Creating a comprehensive and impactful CV is a perennial challenge in the field of industrial design, as you need to effectively showcase your creativity and technical proficiency. Our guide will provide you with tailored advice to highlight your unique skill set and ensure your portfolio captures the attention of potential employers or clients.
Learn how to create your next industrial design CV by:
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
Resume examples for industrial design
Explore additional industrial design cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Head of Industrial Design
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is organized with clarity, allowing readers to quickly grasp Elsie Murray’s qualifications. Sections are well-defined, including a succinct summary, chronological experience, education, skills, achievements, and passions. This logical structure aids in navigating through her professional journey effortlessly.
- Prominent Career Trajectory - Elsie demonstrates significant career growth with upward mobility from Creative Strategist to Creative Director. Her roles across prominent companies in the UK reveal a strategic progression in creative leadership, underscoring her dedication to advancing in the health and wellness DTC branding sector. This illustrates not only her professional development but also her consistent impact in each position.
- Noteworthy Achievements with Business Impact - The CV highlights achievements with a clear focus on business impact, such as delivering $150M in sales through innovative campaigns and creative strategies. By quantifying results, such as a 45% revenue boost and a viral campaign reaching over 10 million people, Elsie effectively communicates her capacity to drive significant business outcomes.
Industrial Design Director
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is well-organized with distinct sections, allowing easy navigation through different aspects of Isaac Scott's professional profile. This clarity helps in quickly understanding his qualifications, experience, and achievements without unnecessary complexity.
- Consistent Career Growth and Leadership - Isaac's career trajectory showcases a steady progression from an Industrial Designer to a Design Director role. This upward movement highlights his leadership capabilities and ability to take on increased responsibilities, evidenced by his significant roles in various reputed companies.
- Robust Use of Industry-Specific Tools and Techniques - Isaac's proficiency in Solidworks, Rhino, and Keyshot, which are critical tools in the field of industrial design, sets him apart. His technical skills are further complemented by his experience in market research and strategic planning, demonstrating a deep understanding of both design and business dimensions.
Industrial Design Intern
- Clear and Structured Content Presentation - The CV is well-organized with distinct sections for experience, skills, education, and volunteering, providing concise and relevant details. The use of bullet points helps in quickly grasping Isabella's roles and accomplishments, making it easy for potential employers to understand her qualifications at a glance.
- Strong Career Trajectory in Chemical Engineering - Isabella's development is evident from her consistent engagement in chemical engineering projects and competitions. Her roles demonstrate a growing ability to lead teams and work on diverse projects, indicating a solid foundation in her chosen field with continuous progress towards more complex responsibilities.
- Technical Expertise and Industry-Specific Tools - The CV highlights Isabella's proficiency with industry-standard software such as Aspen Plus and MATLAB, underscoring her capability to perform advanced simulations and analyses. Her involvement in HAZID and HAZOP safety studies further displays her in-depth technical knowledge and readiness to address critical industry challenges.
Senior Industrial Designer
- Clear presentation and structured flow - The CV is well-organized, with distinct sections that clearly delineate the candidate's background, experience, skills, and achievements. This clarity and structure allow for easy navigation, ensuring that important information stands out at a glance, which is crucial for time-pressed recruiters.
- Consistent career growth and industry expertise - The candidate demonstrates a clear upward trajectory in their career, moving from a Product Designer to Senior Industrial Designer, with increasing responsibilities and leadership roles across reputable companies in the lighting industry. This progression highlights their growing expertise and ability to adapt within the field.
- Emphasis on sustainable design and innovation - Unique elements such as a focus on sustainable design practices and the use of eco-friendly materials are repeatedly highlighted throughout the CV. These aspects not only align with current industry trends but also showcase the candidate’s commitment to impactful and responsible design methodologies.
Junior Industrial Designer
- Clear and Concise Content Presentation - The CV displays information in a structured manner, utilizing sections like experience, education, skills, and achievements effectively to provide a comprehensive overview. Each section is succinct, ensuring clarity in the presentation and easy accessibility to key information.
