Two concepts, one mission: designing products that inspire
Industrial design, product design, sometimes even commercial design: Anyone who deals with the development of new products quickly comes across these terms. And just as quickly, the question is: What is actually what? Is there even a difference between industrial design and product design?
The short answer is yes and no. The long answer: It depends on who you ask and in which context. In this article, we clarify the terms, show the historical roots and explain why this distinction is more important for your product development than you might think.
What is industrial design?
Industrial design emerged during the industrial revolution, when mass mechanical production replaced individual manufacturing. Suddenly, products no longer just had to work, but also had to be optimized for industrial production. The term itself says a lot: Industry is at the center of attention.
Industrial design focuses on designing products that are mass-produced. It is about the perfect balance between aesthetics, function and manufacturability. From the very first draft, an industrial designer thinks about the production machine: Which materials are suitable? How many individual parts are required? Can assemblies be simplified? Can the tool be manufactured inexpensively?
This discipline combines technical understanding with creative creativity. Industrial designers must master manufacturing processes such as injection molding, CNC processing or sheet metal forming as well as shaping, ergonomics and color theory. They work closely with engineers and speak their language. The goal: a product that not only looks and works well, but can also be produced economically.
The historical development of industrial design
Die Bauhaus movement In the 1920s, industrial design had a decisive influence. “Form follows function” became a guiding principle. Designers such as Dieter Rams later developed a design language at Braun that still has an effect today. Seine ten theses for good design are still the standard in design universities around the world today.
In Germany, industrial design has a particularly strong tradition. The close integration of design and engineering that is cultivated in this country is what makes German products so successful internationally. From automotive design to medical technology to tools: industrial design “Made in Germany” stands for quality, precision and durability.
What is product design?
Product design is the wider, more comprehensive term. It describes the design of all products, regardless of whether they are manufactured industrially or manufactured by hand. Product design can relate to physical objects, but also to digital products such as apps or software interfaces.
The focus in product design is more on the end user and their experience with the product. While industrial design takes production into account, product design primarily focuses on the question: How do people interact with this product? What does he really need? Which problem is being solved?
Product designers often work more conceptually. They develop the basic idea of a product, define its function and design the user experience. The question of manufacturability often comes only in the second step. This makes product design more flexible in early development phases, but also entails the risk that designs cannot be implemented or are difficult to implement.
The difference in education
There are also differences in the academic world. Industrial design courses traditionally place more emphasis on technical understanding, materials science and manufacturing technology. Product design courses focus more on design, user research and conceptual work.
However, this distinction is becoming increasingly blurred. Modern design courses combine both approaches because that is exactly what practice requires: designers who both think in a user-centered way and understand production.
The similarities between industrial design and product design
As different as the terms may sound, they overlap massively in practice. Both disciplines share the same goal: to create products that work, look good and offer people real added value.
Core elements of both disciplines:
- Functionality: The product must serve its purpose, reliably and intuitively
- Aesthetics: Form, color and surface design must be convincing and match the brand
- Ergonomics: The product must be comfortable and safe to use
- Sustainability: The choice of materials, durability and recyclability are becoming increasingly important
- Cost-effectiveness: The product must remain affordable, both in production and for the end customer
In modern Design agencies such as PROJEKTER merge both approaches into a holistic process. We think from the user perspective and at the same time take production reality into account. After all, what good is the best concept if it can't be built? And what good is the perfect manufacturing solution if no one wants to buy the product?
When do you need industrial design, when do you need product design?
Many companies ask themselves this question at the start of a project. The honest answer: You need both. However, with different focal areas, depending on the project phase and product type.
Product design is particularly important in the early concept phase. If you want to develop a new product idea, enter a new market, or drive innovation forward, you first need creative freedom. The focus here is on the question: What do we actually want to achieve? For whom? With what benefit?
Industrial design becomes decisive as soon as it becomes concrete. When the concept is ready and implemented, the hard facts come: materials, tools, unit costs, manufacturing tolerance. A good industrial design can significantly reduce production costs and increase quality at the same time.
