Rapid Growth Media recently
published a story about all the interesting work being done locally in designing for the world of connectivity, aka the Internet of Things (IoT). For many folks, working on connected devices is not the first thing you might think of when considering a career in design.
Design can mean different things to different people, and it is often a bit misunderstood by individuals without industry familiarity: parents with children exploring careers, students in high school or college figuring out what to study, and even some teachers and career counselors. It’s easy to imagine the conversations.
My kid wants to be a designer, what’s that mean? Fashion? Interior design? Are there jobs?
The truth is design is more interesting than mystifying. It is just that the breadth of careers, areas of study and specialization create truly unique career choices with different skill sets.
Grand Rapids is home to many organizations in many different industries that have robust design teams and can provide very interesting, well paying, and creative careers.
Rapid Growth Media asked Ken Krayer, Director of
Design West Michigan, and John O'Neill, President of
AIGA West Michigan and the Principal and Creative Director of
Conduit, to provide a little perspective as to what a career in design might mean.
(Plus, we highlighted three great companies with job openings for designers, which you can check out at the end of the article.)
RGM: What are “design jobs”?
KK: “Design jobs” cover a broad range of opportunities and industries, including, but not limited to, communication design, product design, fashion design, interior design, furniture design, sustainable design, experience design, sound design, architecture, information design, and even food design. Many of these disciplines include specialization opportunities, such as type design, as well as collaborative, cross-disciplinary opportunities. Designers often move within and across disciplines over the life of their careers.
RGM: What is the job forecast within the design industry over the next five to 10 years?
KK: We are seeing a brighter spotlight on design, especially here in West Michigan, as more and more companies are placing design at the center of their business strategies. Many
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) design graduates who could pursue careers elsewhere choose to stay in the area because of the robust opportunities that exist here.
RGM: What would surprise people (non-designers) about the design industry and design careers?
KK: Most people who are not designers are surprised at the breadth and depth of career possibilities in design. Other professions often cross over with design due to the interdisciplinary power of design. Some examples of these are photography, engineering, research, marketing, and design management.
Design thinking gives non-designers the tools and skills needed to develop and apply iterative solutions to problem solving.
JO: Michigan has a surprisingly robust design community, with jobs in industrial design, architecture, interior design, branding, and UI/UX. In certain fields, such as industrial design, we have more designers per capita than any other state, and these designers
make about $10,000 more annually than similar positions in other states.
RGM: Looking at your crystal ball, what and where will the design jobs be in 10 to 20 years?
JO: The law of truly large numbers states that even a small percent of a large number is a large number. China now has 400 design programs and over 10,000 designers graduating each year, so we are no doubt going to see China come onto the international design scene in the next 20 years. However, I still feel that our rich design heritage and world class design institutions have a lot to offer, so it should be interesting.
RGM: What are great sources for information about careers within the design industry?
KK: For any specific statistics on design, I would suggest you see the 2016 Creative State Michigan Creative Industries Report. A copy of the report can be viewed
here. Design careers are included within the overall category of creative industries.
In addition,for more information on design in our region, visit the
Design West Michigan website. Membership is free. You can sign up for our mailings on the web site. Design West Michigan is part of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University.
Design jobs in West Michigan
Are you actively looking for a great job in design? Here are three very successful, interesting and different companies that currently have job openings.
Ben Smith at
Designvox shared an opening for a Web Designer. Check out the job description
here.
The team at
Visualhero and
OST are looking for a senior user experience designer. Find out more
here.
If you are interested in working at a larger company, Kedron Rhodes is putting together a design team at
Gordon Food Service. To learn about applying, go
here.
For more career opportunities, AIGA West Michigan keeps a job board updated
here.
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor