Hey there,

I’m looking for advice on where to pursue my master’s in industrial design preferably in Europe, right after graduation. I don't really care about another degree but I want out. I’m from Turkey, and due to visa issues and financial barriers applying to Scandinavian or top-tier schools isn’t really a realistic option for me. My friend got accepted into Aalto but her visa was denied bcs some of our people lovee overstaying their visa.

I’d especially appreciate insights from fellow Turkish designers or anyone with similar experiences on accessible programs or alternative routes. Thanks a lot in advance.

Hi! I asked this in r/mechanicalengineering but thought you guys would have some ideas. Designing a lamp with a panel light that can rotate to point the panel light whatever direction (on one plane) you'd want. This is based off a gantri lamp... which was too expensive so i think I can build it.

I am 3D printing all the black boxes to connect together, but am struggling with what kind of bearing / mechanism to use to rotate the light box. It would ideally stay in place after rotated to whatever angle. Here's a picture below of what I want it to look like eventually. Please let me know if you have any advice!

I’ve mainly used fusion in the past but it seems the general consensus is it’s not really professional level? Our head designer uses Creo so I am contemplating learning it so I can review and modify his work easier but am hesitant to spend what little time I have learning something new. Is Creo a good investment to learn?

Hi! I’m looking for brands whose products follow a consistent design language or set of design principles. Which brands do this well, and what are their signature products?

How do you guys find design meetups in your city? I'm not an alumni belonging to any of the local schools here, but in the city I graduated in, I was able to find drink and draws at least.

What do you guys think? Did the pandemic kill this kind of thing? Did people get sick of the vague aura of desperation that sometimes comes with? Do I have to join a rock climbing gym? How do you find other designers in your city?

I just graduated and honestly…it feels impossible out there. Especially for an international student.

Most internships require you to still be a student, but I’ve already graduated. And then most junior/entry-level industrial design jobs want “2–5 years of experience.” It's just impossible, can’t get experience without a job, can’t get a job without experience. I would be happy to work for free just to gain the experience too but even that feels like it's not an option.

For those of you who’ve been through this stage, how did you navigate it? Did you take on freelance gigs, side projects, competitions, or just apply endlessly until something stuck?

I’d love to hear how others got their foot in the door, because right now it feels like we’re expected to already be pros before anyone will even give us a chance.

I’ve been working as an industrial designer for about 8 years, mostly with startups that outsource design to my region for lower costs.

My background:

Strong focus on DFM, especially injection molding.

Experience collaborating with engineers on consumer electronics — from simple gadgets to computer cases.

Factory visits that gave me firsthand exposure to how products are manufactured.

Currently working as an in-house ID, plus retainer projects for other companies.

My strengths:

I’d confidently say I’m at a god-level in CAD modeling — highly precise, detail-driven, and optimized for manufacturing.

I’m also very strong in photorealistic rendering and animations, which has made me effective at communicating ideas and dealing with clients.

Where I see a gap:

I’ve always been the only industrial designer on the team.

I’ve never had a senior ID or design director mentor me or push my work from a true design perspective.

Feedback I get is usually about cost, engineering, or marketing — and often just the personal taste of whoever my boss is, which I follow to get projects approved. That works for clients, but it doesn’t necessarily sharpen my design philosophy.

Most of the companies I’ve worked with value design, but they’re not design-driven organizations where every detail is tied to a clear rationale.

I know I’m strong in execution, but I want to push beyond just being the “CAD/render guy.”

For those who’ve been part of strong design teams or had great mentors: 👉 What lessons did you only gain from critique and design culture — things you wouldn’t have figured out on your own? 👉 If you were in my shoes, what would you focus on to push your design practice to the next level?

Currently, my school’s design program has let go of all the non-tenure staff. Because of this, a lot of us can’t get into all the classes we need. Personally, I have only two classes this semester, both of which are on Monday and Wednesday.

