Product designer [physical]

A physical product designer (industrial designer) designs manufactured objects — from consumer electronics to housewares — balancing form, function, ergonomics, materials, and cost. The work runs from sketches and CAD models through physical prototypes, refining how a product looks, feels, and is made.

The role is hands-on and iterative, requiring close work with engineers and manufacturers and an understanding of production processes. Generative CAD tools assist with form-finding, but tactile material judgement, prototyping, and supplier negotiation keep much of the work grounded in the physical world.