Design of an autonomous excavation drone inspired by a scorpion. The vehicle features a traditional excavator arm as its primary tool, complemented by two auxiliary robotic arms equipped with a soil drill and a demolition hammer.
The development process included:
- Silhouette exploration and concept sketches;
- 3D modeling;
- Mechanical arm animation tests;
- Color variation studies;
- Final presentation renders and environmental context.

Made a short video about this. Banks, Luxury companies any many more use this trick. In many cases weight is just there to feel premium. Since iPhone 7 the home button never moves, a motor fakes the click, because no resistance feels cheap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OCANzwqLT0

Hello everybody. Does anyone have tips on how to build a good portfolio/increase my chances of getting into this programme? Any advice would help, and thank you!

Hello, I’m a rising senior in high school and I’m looking to apply for ID at Gatech (and SCAD but I’m interested in GT). I’m currently putting together my portfolio and I thought I would ask for advice on what I should include.

What I intend to have in my portfolio so far are digital art/design works (from my AP 2-D portfolio), 3D Modeling (Nomad sculpt), fashion/accessory design, and 3D art (the one I’m worried about). I’m brainstorming projects I can do and possibly replace the weaker ones, please leave any suggestions or advice!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to hire an Industrial Designer to help refine the aesthetic and ergonomics of a completely new type of adjustable wrench.

I am currently patent-pending on the design and already have a functional, 3D-printed prototype built. The core mechanism is based on a sliding iris (aperture) layout that serves as a direct upgrade to a traditional Crescent wrench for similar daily applications. After digging through roughly a thousand prior art patents, I'm confident this fills a genuinely unique gap in the tool space.

Now, I need the styling to match how revolutionary the function is—and I’m self-aware enough to recognize that my own CAD styling can only go so far.

Key Advantages

1. Automatically Sizes Itself: Adapts instantly to a wide range of fasteners without manual adjustment. No more worm gear!
   
2. Load-Adaptive Grip: The harder you pull, the tighter the iris mechanism grips the fastener. Theoretically can’t slip, and reduces the chance of rounding bolts
   
3. Continuous Ratcheting: Operates without a traditional ratchet and pawl for no lift operation
   
4. One-Handed Operation: Self-clamping (vs pliers style) and true one-handed operation for ease of use

Design Constraints & Challenges

1. The Head is Functional: The geometry of the wrench head is tightly coupled to the internal kinematics of the sliding iris. While the handle is a wide-open canvas for styling and grip ergonomics, the head geometry has strict functional boundaries.
   
2. Assembly Details: The head enclosure is currently secured via 3 screws, which will need to be thoughtfully integrated into the final industrial design.
   
3. Part Count: The total assembly consists of 10 components.

If you’re interested in collaborating on a tangible, mechanical hardware project from prototype to production-ready surfacing, please DM me with a link to your portfolio and your standard rates.

Hi folks,

I run a consumer brand incubator and we're looking for an ID for a new earplug brand we are launching alongside a well-known artist.

We have the filter developed but need and ID to round out the design. Outside of coroflot, core77, behance, and linkedin - are there any other recommendations you would have to finding and ID for our project?

Open to folks here as well (didn't see a job board) with relevant experience.

Thanks!

Hi! I’m new to design as a whole, and I recently just purchased Dieter Rams’ book “Less But Better”! I’m looking for more books like this by similar architects/designers. I like the simplistic nature of his designs. So I guess any artist similar to Johnny Ive and Dieter Rams. Thank yall!

I work at a small company and I am currently our only industrial designer. Upper management has recently decided to buy some licenses of Microsoft Copilot 365 and have tasked each department to figure out how we can use these new licenses to help with our respective disciplines. While I think AI can be very helpful in other disciplines I see very limited usefulness in ID. It can generate pretty images, but is bad at editing them, and it doesn't or allow me to download them in an easily editable format (multi-layer TIFF or PSD). The images often do not match reality and wouldn't work if manufactured. I do not show clients concepts without fully understanding how they would work (where do the batteries go, what materials is it made of, etc.) and the AI concepts just don't work. It cannot generate realistic 3D CAD or vector graphics.

