Role of a UX Designer in Industrial Design Consultancies: An Overview

Industrial design consultancies such as IDEO, Ziba, Frog, and Smart are evolving towards a more integrated and strategic approach. In the past, these firms primarily focused on physical design, but now they are increasingly involved in business and strategy for a more holistic and profitable approach. The integration of UX (User Experience) and ID (Industrial Design) is becoming the norm as clients seek comprehensive solutions to enhance their product offerings.

Shift Towards Strategic Consulting

Most design consultancies today are no longer specialized in just industrial design; they are expanding their scope to include business strategy. This transition is driven by the recognition that strategic business insights often provide a higher return on investment. Consequently, these consultancies now engage interdisciplinary teams to develop and strategize service and product offerings that are aligned with their clients' business goals. The shift to a more integrated model ensures that services are not fragmented, resulting in user experiences that are cohesive and valuable.

Role of a UX/IXD Designer in Various Project Types

Pure Digital Projects

In projects where the client's core strategic opportunities are digital, such as web products and apps, the role of a UX/IXD (User Experience / Interaction Design) designer is more prominent. The designer is responsible for defining and shaping the project's experience, ensuring that the digital elements are intuitive, accessible, and aligned with the overall business strategy.

More Digital than Physical Projects

For clients in the mobile device manufacturing sector, the role of the UX/IXD designer still plays a pivotal part, but industrial designers (ID) are brought in to develop the physical form. Both disciplines work in tandem to ensure consistency and harmonization between the user interface (UI) and the physical design. While the ID focuses on aesthetics and form, the UX/IXD designer ensures that the digital and physical components provide a seamless user experience. Think of the current trend in smartphones, where modern devices like the HTC exemplify this balance between form and function.

More Physical than Digital Projects

In projects where the primary offering is a physical product, such as treadmills, industrial designers take the lead. However, UX/IXD designers are still crucial in the design process, particularly during research, ideation, and prototyping. They help identify pain points and opportunities, contributing to a more user-centric design approach. The focus here is on enhancing the users' interaction with the physical product, ensuring that every touchpoint is optimized for a positive user experience.

Pure Physical Projects

For clients producing purely physical products, such as lawnmowers, the role of a UX/IXD designer is more supportive. Their contributions are nevertheless critical. By understanding user needs, task flows, and use-case scenarios, they can provide actionable design criteria that enhance the overall user experience. For instance, in the case of a lawnmower, they can help improve the ignition process, making it easier and more user-friendly, thereby contributing to a better overall user experience.

Key Responsibilities of a UX/IXD Designer

Research and investigation of the current user experience to identify pain points and opportunities Ideation and solution generation to create the best possible user experience Ensuring the design prioritizes user experience over aesthetics Collaboration with industrial designers through the research, ideation, and prototyping phases

Despite the varying roles of a UX/IXD designer in different project types, the core focus remains on enhancing the user experience. The designer's contributions are invaluable, whether through digital or physical mediums, by ensuring that the end product is user-centered and aligned with the client's strategic goals.

Conclusion

Industrial design consultancies are shifting towards a more integrated approach where UX and ID are seamlessly integrated. The role of a UX/IXD designer depends on the nature of the project but always aims to improve the user experience. Regardless of the type of project, the UX/IXD designer plays a crucial role in research, ideation, and ensuring that the design process is optimized for the end user. This integrated approach is crucial for creating products that not only look good but also perform well and provide a seamless user experience.

Disclosures

The author works at Smart Design as both an industrial designer and an interaction designer. This experience has provided a unique insight into the role of UX/IXD designers within industrial design consultancies. While the author has hands-on experience with Smart Design, a detailed understanding of other consultancies like IDEO, Ziba, and Frog has been informed through extensive exposure to the design consultancy world.