5 Essential Skills for CMF, Part 2
More practical tips to support your CMF career
Have you ever wondered what sets great industrial designers apart from the rest? As a continuation to the previous post, 5 Must-Have Skills for CMF, Pt. 1, we continue exploring other skills that may not be talked about as much in design school. Many of the ones we cover in this post can be categorized as interpersonal abilities that can make a big impact on your career as an industrial designer.
We'll explore why soft skills are just as important as technical skills and how they can help you succeed in your career. So let's dive in and see how these skills can make all the difference in your work as an industrial designer. We’ll cover:
Technical proficiency
Collaboration skills
Knowledge of industry trends
Ability to empathize
Business acumen
Technical Proficiency
As a CMF designer, or more generally as an industrial designer, it's important to have a good handle on the technical side of things. This doesn't mean you need to be an engineer, but developing a good understanding of how things work, and how to bring your designs to life, is crucial.
Think about it: if you can take your ideas from ideas on paper to actual physical products, that's pretty amazing. And the more you understand about the technical side of things, the more creative you can be with your designs and make it reality.
For example, let's say you want to design a product that's lightweight and easy to carry around. With technical proficiency, you'll know the best materials to use, and how to make your designs as lightweight as possible, while still being durable.
Another way to look at this is: say you take a batch of plastic pellets and mold it into sneaker soles or into keycaps that you type with on your keyboard. What are the material requirements that would make these parts look good? Where is there room for you to make adjustments and be creative? Can the surface be made to feel more soft? More squishy? Opaque or transparent? That's the kind of magic that technical proficiency in CMF design can bring to your designs.
And it's not just about being able to make your designs a reality. Having technical proficiency will also help you make more informed decisions. When you know the ins and outs of how things work, you'll be able to make better decisions about how to effectively utilize the right materials in your designs, how to design for and around material constraints, and create products that are visually compelling and functional.
What’s more, understanding materials will also mean knowing how different materials interact with each other and how they can be combined in unique ways to achieve desired effects in a more holistic CMF palette. This also will lead to establishing good processes and recognizing how to work with materials safely and efficiently.
Collaboration Skills
Have you ever thought about practical skills that everyone needs in life but were never taught in school? For those in design, one of the soft skills that often gets overlooked is working well on teams.
Collaboration is a crucial part of the CMF and industrial design process, and it’s what sets the most successful designers apart from the rest. Whether you’re working with a team of engineers, product managers, or suppliers, it’s important to be able to bring different ideas and perspectives together to create something truly amazing.
For example, let's say you're working on a new product design. You might have an idea for how it should look, but an engineer might have a better idea for how it should function. If you have strong collaboration skills, you'll be able to listen to the engineer's ideas, and together, come up with a solution that incorporates both your visions.
Being good at this soft skill also includes being able to work with different personalities and communication styles. Some people like to dive right into the details, while others prefer a more high-level approach. Being able to work with all kinds of people, and understand how they communicate, will help you build better relationships and create better designs.
And the benefits don’t stop there – by working with a diverse group of people, you’ll be exposed to new and different ideas that you might never have thought of on your own. This can lead to some pretty creative and innovative designs that really stand out from the crowd.
But perhaps the biggest perk of all is that collaborating well helps you build positive relationships with everyone you work with. When you’re able to work effectively with others, projects get completed faster, with less stress and frustration, and to a higher standard.
The TL;DR? Design is truly a team sport, and you are just one of many people responsible for taking a product from concept to execution. Come into projects with the expectation to contribute ideas, listen and learn from others, and negotiate together to get to the best solutions possible.
Knowledge of Industry Trends
As a material designer, staying on top of industry trends can give you a competitive edge and help you stay ahead of the curve. Knowing what's new, what's popular, and what's up-and-coming in the world of materials can help you bring fresh, innovative ideas to the table, whether you're working on a new product or just looking for inspiration.
For example, if you're aware of the growing trend towards sustainable materials, you may choose to incorporate eco-friendly options into your designs, or find new ways to use recycled or upcycled materials. Similarly, if you're aware of the latest advances in technology, like 3D printing or smart materials, you can incorporate these techniques into your designs, creating unique and innovative products that stand out in the marketplace.
Being knowledgeable about industry trends also shows your clients and customers that you're a professional who stays up-to-date and informed. It also allows you to bring a fresh perspective to your work, and can help you to continuously grow and develop as a designer.
Keeping an eye out for industry news and events may not seem like a very actionable skill to have, but if you work in CMF design, it will serve you well in the long term and help you stay competitive, creative, and successful in the field.
Ability to Empathize
Working in CMF design, you're creating products and experiences that will be used by real people. And if you want to create designs that truly resonate with your audience, you need to be able to put yourself in their shoes. This is where empathy comes in.
Empathy is all about understanding how others feel and being able to relate to them on a deeper level. When you have this skill, you're able to see things from your user's perspective, which helps you create designs that truly meet their needs and wants. Much of this insight will inform the smallest of details of the product, from the right type of texture to the right kind of paint formulation necessary to make a successful product.
For example, let's say you're designing a new premium kitchen gadget. If you can empathize with the user, you'll understand that they're looking for something that's not only functional and efficient, but also easy to use and visually appealing. With this understanding, you can create a design that not only meets their practical needs but also brings a sense of joy every time they use it.
What’s more, empathy isn't just about making your users happy – it helps you build stronger relationships with your clients and team. When you can understand your collaborators’ needs and wants, you can work together more effectively to achieve your goals.
So, if you want to be a successful CMF designer, it's crucial to have empathy in your toolkit. By understanding your users and those around you, you'll be able to create designs that truly make a difference in people's lives.
Business Acumen
As a designer, it's not just about creating nice looking things – it's also about creating products that people will actually want to buy, and what kinds of products make sense for the company to create, now and in the future. That's where having some business smarts comes in handy.
Think about it, if you understand what people want, what's trending, and what's going to make your designs profitable, you're going to create better products that people will actually enjoy and invest in.
For example, let's say you're designing a new product and you're faced with the choice of using a pricey material that looks and feels more premium, or a more affordable option that is more generic and durable. With some business sense, you'll be able to have conversations with other stakeholders weighing the costs against the potential sales and make a decision that makes sense for both the design and the customer’s wallet.
And it's not just about making money – having a strong understanding of the business side of things can help you build better relationships with clients and stakeholders. When you can talk the talk, you'll have the confidence to negotiate on project details and outcomes, make informed decisions, and communicate effectively outside the scope of design.
So while technical skills are important in industrial design, it's the soft skills that can make all the difference in your success as a designer. From being able to empathize and collaborate with others, to staying aware of trends, these skills are essential for creating successful and viable designs. You can not only produce better work, but also build stronger relationships with your colleagues and clients, and have a more fulfilling career in CMF design.