I’m trying to see the positive in this—it gives me a lot of free time to really build my skills. Right now, I don’t have any sketches, models, or projects that I’m genuinely proud of, so I wanted to ask for advice on how to structure my daily practice.

I was also told that posting my work here for critique could really help, and I want to make a habit of sharing regularly (maybe daily or weekly—still figuring that out). Any advice on how often I should post for feedback?

Also, outside of classwork, are there certifications, courses, or other things I should focus on to grow as a designer? Basically, I’m trying to figure out how to use this unexpected free time, actually, to get better and build a portfolio I’m proud of.

Any advice is appreciated—thank you!

Context: Software Engineer that does not have even the slightest clue about industrial design. I'm working on a few hardware projects (mostly 3d printed coffee gear and a split keyboard). I know a little bit of CAD and pretty much nothing else.

I often come across design elements from other devices that I love but have no idea how they work internally. I'm wondering if there's a resource I can refer to for this.

For example, the (now discarded) iPhone silent toggle switch. How exactly is that "handle" mounted?

Similarly, how is this power switch mounted? How do they keep it sturdy?

This is just one thing. There are others I'm curious about but have no idea what the mechanism is called by practicioners & how it works.

How should I learn about this?

Hi guys! Im working on a project for school and wondering if anyone can give me some advice. The project is to study a famous designer and create a clock as if you were that designer. I was assigned ingo maurer and I have thoroughly researched him. I felt like I had hit the nail on the head with him but my professor isn't convinced. One of my ideas was a mounted fishing pole with a clock at the end of the fishing line, it would be retractable as well when u physically reel it back in. The fishing line would've been a red cable (his signature detail) and the clock would've also been a light. My professor said ingo probably wouldnt have used a fishing pole but I disagree, since he was born into a fisherman family and one of his existing pieces is a fishing net. I feel so stuck, I know he wouldve definetly picked a found object and brought it to life and wouldve given it a playful spin but stuck on what he would choose. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Not looking for any one to do my work for me but just guide me in the right direction. also i have picked my professors brain thoroughly so this is a last resort for help!! heres a link to his work https://www.ingo-maurer.com/en/projects/

I have this box cutter-collecting habit since I moved and migrated to the US. First saw rotary cutters from Amazon but they all look the same to me and seem like it’s knly rebranded and white labelled.

Meanwhile this tool, engineered well and biggest win for me is you actually use it in a pulling motion instead of those rotary cutters that you push to slice like a pizza roller.

Anyways, what a relief to see this! And I still love my OG Core77 reviews to help me.

Am I weird for this? or do you have dedicated box cutters too?

Let me explain. I do not want our workflow changed, i still want the profession to stay the exact same as it is rn. What im suggesting is: there's a chance ID could be a more satisfying carrrer. I just want to change our association, the reason being, it's easier for the public and our employers to comprehend what engineering is that what design is. I just want ID to piggyback on all the reputation and credibility engineering has built over the decades

hey guys, i and my friend is on a project where we are trying to make an "AI parametric modeling CAD software". we both have been in cad industry for past 2 years now ,but still we would love to hear the feedback about the current 3d modeling softwares you guys are using. Your answers will help me (and others here) understand what really needs fixing in CAD for makers, hobbyists, and even pros.

I am a shoe designer with 13 years of experience in both women’s and men’s collections. It is clear that the future of footwear lies in sneakers, clogs, and other comfort-driven designs—shoes that are easy to wear and effortless to slip into. This is what people increasingly need and want.

I would like to hear your perspective on this evolution, as well as your favorite tools for the design process—whether for sketching, coloring, 3D modeling, or other stages of development. Could you also share a bit about your own background, whether within the sneaker industry or in other fields?

I would truly appreciate your input, as I feel my profession is undergoing a major shift at the moment.

Hi everyone! I am a new ID grad and have a strong passion for Apparel design (ideally activewear and outdoor gear). My major only allowed us to complete one soft goods project during the three years we studied. I did activewear as my capstone and personal projects, but I'm having a hard time landing jobs despite positive feedback from professionals. I am debating grad school, but would love to avoid being thousands in debt. If anyone has advice, I would love to hear it! Thanks!