- Dynamic Career Growth in Design - Isaac's career trajectory demonstrates a clear path from a design intern at Rolls-Royce to a Junior Product Designer at Dyson. This progression illustrates not only growth in roles but also a strategic move within prestigious industry players, highlighting a solid foundation in product design and a steady progression in the field.
- Technical Proficiency with Cutting-edge Tools - The CV showcases advanced skills in industry-specific tools like SolidWorks, Rhino, and Fusion 360. These skills reflect a high degree of competence in essential design methodologies and technical depth that are crucial for product design and prototyping roles, underlining his capability to handle complex design challenges efficiently.
Industrial Design Team Leader
- Logical and Structured Information Flow - The CV is meticulously organized, presenting information in a clear and concise manner. Each section is distinct, making it easy for readers to navigate through James Lewis’s professional experience, education, and other pertinent areas. Bulleted lists effectively highlight key achievements and responsibilities, ensuring that the most crucial details are easily accessible.
- Comprehensive Career Advancement - James Lewis’s career trajectory is impressive, illustrating steady progression through key roles in prominent companies like GSK, Unilever, and Diageo. His growth from a Digital Strategy Manager to a Creative and Digital Design Team Leader demonstrates his increasing level of responsibility and leadership capabilities, highlighting both sector stability and upward mobility.
- Mastery of Digital Tools and Methodologies - The resume showcases in-depth expertise in relevant industry methodologies, such as Agile project management, and highlights proficiency with digital tools that are crucial for the role, like Asana. This demonstrates James’s capability to implement technical processes that streamline projects and deliver strategic advantages in the digital marketing landscape.
Entry-Level Industrial Designer
- Well-defined career progression within the automotive industry - The CV effectively traces Alexander Jackson's evolution from a Junior Industrial Designer to a Senior role at prestigious firms like Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK, and Jaguar Land Rover. This trajectory highlights a consistent rise in responsibilities and impact within renowned automotive companies, showcasing his growth in form development and sustainable design practices.
- Emphasis on sustainable and technological design innovations - The CV underscores Alexander's focus on integrating sustainable design methods and advanced technology into industrial design processes. Through documented achievements such as reducing material waste by 10% at Nissan and boosting design-to-market speed by 25% at Jaguar Land Rover, he demonstrates a commitment to eco-friendly solutions and the efficient use of resources.
- Structured presentation with clear visual design elements - The CV is laid out with distinct sections highlighting critical aspects of Alexander's professional life, such as experiences, education, skills, and achievements. This structured approach not only enhances readability but also allows potential employers to seamlessly navigate through his accomplishments, particularly in CAD tools, aesthetic form development, and innovative design solutions.
By Role
Industrial Design Consultant
- Clear and structured presentation - The CV is very well-organized, providing a clear structure with distinct sections for experience, education, skills, and achievements. This clarity allows for easy navigation and quick comprehension, crucial for a quantitative analyst position.
- Rapid career progression and adaptation - Samuel Campbell’s career trajectory from a Risk Management Consultant to a Quantitative Analyst, with intermediate experience as a Data Scientist, demonstrates considerable growth and adaptability in the financial and data sectors, showing an ability to evolve with industry changes and demands.
- Usage of advanced methodologies and tools - The CV highlights Samuel's expertise in industry-specific tools and methods, such as Monte Carlo simulations, big data integrations, and the use of programming languages like Python and R. Such technical depth is pivotal for roles in quantitative analysis and data engineering.
Industrial Design Assistant
- Strategic Career Progression - Chloe Bell's CV demonstrates a clear trajectory from a Product Designer at Dyson to a Senior Industrial Designer at Philips Design, and then onto an academic role as an Assistant Professor. This path highlights strategic career advancements and shifts towards leadership and educational roles, showcasing her growing influence in the field of industrial design.
- Integration of Technology and Design - The CV underlines Bell's expertise in integrating advanced technologies such as AI-driven design and sustainable materials into industrial design processes. Her technical depth is highlighted through achievements like reducing prototyping time and securing industry sponsorships, manifesting her ability to blend technology with design innovation effectively.
- Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Leadership - By emphasizing her collaborations with diverse teams and leading workshops on sustainable practices, the CV effectively showcases Bell's leadership ability and adaptability across different functions. Her capacity to engage with various disciplines, coupled with her inclusive and interactive teaching approach, underscores her role as a facilitator of forward-thinking design practices.
Industrial Design Technician
- Clear and Concise Presentation - The CV is well-structured, starting with a succinct summary that emphasizes Lucas's expertise in manufacturing engineering, particularly in tooling and process optimisation. It presents each section clearly, ensuring the reader can quickly assess the candidate's qualifications and achievements.
- Comprehensive Career Progression - Lucas's career trajectory is illustrated through progression from a Process Engineer at Rolls-Royce to a Senior Manufacturing Engineer at TE Connectivity. This advancement underscores his growing expertise and responsibility in the field, showcasing a steady career growth within the manufacturing industry.
- Technical Mastery and Industry Involvement - The CV highlights Lucas's technical prowess with specific tools and methodologies, including mold and die tooling, advanced plating techniques, and process automation. His certifications and courses complement his extensive industry-specific skills, underscoring a deep technical knowledge and commitment to professional development.
Industrial Design Specialist
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is well-organized and clearly structured, with distinct sections for experience, education, skills, and achievements. This clarity ensures that key information is accessible at a glance, while concise bullet points effectively highlight the candidate's accomplishments and contributions without overwhelming the reader.
- Career Growth and Consistency - George Johnson’s career trajectory demonstrates a consistent upward movement within the 3D rendering sector. Starting as a 3D Modelling Technician and progressing to a Senior 3D Rendering Specialist, it highlights a clear path of professional development and expertise accumulation specific to his industry.
- Expertise in Advanced Tools and Techniques - The CV details proficiency in a range of specialized tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, 3Ds Max, V-Ray, and Octane Render. This technical depth underscores Johnson's capability to produce high-quality photorealistic renderings and highlights his adaptability in mastering state-of-the-art rendering technologies.
Industrial Design Coordinator
- Structure and Clarity Enhance Understanding - Isabelle Reed's CV is exceptionally well-organized, maintaining a consistent layout with clearly defined sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements. This clarity ensures that anyone reviewing it can quickly grasp her qualifications and career highlights, making it easier for potential employers to identify her fit for a role in technical coordination and customer success.
- Distinct Career Advancement and Specialization - Isabelle Reed's career trajectory illustrates significant professional growth, transitioning from a Project Support Specialist to an Integrated Services Technical Coordinator. This progression not only reflects her growing expertise and leadership capabilities in offshore operations but also her ability to adapt and specialize further in technical support and customer relationship management within the oil and gas industry.
- Industry-Specific Technical Prowess - Isabelle's CV emphasizes her deep knowledge and proficiency in industry-specific tools and methodologies such as engineering drawings, API codes, and offshore operations. The inclusion of specialized certifications like the Advanced Subsea Engineering Certificate also highlights her commitment to staying up-to-date with technical advancements, underscoring her technical depth and credibility as a professional in the engineering field.
Industrial Design Analyst
- Efficient presentation and structure - The CV is organized in a clear and concise manner, allowing easy navigation through sections like experience, education, and skills. This aids in quick comprehension of Theodore's qualifications and achievements, reflecting an ability to convey complex information succinctly, which is crucial for roles requiring data analysis and reporting.
- Demonstrated career growth and specialization - Theodore's career trajectory illustrates a clear progression from a Junior Engineer to a Data Analyst, indicating growth and increasing responsibilities. This shows his deepening specialization in supply chain management and data analysis, highlighting his capability to advance within the industry by acquiring new skills and taking on challenging roles.
- Integration of advanced technical tools - A focus on industry-specific tools and methodologies, such as PowerBi, SQL, AutoCad, and Python, emphasizes Theodore's technical proficiency. These skills are essential for the data-driven improvement of supply chains, giving him an edge in designing and implementing complex solutions that enhance organizational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Industrial Design Strategist
- Strong Career Progression and Industry Focus - Eva Fisher's CV showcases a promising career trajectory in brand strategy, moving from a Marketing Analyst role to a Strategic Planner, and currently as a Brand Strategist. This progression highlights her growing expertise in brand analysis and strategic planning, contributing significantly to her employer's business goals across various renowned agencies.
