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27-1021.00 · Task explorer

Commercial and Industrial Designers: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

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This source lists 17 tasks, including 12 marked Core and 5 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2019.

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17 tasks shown

Core · Task 6896 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment.

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Core · Task 6898 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Modify and refine designs, using working models, to conform with customer specifications, production limitations, or changes in design trends.

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Core · Task 6902 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Evaluate feasibility of design ideas, based on factors such as appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, production costs/methods, and market characteristics.

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Core · Task 6900 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers, to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products.

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Core · Task 6901 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Present designs and reports to customers or design committees for approval and discuss need for modification.

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Core · Task 6904 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Research production specifications, costs, production materials, and manufacturing methods and provide cost estimates and itemized production requirements.

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Core · Task 6897 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Direct and coordinate the fabrication of models or samples and the drafting of working drawings and specification sheets from sketches.

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Core · Task 6909 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Investigate product characteristics such as the product's safety and handling qualities, its market appeal, how efficiently it can be produced, and ways of distributing, using, and maintaining it.

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Core · Task 6906 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Develop manufacturing procedures and monitor the manufacture of their designs in a factory to improve operations and product quality.

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Core · Task 6911 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Participate in new product planning or market research, including studying the potential need for new products.

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Core · Task 6903 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Read publications, attend showings, and study competing products and design styles and motifs to obtain perspective and generate design concepts.

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Core · Task 6908 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Fabricate models or samples in paper, wood, glass, fabric, plastic, metal, or other materials, using hand or power tools.

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Supplemental · Task 6910 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Develop industrial standards and regulatory guidelines.

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Supplemental · Task 6899 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Coordinate the look and function of product lines.

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Supplemental · Task 6907 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Supervise assistants' work throughout the design process.

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Supplemental · Task 6905 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Design graphic material for use as ornamentation, illustration, or advertising on manufactured materials and packaging or containers.

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Supplemental · Task 6912 · 08/2019 · Incumbent

Advise corporations on issues involving corporate image projects or problems.

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Make the shortlist useful

Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

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