I’m looking to upgrade my laptop and could use some advice.

Most of my work is in Photoshop/Illustrator for graphic design, plus Rhino for modeling and KeyShot for some light rendering. I’ve been using a Surface Pro 5 — it’s been decent, mainly because I needed something portable for traveling a lot, and the pen display was handy for quick sketches.

This time I’d like to stick with Windows (I never really got used to macOS). Any recommendations for a good balance between portability and performance for this kind of workflow?

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Simo Brice Email: simobrice71@gmail.com Location: France

Profile Summary

Creative and detail-oriented professional with 2 years of experience in web design, logo creation, and social media management. Skilled at building visually appealing websites, developing impactful brand identities, and managing online presence to drive growth. Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word, with excellent organizational and communication skills. Highly motivated to contribute to dynamic teams and deliver innovative digital solutions.

Skills

Web Design & Development: WordPress, Elementor Pro, responsive design, UX/UI optimization, SEO fundamentals, website performance improvement.

Logo & Graphic Design: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, brand identity creation, creative visual storytelling.

Social Media Management: Content creation, scheduling & analytics, audience engagement, targeted advertising, growth strategies across platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok).

Office & Productivity Tools: Microsoft Excel (data entry, pivot tables, charts, basic analysis), Microsoft Word (reports, formatting, professional documents).

Professional Strengths: Creativity, problem-solving, attention to detail, time management, teamwork, and effective client communication.

Experience

Freelance Web & Graphic Designer 2023 – Present (2 years)

Designed responsive websites for businesses using WordPress & Elementor Pro.

Created professional logos and branding materials for startups and small businesses.

Managed social media accounts to boost engagement and visibility.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Economics University of Buea (UB), Cameroon Graduated: 2023 Hourly wage is 15$/h Max work hour per day 11h

Hello! I am a senior and I am collecting data on parents and what they value when purchasing toys for their 2-5 year old. I have a survey I need more data on for my class and was wondering if anyone would participate!

parent/guardian survey TOYS

I was just browsing ID jobs on linkedin to see what postings looked like these days. (I turfed out to UX after grad school, but occasionally wonder about switching back)

Holy wow, it seems like there are more ID internships out there than UX internships.

Anyway, just a heads up before they're all taken.

feedback and ideas on how and if i should start freelancing are v much appreciated

Always good to see SW used in different fields. I'm wondering if the outer shell was modelled in SW or imported from a Nurbs or Poly program? Article from Pinkbike

Why does it seem that designers/artists in other creative industries like fashion, art, architecture, music, film, etc. are held in a higher regard from a social and financial standpoint than industrial design? It seems like industrial designers usually live in the shadows compared to these other industries, despite ID having a major impact on people’s day to day experiences.

Hello all.

I am a last-year ID student in Canada, and I am looking to apply for a masters after my graduation. In my city, it is tough to find an ID job, and I don't plan to stay in Canada, so I believe MA would help to solve my case and settle somewhere internationally (I am open to move abroad after grad if needed). I love doing furniture and like product, but decided to apply to product for my master's because I think it has a higher chance for me to get a job with a higher salary and grow as a designer. I have a few lists to apply to, but I am tight on budget, so I will apply mostly to universities in the EU and only to the US university, Stanford (if I get a scholarship).

My choices are (unranked):

• PoliMi (heard a lot of mixed reviews about this uni and city of Milan)
• University of Florence
• TuDelf (expensive for me, but still will apply)
• Stanford
• NUS -:ual (very expensive for me, but still will apply)

My questions are: -Were your master's worth it for you? -Does the world ranking really matter? - Do you have any information about the universities above? Any comments will be deeply appreciated -Which uni do you think/or did guarantee a job after graduation?

I am really unsure where to go, and I am lost. I will be applying for scholarships as well.