Examples from practice:
A manufacturer of power tools primarily needs industrial design. The products must be robust, manufactured in large quantities and meet strict safety requirements. At the same time, ergonomics must be right, because craftsmen work with them every day.
A start-up that develops a new type of kitchen gadget is more likely to start with product design. The idea must first be convincingly designed, prototypes must be produced, market feedback is necessary. Only when it is clear that the product is received does industrial design become important in order to produce it efficiently.
Industrial Design and Product Design in Practice: The Integrated Approach
The most successful products are created where both disciplines work hand in hand. At PROJEKTER Industrial Design, we follow exactly this integrated approach. Our designers understand manufacturing, our manufacturing experts understand design.
This approach has concrete benefits:
Get to market faster: If it is clear from the outset how a product is manufactured, subsequent, expensive redesigns are unnecessary. What looks great in a 3D model often fails due to the reality of the production hall. Anyone who knows both worlds avoids this trap.
Lower development costs: Any design change in a late project phase costs money and time. Tools must be adapted, prototypes must be rebuilt, tests repeated. A well-thought-out design from the start saves these loops.
Higher product quality: A product that is both user-centred and production-ready is convincing across the board. It works better, feels better and lasts longer.
The role of prototyping
Another advantage of the integrated approach is prototyping. In our own prototype production, we can quickly make ideas tangible. This allows you to test at an early stage whether a design works and what it feels like. This iterative way of working combines conceptual product design with the feasibility review of industrial design.
Future trends: How industrial design and product design are evolving
The boundaries between industrial design and product design are becoming increasingly blurred. New technologies such as 3D printing, generative AI and digital twins are fundamentally changing both disciplines.
Additive manufacturing enables complex geometries that could not be produced in the past. This gives designers new freedom, but also requires new knowledge about these manufacturing processes. Suddenly, forms are possible that were previously unthinkable, which challenges classic industrial design.
sustainability becomes a central design criterion. Designers today have to think about the entire product life cycle: material origin, energy consumption in production, use phase and recyclability. This requires a holistic perspective that combines both disciplines.
digitization fundamentally changes the way we work. Virtual reality makes it possible to experience designs before the first prototype is built. Simulation software digitally tests loads and material behavior. This speeds up the design process and makes it more precise at the same time.
Design for circular economy
One particularly exciting trend is the circular economy. Products are no longer thought of linearly (produce, use, throw away), but circularly. This means that every component must be able to be returned to circulation at the end of its life. Designers today have to think about dismantling and recycling. This is where industrial design and product design completely merge, because it is about user-centered design AND production-oriented construction AND sustainable choice of materials.
Why the distinction is ultimately not so important
After all these explanations, we come to a surprising conclusion: The conceptual distinction between industrial design and product design is often irrelevant in everyday work. Rather, it is crucial that all relevant aspects are taken into account:
- Does the design team understand the needs of users?
- Do designers know the possibilities and limits of manufacturing?
- Is sustainable and future-oriented thinking?
- Is the price-performance ratio right?
- Does the product fit the brand strategy?
A good design team masters all of these dimensions, regardless of whether the business card says “industrial designer” or “product designer.” At PROJEKTER, we work with a team that can do both and sets the appropriate priorities depending on the project phase.
Conclusion: Integrated design is the future
Industrial design and product design are not opposites, but two sides of the same coin. Industrial design brings technical know-how and manufacturing expertise, and product design brings a user-centered perspective and conceptual strength. The best results are achieved where both approaches merge.
For companies that want to develop new products, this means: Look for partners who understand both worlds. Who not only deliver beautiful designs, but can also bring them into production. Who know your production, understand your processes and yet think innovatively.
With over 20 years of experience and more than 800 developed products We have learned at PROJEKTER: The most successful projects are those in which we take on both perspectives right from the start. Where we don't just ask “What should it look like?” , but also “How do we build it?” And where we don't just ask “How do we make it?” , but also “What does it feel like for the user?”
It is precisely this combination that makes the difference between a good and a great product. And in the end, that is the only distinction that really counts.