- Clear Presentation and Well-Structured Content - The CV is presented in a well-organized manner, with clear sections that ensure ease of navigation. Key accomplishments are succinctly articulated using bullet points, facilitating a quick understanding of her capabilities while avoiding overwhelming the reader with unnecessary detail.
- Emphasis on Impactful Achievements - Eva’s CV emphasizes the direct business relevance of her contributions, like enhancing brand awareness by 30% and increasing client engagement by 25%. These figures not only highlight her strategic acumen but also reflect the tangible impact of her work on organizational success, underlining her value as a Brand Strategist.
Industrial Design Project Lead
- Clarity and Structure in Content Presentation - The CV is meticulously structured with distinct sections that allow for easy navigation through Max Wright's career achievements, skills, and educational background. Each section is clearly labeled, making it easy for recruiters to quickly locate information such as his leadership in project management and technical prowess in aerospace engineering.
- Robust Career Trajectory - Max's career path demonstrates a solid progression from Project Engineer roles to leadership positions such as Industrial Project Lead. This trajectory highlights not only his ability to grow within his field but also his commitment to advancing in the aerospace industry, taking on increasing responsibilities at renowned companies like Rolls-Royce and GE Aviation.
- Expertise in Industry-Specific Methodologies - The CV effectively showcases Max's adeptness in utilizing crucial industry methodologies such as lean manufacturing and FMEA. His certifications in Lean Six Sigma emphasize his advanced technical skills, which are vital for driving process improvements and achieving operational efficiencies within the aerospace sector.
Industrial Design Researcher
- Structured and Comprehensive Presentation - The CV is concisely structured, presenting detailed sections that cover all essential areas such as experience, education, skills, and achievements. Each section is clear and logically arranged, making it easy for readers to navigate and grasp the candidate's qualifications effortlessly.
- Consistent Career Growth in Design Research - Ruby Gibson's career trajectory is impressive, showcasing a progressive path through roles at prominent companies like Dyson, Unilever, and Electrolux. This progression reflects a deepening specialization in industrial design research, with each position building on the previous experiences and leading to more significant responsibilities and achievements.
- Application of Advanced Research Techniques - The CV highlights Ruby's proficiency in industry-specific methodologies such as ethnography, usability testing, and qualitative research methods. These tools are crucial for her role as an industrial design researcher, emphasizing her technical depth and ability to derive actionable insights that enhance product development.
Industrial Design Product Developer
- Structured Career Progression - Sophia's CV highlights a well-defined career trajectory, showcasing her growth from a Design Engineer to a Graduate Product Developer. This progression reflects her increasing responsibility and expertise in industrial design, which is integral to her role as a product developer in the water treatment industry.
- Industry-Specific Tools and Techniques - The CV impressively communicates Sophia's mastery of industry-relevant tools like CAD software, SolidWorks, Rhino, and Fusion 360. Her technical depth is further demonstrated through her role in leading CAD prototype development and integrating these tools to streamline design processes, which are pivotal skills for product development roles.
- Effective Integration of Soft Skills - Beyond technical capabilities, Sophia showcases strong leadership and teamwork skills through mentions of leading design teams, facilitating cross-functional collaborations, and enhancing internal communication strategies. Her capacity to integrate user feedback and conduct user research also underscores her commitment to user-centric design principles.
Industrial Design Quality Assurance
- Comprehensive Career Growth and Experience - Chloe Bell's CV highlights a swift progression through high-profile roles at leading defense companies like BAE Systems, Airbus Defence and Space, and Lockheed Martin. Over her decade-long career, she has transitioned from a Security Operations Specialist to a Senior Defence Analyst, underlining her steady career advancement and expertise within the defense sector.