I'm sure I sound like an old guy against innovation to some people (I swear I am in my 20s) but to me it feels like AI is the opposite of ID, stifles creativity and in-depth thought. Before I go tell my boss this is all a waste of my time, are there any ways AI has been helpful in your ID career or schooling?

Needed some information

Hello everyone, i m a highschool student from Turkey who has doubts upon studying ID. I qualify for the best ID diploma program in my country but here is the thing. I want to work aboard. Are there a lot of job oppurtunities out there? Is there a chance that i could be unemployed? (I speak english and german fluently)

Interested to know your thoughts

I’m currently studying Industrial Design, but I’m considering moving toward the business side (management, operations, strategy, product management, etc.).
Do you think a master’s in Business Administration, Management, or a similar field is a good path? (i really dont mind not working on pure design/creativity) Has anyone here made a similar transition? I’d love to hear your experiences and whether it helped your career.

Hi everyone,
I’m a Canada-based Industrial Designer with about 2 years of experience. I recently received an inquiry for a freelance smartwatch design project, but I’m struggling to estimate a fair quote for this scope.

Here is the client's scope of work:

1. Design System: Design strategy, product design language, visual identity, functional principles, and a rulebook to ensure consistency and scalability across future product phases.
2. 3 Enclosure Concepts: 3 distinct design directions, including concept sketches, 3D modeling, high-quality renders, and a design rationale for each.
3. Renders: 20 high-quality renders per selected concept (60 total), including studio white-background, multiple perspective, in-context wearable, and lifestyle/marketing views.
4. CMF & DFM: CMF options, manufacturing considerations, and product specifications.
5. Refinements: Midpoint design review and agreed-upon refinement rounds based on feedback.
6. Final Deliverable Package: High-res product renders for marketing/investor materials, multiple colorways, and final 3D source files/exports for engineering and manufacturing handoff.

Questions:

• What would be a reasonable flat project fee (USD) or hourly rate range for a 2 YOE designer on a project of this scale?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

Hello everyone,

I’m writing to ask for your help on a study topic in design. I am currently a second-year student in Object/Industrial Design, and I am preparing my final-year project, which I would like to focus on supporting people living with serious illnesses.

I am particularly interested in the role of furniture in the perception of emotions and feelings: how can the design of a piece of furniture influence a person’s emotional experience during the moment of diagnosis or throughout the course of their illness?

Would you have any testimonials, personal experiences, or thoughts to share? I am also very interested in comparative studies or work by designers who specialize in this field.

Thank you in advance for your time and your responses.

Designed this magnetic, modular tray system.

Built from CNC-machined modules that are 360° rotatable, stackable, and snap together satisfyingly via a hidden magnet system. This allows for endless configurations that adapt to different environments and rituals.

Status: concept, 1-of-1 sample done (see last slide)

I’m currently in the tech industry and looking to pivot out into a more tangible / creative industry. ID has caught my eye for a few years but never made any effort to dig deeper into schooling or anything like that. I’ve already read some posts here from people younger than me who are still in school (I’m 30), and the comments are pretty discouraging. I’m based in California so I know the opportunity would be here, but also worried about getting into something that is already pretty impacted by AI. What do you all think?

I'm a footwear/bags/athletic apparel designer with nearly 30 years of experience. I'm having an increasingly difficult time while looking for a job. I can't even get a conversation with the talent acquisition gate keepers. I was always strong during job interviews...but can't even get there.

I've re-constituted my resume multiple times to try to get past ATS protocols...I'm beyond frustrated, and moving toward thinking about new industries all-together.

If anyone has any suggestions as to what worked for them, I'd appreciate it.

