1) Sketching and freehand drawing ability have to be excellent... designers have to be fast and fluid, not slow and considered. No polished rendering now required, but basic quick sketch rendering still worthwhile. FAST and loose is the key.

Rendering skills are rapidly being surpassed by software: 10 years ag Final renderings with pastels and markers 5 years ag Final renderings with Photoshop and Illustrator Now: Final renderings with Photoshop and Alias or Pro/E + 3D Studio Max

2) Good model making ability in foam, plaster, resins, MDF board including at least an awareness of Rapid Prototyping technologies such as SLA, SLS, LOM, silicon rubber castings, investment casting, soft tooling options etc.

3) Have to know a Vector based package (such as Freehand or Illustrator 7) and a Raster based package (such as Photoshop or Photostyler)

4) 3D Modelling skills in 1 high end package such as Pro/E, Alias, Catia, I-DEAS or to a lesser extent 1 mid-range package like Solidworks 98, Form Z, Rhino 3D, 3D Studio Max etc

5) 2D CAD skills in Autocad, Microstation or Vellum as a fall back position.

6) Self starters with good presentation and interpersonal skills (able to think on their feet at a client meeting and make a case for the concept), report writing (researching and understanding a detailed brief, documenting the design decision process, QA documentation) any industry experience a bonus (work experience, prior employment, field trips to industrial sites such as car manufacturers, plastic injection moulding plants, toolmakers etc).

7) Excellent appreciation of form and the interaction of positive and negative space.

8) Portfolios should have clear progression of the idea from fluid sketch to detailed sketch to 3D model, GA‘s are not enough! At least one fully detailed and toleranced part drawing of an injection moulded product, good clear photos of a good model... no poorly scanned sketches!

9) A solid understanding of the product development process and how ID fits with marketing (concept of designing for particular price points and niche markets) another bonus. A good understanding of industrial techniques such as extrusions, laser cutting, fasteners, welding, sheet metal production, composites, blow moulding, injection moulding for electronic products (no Escher products or poorly thought out part lines!). Ability to understand and design basic membrane switches a bonus.

10) All consultancies operate on an hourly fee basis and their designers must document time spent on each project accurately. Time management skills are vital as are an indication of how long the 3D renderings, models and detailed drawings took to complete. Employers want to start making money with the graduate very soon!