A Product Designer in the UK is responsible for creating and improving both physical and digital products to ensure they are functional, appealing, and user-friendly. Product Designers often work alongside engineers, marketers, and other designers to take ideas from concept through to finished product. This role involves researching user needs, sketching ideas, prototyping, and working with manufacturing or development teams to bring products to life. Strong creative and technical skills, as well as an understanding of user experience and market trends, are essential for success in this field.
The average salary for a Product Designer in the UK is around £35,000 to £55,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
Demand for Product Designers has increased by approximately 15 percent over the past five years, reflecting the growth of tech and digital industries.
There are over 8,000 Product Designer positions advertised annually across the UK, with strong opportunities in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.
Focuses on designing the visual layout and interactive elements of websites and apps to ensure they are user friendly and visually appealing.
Creates attractive and functional packaging for products, taking into account both branding and practicality.
Designs innovative and practical furniture pieces for homes, offices, and public spaces, considering both aesthetics and usability.
Focus on art, design, and technology subjects in school to build your creative and technical abilities.
Take subjects such as Art and Design, Design Technology, and ICT at GCSE and A-level. Get involved in creative hobbies like drawing, model making, or using design software. These skills will help you understand the basics of shape, colour, and function, which are essential for product design.
Learn to use digital design tools commonly used by product designers.
Start with basic graphic design programs like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, then progress to more specialised tools such as Sketch, Figma, or CAD software (like Fusion 360 or SolidWorks). Many free online tutorials and resources are available to help you get started.
Study a course related to product design, such as a BTEC, HND, or university degree.
Popular choices include Product Design, Industrial Design, or 3D Design at university. Some designers also come from backgrounds in Engineering or Architecture. Look for courses with strong practical elements and opportunities for work placements.
Create a portfolio showcasing your design projects and skills.
A portfolio is essential for applying to higher education courses and jobs. Include sketches, prototypes, and finished designs, as well as photos or videos of your creative process. Make sure to reflect your problem-solving abilities and understanding of user needs.
Seek internships, part-time work, or volunteer opportunities in design-related fields.
Work experience lets you see how product design works in the real world and helps you build industry contacts. Look for opportunities with design agencies, manufacturing companies, or start-ups. Even a short placement can provide valuable insight and practical skills.
Look for entry-level positions, graduate schemes, or freelance opportunities.
Use your portfolio and work experience to stand out in applications. Jobs may be advertised as Product Designer, Junior Designer, UX Designer, or Industrial Designer. Tailor your CV and cover letter to show your skills and passion for design.
Stay updated with industry trends and connect with other designers.
Attend design events, workshops, and online webinars. Join professional organisations such as the Chartered Society of Designers. Networking can lead to job opportunities and help you learn from more experienced professionals.
Consider specialising in areas such as UX or industrial design, or take on more responsibility.
With experience, you can progress to senior designer roles, move into design management, or specialise in areas like user experience (UX), interaction design, or sustainable design. Continued professional development helps you advance your career.
User Experience Designers focus on making digital products easy and enjoyable to use by researching and designing user journeys and interfaces.
Industrial Designers specialise in designing physical products, such as furniture or electronics, with an emphasis on function, form, and manufacturing processes.
Graphic Designers create visual content for print and digital platforms, including branding, advertisements, and user interfaces.
Please note that this may not be a comprehensive list of available apprenticeships. To view a more complete collection, visit the Find an apprenticeship service.
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FRANK H DALE LTD
( Added 23 Sep 2024 - 1 position available )
This is an exciting opportunity to represent Frank H. Dale, a major structural steel fabricator that was founded in 1932 in the Herefordshire market town of Leominster.
Closing date: in 2 days
Possible start date: 27 Oct 2025
LANYON BOWDLER LLP
( Added 30 Apr 2025 - 1 position available )
This is an exciting opportunity to represent Lanyon Bowdler Law Firm, who are consistently recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers UK, and strive to create a happy and supportive working environment.
Closing date: in 2 days
Possible start date: 27 Oct 2025
P3 COMPUTER SERVICES LIMITED
( Added 22 May 2025 - 1 position available )
P3 Computer Services Ltd in Burnley are recruiting for an Apprentice Digital Support Technician. The successful candidate will work towards completing a Level 3 Digital Support Technician apprenticeship over the duration of 18 months.
Closing date: in 1 month
Possible start date: 29 Nov 2025
FMS DATA CABLING LTD
( Added 07 Jul 2025 - 2 positions available )
VQ Solutions are looking for a hardworking, determined individual to join the growing team at FMS as a Network Cable Installer. FMS have an excellent track record of training and progressing their apprentices. You will work and train on-site with their time-served engineers on national projects throughout the UK.
Closing date: in 9 days
Possible start date: 27 Oct 2025
HEYGATES LIMITED
( Added 29 Jul 2025 - 1 position available )
A fantastic opportunity has become available for an IT support trainee to join the team, reporting to the Head of IT. This new and challenging role will give the opportunity to work with a wide range of enterprise technologies and potential to travel to other sites in the UK. An exciting and varied role.
Closing date: in 2 months
Possible start date: 13 Dec 2025
BUBBLE IT SOLUTIONS LTD
( Added 12 Aug 2025 - 1 position available )
As an IT Support Engineer Apprentice at Bubble IT, you’ll be the first point of contact for customers needing technical help. You’ll gain hands-on experience resolving a range of IT issues and developing your knowledge across hardware, software, and network support.
Closing date: in 19 days
Possible start date: 10 Nov 2025
BV Dairy
( Added 27 Aug 2025 - 1 position available )
First line business support, onsite, resolving issues such as forgotten passwords, connection and printing issues, and general problem identification. Covering customer service, system maintenance, and security, preparing you for more complex technical support roles.
Closing date: in 16 days
Possible start date: 03 Nov 2025
This page showcases various career options and the pathways to reach them. Each career listed here shares transferable skills and knowledge, making it easier for individuals to transition between them.
Your current career is highlighted to help you see how it fits into the broader landscape of potential career choices. By clicking on any career, you can learn more about it, including the training and education required to pursue it.
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These career progression decisions are informed by comparing the skills and knowledge needed for different occupations, along with data on how people move between them. Explore the possibilities and discover the exciting journey ahead in your career!
A Product Designer and a User Experience (UX) Designer both focus on creating functional, user-centred designs that enhance user interaction with products. The roles often overlap in designing digital interfaces and improving user satisfaction through design solutions.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a higher national diploma, degree or postgraduate award in:
You'll usually need:
You could do a college course, which may lead on to more advanced qualifications, or help you to get a trainee position with a company.
Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
You could apply to do a Digital User Experience (UX) Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
You may also find a Digital Accessibility Specialist Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship useful for this job.
You'll usually need:
If you're working in an organisation that conducts user research, you could get work experience by volunteering to help in research sessions and user interviews.
You could also get involved with the online user experience community for advice and tips, and to find a mentor to help you.
You can apply directly to companies or go through an agency that specialises in providing digital design professionals to clients.
You'll need qualifications and relevant experience to do this.
You'll find it useful to have:
It will also help if you have a portfolio to showcase examples of your work.
You can find out more about working as a user experience (UX) designer from the User Experience Professionals' Association (UXPA) and techskills.
Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.
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