When you are learning new things at home, dreaming of designing the next revolutionary machine or even a bridge, you will need to learn industrial design.
But can you learn the required skills and tools on your own without spending thousands attending a school.
To learn industrial design on your own, you will need to choose the online courses that will teach you the tools and required theoretical knowledge. LinkedIn, Skillshare, Udemy, and Coursera have courses that will teach you the basics and tell you where to find the best tools.
We recommend that you try to remember that you will have to learn a few unique skills from online sources and that you may have to take courses on how to use the right software.
Many people in the past have made the mistake of simply assuming that the course that teaches you will automatically tell you all you need to know.
What Are The Best Sources To Learn Industrial Design On Your Own?
Before we take a deep look at how you can learn to do industrial design on your own, we need to take a closer look at the main online resources you can use.
Unlike many skills, you cannot learn industrial design without someone teaching you the software and the required techniques.
There are four online resources that you can use, each one with several hundred courses that you can rely on.
Many people who are already industrial design experts use these resources to not only learn new techniques but to ensure that the knowledge they rely on stays prevalent.
Udemy
One of the largest repositories of online courses is Udemy, which has several courses that industrial designers teach.
This means that you can get experience and learn techniques from people already in the industry, with many people using Udemy to keep their skills updated.
The thing that makes Udemy so great is the biggest challenge that the platform faces: people in the industry make everything.
Many courses quickly become outdated and are not recognized by most companies as official ways to be taught.
As the platform has changed and grown, many other platforms’ elements have been incorporated into LinkedIn. There are many courses on LinkedIn done by industrial design professionals that offer official certifications for you to list on your CV and your profiles.
The resources for learning new skills on LinkedIn are tightly controlled, with some tools recommended becoming outdated as the years go on.
Further, each course may have a price to it instead of a flat rate you need to pay to access each new course you will learn from.
Skillshare
Like Udemy, Skillshare is a large repository of courses that allow you to learn everything you need for industrial design from industry experts.
These courses will be updated more regularly, and you will be able to learn intricate skills that most courses may be too broad to cover.
Skillshare has fewer overall courses available, and you will have to pay for each course, which may make it financially difficult to take on.
Further, the courses are usually checked for quality, so you won’t have to stress about a lower-quality course you are taking.
Coursera
Coursera is a platform focused on teaching specific skills and how to use specific programs, which has meant that it may be more difficult to find exact courses.
Critically Coursera offers courses on many of the software that industrial designers need to use that are kept up to date by software developers.
While you may be unable to find a comprehensive course covering every facet of industrial design, Coursera offers significant benefits.
The courses are usually monitored by teams that work together while ensuring that the courses are updated every year to include the most general information.
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How Much Can You Learn About Industrial Design On Your Own?
Now that you know where to go and start looking for your industrial design journey, we have to take a look at how much you can actually learn on your own.
We recommend that you understand why people will ask you to have certain skills and try to focus on specific courses that you should have learned.
Many companies requiring not just that you have completed courses but mastered several programs and show work that you have previously completed.
It is vital to be prepared for everything before you start the journey to ensure the skills you are learning are always needed.
The Basics Of The Industry
Most courses you can enjoy on industrial design through online portals will teach you all the industry basics.
Including the programs that you need to learn eventually, the designs that will be popular, and the skills that you need to master to work effectively within the industrial design industry.
Many courses will almost exclusively cover these basics, with only follow-up courses allowing you to learn more advanced skills.
We always recommend that you take various courses to ensure that you learn about industrial design in ways that almost any company would require.
How To Use Specific Tools & Software
Most online industrial design courses will focus on the tools and software you will have to learn.
Industrial design requires intricate knowledge of not just the programs you are using to design but to understand how programs work that will eventually be run to control machines.
You may have to use several other courses to learn all the ins and outs of the programs that you are using.
Many industrial engineers quickly favor specific programs, allowing themselves to become completely skilled in only a few programs, making them almost unmatched with their designs.
What The Popular Designs Are
Depending on the country and industry you enter, the popular designs will differ greatly, and the courses you choose to follow need to reflect this.
Industrial designers working in the power industry are creating completely different designs from those working in the automotive industry.
As you continue to learn industrial design, you will naturally learn which types of designs you are good at.
Once you have found work at a specific company, whether for a contract or as a full-time employee, you will start to learn the types of designs required.
Where To Start To Enter The Industry
The one thing that will always change from course to course is the recommendations on how to enter the industry.
In markets where industrial designers are in short supply, you will find almost no barriers to entering the industry, which means you can apply without experience.
While in countries and industries where there are too many industrial designers, you will have to fight to be noticed by the companies you want to be hired by.
We recommend that you call a few companies and try to learn what kinds of industrial designers they are always seeking to learn what to specialize in.
Where Can You Learn Industrial Design On Your Own?
Now that we know how much you can learn and what resources online you can use to learn industrial design, we need to take a look at where you can learn.
Many people assume that learning industrial design has to be done through a university alone as it can become quite technical.
However, when learning on your own, there are four places where we have seen people not only learn all the skills but start to flourish in the wider industry.
It’s important that you remember, even if you watch every online course, there is no real substitute for learning from people who have already mastered everything.
At Home With Your Computer
This is where we recommend anyone learn all the basics needed to become an industrial designer. The number of online courses and programs you can use will ensure that you can learn everything before you enter your first job.
The biggest limitation of learning industrial design at home on your computer without the influence of others is that you won’t be able to learn some of the creative skills.
