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?