#JobSearch #SoftGoodsDesign

I was looking at the process of turning a product idea into something a manufacturer can actually work with. Most ideas start simply, a sketch, a reference image, or a rough concept. The harder part is translating that into clear manufacturing documentation. Dimensions, material specs, construction details, BOMs getting those right is one thing. Making sure engineering, sourcing and manufacturing all interpret them the same way is where most of the back-and-forth actually happens.

I put this idea together using AI to see how far it could take a rough concept. The output (shared in the pics) came back with dimensions, material specs, Pantone codes, construction details and component breakdowns, things that normally take a while to pull together manually. Having that structure ready meant I could focus more on reviewing and refining rather than building from scratch. I still went though everything manually before sharing but it got me to a reviewable draft a lot faster than starting from nothing.

^{I’m looking for honest advice... I studied Architecture for 2 years before switching to Industrial Design. I’m now about to start my 5th semester (out of 10, so if I changed majors again, I’d be starting over at 21.})

^{The thing is, I don’t hate Industrial Design. What scares me is the job market and the salaries. Almost every job posting I see pays much less than I expected considering the responsibilities. I’m honestly afraid of struggling financially in the future and I’ve realized is that I don’t actually want to design products for a living. I wouldn’t mind barely using my creativity. What I really enjoy is the inter side of companies and process even in manufacturing.}

^{The fields that interest me are: Operations, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Project Management, Process Improvement, even just management fields.}

^{I also speak Spanish and English, I’m learning Mandarin, and one of my goals is to pursue a master’s degree in China. However, I’m worried that an Industrial Design degree might not be competitive for master’s programs like Business Administration, Supply Chain, Project Management, or Engineering Management.}

^{If I decide to stay in Industrial Design, my plan would be to start preparing before I graduate by taking courses in business, operations, supply chain, and project management. I’d also try to get internships in those areas instead of traditional Industrial Design roles. However, I’m not even sure whether companies would consider an Industrial Design student for those kinds of internships, which is another thing making me question whether staying is the right decision.}

^{So I’m torn between:}

^{- Finishing Industrial Design and trying to transition into business afterward.}

^{- Starting over in Business Administration or Industrial Engineering, even if that means graduating later.}

^{Part of me feels like I’d be wasting four years if I switch, but another part is scared I’ll regret staying.}

^{If you were in my position, what would you do? Has anyone here successfully transitioned from Industrial Design into business or operations? Do you think my plan is realistic?}

Currently I’m building my Portfolio to be able to apply to universities in Germany in ID. I’ve seen countless videos about what I can do and the diversity of Mediums, but I’m still unsure of what they want to see.. Should everything in my Portfolio be “useful” in some kind of way or maybe I can also show a more artistic art, I’ve seen that Photography is also considered, but do I have to shoot something impactful, beautiful, with soul? Rn I only have a more artistic portfolio (I did IB for Visual Arts) and some digital designs like logos I’ve made for some jobs I did in the past. Should I focus on doing more 3D works to have more opportunities? If so, which Mediums are more welcomed.
Thanks for taking your time reading..🫠

Hey hey,

So I am looking at potentially transitioning within the industrial design field. I have a BFA in Woodworking & Furniture Design, along with an MFA in the same field. In undergrad, I took some basic Industrial Design courses.

I currently work remotely for a furniture design company. I enjoy the work, and it pays relatively well for my lifestyle, but I pretty much am here until the end. I have been working post-grad for about 10 years.

I know that Industrial Design jobs in general are tough to get, and there are many people with stronger, more STEM-oriented degrees than me, but am I pretty much stuck in the wood and furniture world? I would like to expand outside, but I'm not sure if that means more schooling or what.

Thanks!

is it possible or maybe will a mba help? also thinking on master in operation management...

im pretty scared about my future job opportunities with an industrial design degree, im really looking forward to get experience on more operations or management fields... i will take classes on this fields related hoping i can get into this kind of jobs. I'm still studying btw so before graduating im trying to get into internships abt this fields. What are your thoughts?