Industrial designers will need to think in ways that many others cannot, solving problems in ways that few have been able to see.
Through Apprenticeships
As someone learning industrial design, we recommend you keep an eye on any apprentice opportunities.
Many companies are constantly looking for someone capable of using programs and designing solutions that they can train to be their perfect industrial designers.
As the industrial design is a skilled position that requires many hours of work and understanding, even university graduates usually seek out apprenticeships.
At the same time, many companies prefer to get apprentices willing to learn only what they need them to know, creating gaps in the market where there are few people.
While Studying Something Else
Many people who have entered the world of industrial design have done so while studying something else.
Many industrial designers have diplomas and degrees in opposite industries to the industrial design industry, moving there after being introduced at the college level.
We always recommend that those studying something not completely stop their studies and instead focus on learning both.
Being capable of doing industrial design while having expertise in other industries will always make your options much more diverse.
Online Resources To Keep In Mind
While Skillshare, Udemy, and other online course websites should never be forgotten, many online colleges teach industrial design.
Depending on the country you are in, you may get a full degree while studying on your own at home and attending only a few online classes.
Many industrial designers that entered the industry before there were degrees or qualifications do this while working full-time.
Broadening their pool of skills and becoming skilled to a level that has meant they can choose where they work and for who they are working.
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Why Is It Recommended To Get A Diploma Or Degree In Industrial Design?
While we have helped you know where to get all the skills and programs to get started in the industrial design industry, we have to recommend getting a degree.
Many reasons for this apply specifically to the industrial design industry, which makes it difficult to brush off.
Many mistakenly assume that never getting a qualification should be fine while the industry around them moves forward.
In the modern age to old, in many managers or higher positions, there are requirements to be qualified and show your degree or diploma.
Long-term Influence
The biggest benefit to getting a diploma or degree in industrial design is the long-term growth they offer you in your career.
In contrast, you may initially be able to keep up when entirely self-taught many with qualifications may progress faster in their careers than you are capable of.
You should be looking to get several diplomas or a full industrial design degree once you have successfully entered the industry.
Doing this may mean the difference between designing the same things repeatedly or becoming a renowned designer in the industry that has grabbed your imagination.
Ease-of-work
As much as we would like to ignore it, anyone with a diploma or degree is usually capable of getting work much faster than those who do not have degrees.
Even when measured on the actual skill, because someone with a degree has already proven their worth, companies know what to expect from them.
Whereas those of us who only studied online while at home have the constant challenge of having to deal with showing how good our skills are.
Only once you have been in the industry for more than seven or eight years, qualifications such as degrees and diplomas start meaning less and less.
Resources For Your Disposal
While studying at home, the constant challenge of getting a computer strong enough and the right software to use will be with you.
When studying at a university, they usually provide the right equipment and offer significant discounts on software packages.
While you may need to pay for the books, there are many benefits that most university and college campuses offer that few other people seem to realize.
We recommend that you consider this, as you may even be able to learn everything while at a university without having to buy your computer.
Total Practical Experience
As universities have changed and improved, the key benefit they offer is direct hands-on experience within the industry.
As part of the courses you must complete to get a degree or diploma, you will find that they include practicals you must complete.
Many specialized universities and colleges work with large companies to provide students with practical experiences.
We always recommend that you consider this when choosing how you will start, especially if you have only recently left school.
How Long Must It Take You To Learn Industrial Design?
Industrial design is a career where you will always learn new things, especially as technology changes. You should learn the basics within a year, depending on how hard you are learning each day, while advanced designs will require several years of training.
Many assume that industrial design can be learned perfectly within a few months of watching videos and reading materials.
However, even the most experienced designers must relearn and learn new things when they move to a new company.
With the design software also changing when you move to different companies, you will need to accept that you may never stop watching courses.
Many of the most experienced industrial designers watch these courses whenever possible to ensure they know as many tools and tricks of the trade as possible.
What Do You Need To Study Industrial Design?
You will need to have your computer at home that is strong enough to handle the design software used by industrial designers.
No one in the industry will accept you if you draw your designs using pens and paper, with many considering it a lost art.
Many face this biggest challenge, as the With most spending several thousand to get a computer or laptop that is strong enough while also having to pay for the actual software that is going to be used.
It must be mentioned that very few industrial designers rely on Apple products, as these are usually incompatible with most programs used at companies.
You will have to learn how to use Windows computers as not knowing how to work on these can be a deal breaker for many companies.
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Conclusion
Learning industrial design at home is one of the most challenging but rewarding skills you can choose to learn.
However, even with the best online courses and all the time you may have, you will have to be taught by a professional or even study for a basic diploma.
Always remember, no one is ever really done learning!
References
- How To Learn Industrial Design Without Going To School? I’m A Trained Graphic Designer And I’ve Always Wanted To Learn Industrial Design (Specifically For Cars And Furniture). Going To School Isn’t An Option. Are There Any Books Or Online Courses – Quora
- Can I Teach Myself Industrial Design? What Should I Learn? – Quora
- Learn Industrial Design With Online Courses, Classes, & Lessons | Edx
- Industrial Designer – Post Matric
- What Can I Become If I Study Industrial Design? – Mastersportal.Com
- Become An Industrial Designer Learning Path | Linkedin Learning, Formerly Lynda.Com
- Learn Industrial Design: Best Online Courses And Resources (Careerkarma.Com)
- Becoming A Designer Without School? : Industrialdesign (Reddit.Com)