- Blend of Technical and Leadership Expertise - The document effectively showcases her strong command over both technical and managerial aspects. Chloe's proficiency with advanced analytics tools and telework operations is complemented by her proven ability to lead cross-functional teams to success. This dual capability ensures she is a well-rounded candidate adept at both strategy formulation and execution.
- Achievements with Business Impact and Value - Chloe demonstrates her impact through notable achievements, such as improving operational efficiency by 30% and project data analysis speed by 50%. Her accolades, like the 'Award for Excellence in Defence Projects' and recognition for 'Best Innovation in Security Tools', substantiate the tangible business value she brings, highlighting her commitment to driving performance and efficiency within defense operations.
Structuring your industrial design CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:
- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your industrial design CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
PRO TIP
Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a industrial design CV
- Contact information to promptly reach the candidate.
- Portfolio of design work for appraisal of creativity.
- Work experience illustrating hands-on industry knowledge.
- Relevant education to establish design foundations.
- Skills section covering technical and design expertise.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Showcase your design process by illustrating how you approach projects from conception through to final product, including the research, sketching, prototyping, and user testing phases.
- Demonstrate your proficiency in relevant software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, SolidWorks, or other industrial design tools, mentioning specific tools used for different projects.
- Feature a portfolio link prominently on your CV, as visual evidence of your work is crucial in industrial design; ensure the portfolio is professionally presented and up-to-date.
- Highlight any experience with interdisciplinary collaboration by detailing projects where you worked with engineers, marketing teams, or other designers to develop a cohesive product.
- Emphasise your understanding of manufacturing processes and materials, including any hands-on experience or projects that resulted in mass-produced items.
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Making a good first impression with your industrial design CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for industrial design:
- Lead Product Designer | User-Centred Innovation | CAD Expert | Chartered Designer | 10+ Years Experience
- Junior Industrial Designer | Ergonomic Focus | Prototyping Enthusiast | MA in Design | Emerging Talent
- Senior Industrial Designer | Strategic Product Development | Sustainability Advocate | BSc & BA | 15 Years Deep Expertise
- Creative Director | Industrial Aesthetics Specialist | Cross-functional Team Leader | CSD Certified | 20 Years Leadership
- Mid-Level Industrial Designer | Consumer Electronics Expert | 3D Modelling & Rendering | 5 Years Progressive Experience
- Innovative Design Engineer | Material Science Integration | IP Development | MDes Design Innovation | 8 Years Industry Visionary
Opting between a industrial design CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your industrial design CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a industrial design job:
The best formula for your industrial design CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Quantify achievements in your projects, such as increasing product usability by a certain percentage or reducing manufacturing costs, to provide tangible evidence of your impact on design efficiency.
- Highlight experience with CAD software and rapid prototyping tools, detailing the specific software you are proficient in and how you've applied them in your designs.
- Showcase your understanding of materials and production processes, citing examples where you've selected optimal materials for durability and cost-effectiveness.
- Illustrate your problem-solving skills by describing a challenging project and how you applied design thinking to arrive at a viable solution.
- Emphasise any collaborative projects, underscoring your ability to work with cross-functional teams, including engineers, marketers, and production staff.
- Include successful designs that went to market, mentioning any patents, design awards, or recognitions your work has received, to establish your credibility.
- Discuss your involvement in user research and how you integrate feedback into your design process to create user-centered products.
- Mention any sustainability initiatives you've been part of, such as eco-friendly designs or lifecycle analysis, to demonstrate your commitment to environmentally responsible design practices.
- Detail your proficiency in design regulations and standards, offering examples of how you've ensured compliance in your product designs.
Work Experience
Senior Industrial Designer
Dyson Ltd.
02/2017-08/2021
- Led the design overhaul of a flagship consumer electronics product, enhancing usability and aesthetic appeal which boosted customer satisfaction ratings by 35%.
- Implemented cost-saving material substitutions across multiple product lines, saving the company an estimated £250k annually in production costs.
- Collaborated with a cross-functional team to deliver a complex industrial design for a new-to-market medical device, shortening the product development cycle by 4 months.
