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The commercial design field is highly competative, with many of the better designers pulling in a higher commercial designers salary.
 
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Commercial Designer Salary


A commercial designer typically works to combine style, safety, and function to create the look and usability of the products we use every day. They are fundamentally responsible for the products design, making sure the product works with the design, and ensuring the product is safe to use for the customer. Once a product has been decided upon or if an existing product is in need of an upgrade, the commercial designer will take the idea and the mechanics behind it and design how to make it both aesthetically pleasing and functional, which can include both how the product is used and who will be using it.

The first stage of the process is the identify the product and the audience for it, create a basic design that will be used, then make models to demonstrate both form and function. Whether the commercial designer is working freelance or working for a larger corporation, their main goal is to ensure that the product works and is capable of selling well.

In addition to the look of the product, they are also in charge of making sure the product works safely. This job is a specific combination of art, engineering, and business.

commercial designer salary

To become a commercial designer, you will need the minimum qualification for the job. This means having a minimum of a bachelor's degree in engineering, industrial design, architecture, drafting, graphic design, or art. These degrees and relevant work experience is the first step to getting an entry level position with a larger corporation. Most who stay in the field generally attempt to get a master's degree in industrial design or a closely related field.

Creativity and an artistic eye are even more important than having a college degree. If you are unable to create good, functional designs that are capable of selling the product, then you will not be very useful to most companies.

Since around 30 percent of the commercial designers currently work for themselves or on a freelance basis, their salary is very difficult to calculate. Many tend to charge their own rates, and depending on the number of clients they have, can greatly change their average salary. It is not uncommon to find freelance commercial designers who are charging more than $120 per hour. The average rate for freelancers

Those working for a corporation have a greater job security and guaranteed business. The average commercial designer salary at a larger company earns around $60,000 a year based on experience. The city you live in can also greatly alter the amount you make. Larger design cities, like New York City and Los Angeles, will average between $6,000 and $10,000 more per year.



 

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