with a B.A. I loved the creative process—from research and concept development to hands-on prototyping—and I enjoy problem-solving and working with my hands.

However, life got in the way and kept me away from design, and over the past seven years, I’ve only worked in hospitality roles (restaurants, bars, and events). Aside from a six-month internship with a small set design/fabrication company, I don’t have real-world design experience.

Now, I’m ready to move away from irregular shifts and pursue a serious design career. The issue is that product design seems to have shifted mostly into the digital realm, with job listings focused on UI/UX and software-related product design, especially here in Ireland. I want to get back into design but am uncertain about what specific path to take and how to get there.

I've tried applying for internships but feel my outdated degree and portfolio may hold me back. I’m open to taking courses or part-time studies to update my skills and portfolio, but I’m unsure which skills to focus on or the best path forward. Any advice on what skills I should prioritize or how to navigate this would be greatly appreciated!

My portfolio

hello im working on my final year project and i cant seem to find the history and evolution of plate shapes. there is history of material and processes but i cant find the exact evolution of form of plates anywhere . so if theres a resource im not looking into please share

How could the Therma project’s cover video be recreated?

https://addison.design/

I’ve heard of protopie, axure, proto.io… but the rotating device - is that only possible with one of the Adobe CS tools? How about Blender?

Any recommendations for universities to do Industrial or Automotive design masters ? Willing to go to any country, but i'd prefer if it's a country where at least some people understand english.

Hi all, has anyone made the switch from software engineering to product design?

I started off my career in product design, got a CS degree, worked hybrid design-engineering roles at small startups, and for the past 5 years I've been a pure senior software engineer in NYC. (I'm in my mid 30s)

I've applied to some places but haven't even gotten a reply, while I usually am heavily recruited on the software side.

Has anyone made this switch? Seems like a massive chasm to bridge, even with a solid portfolio.

Hi! I am working on a new product that aims to improve the shower experience, and I would really appreciate your thoughts on shower head features and preferences!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI9SE-ywquZDK0LG_dI3E4CV-K-hJN8hY1wr6TErMSTenrIA/viewform

This survey is designed to collect feedback on shower product features, your habits, and preferences to help us design a product that better fits user needs. No need to focus on technical details or limitations—just provide your honest thoughts!

I know a lot of folks on this sub are looking to build skills and keep up with changes that are happening in UX research industry. The company I work for is hosting a free webinar on Thursday at 9 am Pacific time: How to Spark Innovation With Strategic Research.

There are still some slots available so feel free to join! You can register here 

The speaker is Kevin Liang, a UX Researcher and consultant with over 14 years of behavioral research experience, a decade of which in the UX industry at various Fortune 500 companies as well as startups. He is also the founder of Zero to UX Academy.

Kevin will explain why tactical and strategic research are two sides of the same coin and how to carve out time for proactive research in a reactive environment. There’s a live Q&A session at the end!

I'm P Design honours student and have been wondering for a while if there's a way or website to find different production packs. I feel like they are kept hella hush hush from companies, for obvious reasons.

How does a new, aspiring creator work with a product designer to create what is needed to build a prototype?

I have worked on the business side of product and marketing for a long time on web and mobile applications. I have never built a physical product. I am comfortable doing or learning most aspects of ideation and creation, but bringing concept to life in the form of drawings and technical documents is not my forte. I would like to do as much up-front work - concept, research, mood boards, lofi sketches - etc... so that I can work with a designer very well prepared.

What do you suggest I have ready to bring to a product designer of physical goods to work efficiently? What should I be looking for in a product designer / what questions should I ask them? Any other tips or things I should be thinking of?

Thank you!

Hi everyone! I'm an industrial design student doing research for my senior project. It's a quick 7-question survey and your response is greatly appreciated! 

https://forms.gle/nT7MHGLDwo1mfDPZ9

Hey everyone!

I'm a product designer currently working as the design head at an IT company. I'm actively looking to relocate to a European country and am trying to get a job there to get a visa. I'm sharing my resume and portfolio with you all. Please share the improvements that I can make using your expertise.

That'll be very helpful.

Thanks.

Resume - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/k2vecf668j1khwyyezucg/CV-Rohit-Saini.pdf?rlkey=w1l3vd26dzm750icmatnynvjn&st=l6u5t26f&dl=0

Portfolio - https://rohitux.webflow.io/

Does anyone know the fire certifications I would need to get to sell these in the US market? The product is a custom built light box that back lights an original film photo. The box has a battery that is rechargeable, LEDs inside a reflected tape area. The wiring is separated from the LEDs with proper insulation, so there should be separation to avoid any problems. I've tested it at home, and it is most likely fine (I'm an engineer myself). But I feel like I need to get some sort of certification for peace of mind, as well as potential legalities.

Does anyone know what kind of certifications I would need, any companies that do that, and the approximate pricing?

Hi guys! I’m designing a key holder for my final project in school, do you guys have any input / ideas? It’s made out of wood. Please ignore the metal ring :) any ideas on how i could design it better/ make the keys not fall out?

I was impacted in late 2023 and took some time off before resuming my job search in January 2024. Since then, I joined a pre-funded startup for a mid this year for few months before transitioning to contract work as a product designer while actively looking for full-time roles.

With 10+ years of design experience and 5+ years managing teams, I’ve aggressively applied to over 100 jobs in the past two weeks, receiving 5 rejections (personalized resumes)

I’ve heard the product management market is particularly BRUTAL—how are things shaping up in design?

Also, my portfolio currently features 2 case studies, with a third one in progress.