Work Experience
Industrial Design Manager
Electrolux
05/2009-11/2015
- Conceptualised and executed the industrial design for a series of award-winning home appliances, leading to a 20% increase in market share.
- Drove the adoption of 3D prototyping techniques that improved the iteration speed of new product designs by 50%.
- Mentored a team of junior designers, fostering an environment of innovation and helping to launch the careers of 5 industrial design professionals.
Work Experience
Lead Industrial Designer
Bosch Power Tools
01/2013-12/2018
- Streamlined the industrial design process through the integration of user experience (UX) principles, increasing client satisfaction by 40%.
- Led design efforts for an industrial machinery project, which enhanced operational efficiency by 25% through ergonomic improvements.
- Generated full lifecycle designs for a portfolio of successful consumer electronics, directly contributing to a yearly revenue increase of approximately £5 million.
Work Experience
Principal Industrial Design Specialist
JCB
06/2016-Ongoing
- Directed and executed a sustainable design strategy, resulting in the development of an eco-friendly packaging solution that reduced plastic waste by 70%.
- Pioneered a collaborative project with engineering to create an innovative construction vehicle, enhancing safety features and surpassing industry standards.
- Facilitated workshops to ideate new product concepts, successfully pitching 3 new designs that expanded the company's portfolio into new markets.
Work Experience
Head of Industrial Design
Makita UK Limited
09/2012-03/2017
- Revitalized the product design for a range of professional power tools, which grew the customer base by 30% within the first year post-launch.
- Developed and implemented a modular design system that expedited the production time by 20%, effectively increasing the speed-to-market for new products.
- Organized cross-departmental efforts to align industrial design practices with manufacturing constraints, optimizing the production process for enhanced efficiency.
Work Experience
Industrial Design Lead
LG Electronics
03/2010-05/2014
- Redesigned a line of commercial refrigeration units, meeting stringent energy efficiency standards, leading to a 15% reduction in energy consumption for end-users.
- Cultivated a user-centered design philosophy within the team, ensuring all projects met high standards of functionality and user engagement.
- Secured 4 patents for innovative design features that were incorporated into next-generation home appliances, solidifying the company's intellectual property portfolio.
Work Experience
Innovative Industrial Design Director
Siemens Home Appliances
08/2014-01/2020
- Led the transformation of user research insights into practical design solutions, resulting in products that consistently exceeded customer expectation metrics by over 30%.
- Spearheaded a cost-reduction initiative by redesigning product components for automated assembly, reducing labour costs by 20%.
- Enhanced the company's competitive edge by integrating smart technology into traditional appliances, which saw a 25% uplift in sales for the smart product range.
Work Experience
Global Head of Industrial Design
Samsung Electronics
11/2015-Ongoing
- Catalyzed the company's move into wearable technology by heading the design of a smart watch that achieved a 10% market penetration within its first year.
- Redefined production quality standards by introducing advanced materials to the design phase, enhancing product durability and customer loyalty.
- Developed an industry-recognized design language that increased brand recognition and contributed to a 20% uplift in overall sales.
What to add in your industrial design CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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PRO TIP
If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your industrial design CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your industrial design CV:
HARD SKILLS
3D Modelling
Prototyping
CAD Software Proficiency
Materials Knowledge
Sketching
Product Development Process
User-Centered Design
Adobe Creative Suite
Model Making
Ergonomics
SOFT SKILLS
Creativity
Problem-Solving
Collaboration
Visual Communication
Attention to Detail
Critical Thinking
Adaptability
Time Management
Empathy
Presentation Skills
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Further professional qualifications for your industrial design CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your industrial design CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
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Key takeaways
Write your professional industrial design CV by studying and understanding what the role expectations are. You should next:
- Focus on tailoring your content to answer specific requirements by integrating advert keywords through various CV sections;
- Balance your technical know-how with your personal skills to showcase what the unique value would be of working with you;
- Ensure your CV grammar and spelling (especially of your key information and contact details) is correct;
- Write a CV summary, if your experience is relevant, and an objective, if your career ambitions are more impressive;
- Use active language by including strong, action verbs across your experience, summary/objective, achievements sections.
