How can you quickly learn new industrial design skills?

1 Find your focus

The first step to quickly learn new industrial design skills is to find your focus. Industrial design is a broad discipline that covers many areas, such as product design, user experience design, service design, systems design, and more. You can't master them all at once, so you need to narrow down your scope and identify the specific skills that you want to learn or improve. For example, if you are interested in product design, you might want to focus on skills such as sketching, prototyping, CAD, or ergonomics. Finding your focus will help you set clear goals, prioritize your learning activities, and avoid getting overwhelmed by too much information.

2 Use online resources

The second step to quickly learn new industrial design skills is to use online resources. There are many online platforms, courses, tutorials, blogs, podcasts, videos, and books that can teach you various industrial design skills and topics. You can find free or affordable resources that suit your level, style, and schedule. For example, you can use platforms such as Skillshare, Udemy, Coursera, or edX to enroll in online courses that cover different aspects of industrial design. You can also use tutorials from websites such as Lynda, Instructables, or Designmodo to learn specific skills or tools. You can also follow blogs, podcasts, or videos from experts and influencers in the industrial design field, such as Core77, The Dieline, IDEO U, or Yanko Design.

3 Practice and apply

The third step to quickly learn new industrial design skills is to practice and apply them. Learning new skills is not enough if you don't use them in real projects or scenarios. You need to practice and apply your new skills regularly to reinforce your learning and improve your performance. You can practice and apply your new skills by working on personal or professional projects, joining design challenges or competitions, collaborating with other designers or clients, or seeking feedback from mentors or peers. Practicing and applying your new skills will help you test your knowledge, solve problems, create solutions, and showcase your work.

4 Learn from others

The fourth step to quickly learn new industrial design skills is to learn from others. Learning from others can help you gain new perspectives, insights, tips, and inspiration that can enhance your industrial design skills and creativity. You can learn from others by networking with other designers or professionals in the industrial design field, joining online or offline communities or groups, attending events or workshops, or finding a mentor or coach. Learning from others will help you expand your network, exchange ideas, get support, and discover new opportunities.

5 Keep up with trends

The fifth step to quickly learn new industrial design skills is to keep up with trends. Industrial design is a dynamic and evolving field that responds to changes in technology, society, culture, and environment. You need to keep up with the latest trends and developments that affect the industrial design field and the users' needs and expectations. You can keep up with trends by reading magazines, newsletters, reports, or articles, following social media, blogs, or podcasts, or using tools such as Google Trends, Pinterest, or Trend Hunter. Keeping up with trends will help you stay relevant, innovative, and competitive in the industrial design market.

6 Be curious and open-minded

The sixth and final step to quickly learn new industrial design skills is to be curious and open-minded. Curiosity and open-mindedness are essential qualities for any industrial designer, as they enable you to explore new possibilities, experiment with different methods, and learn from your mistakes. You can be curious and open-minded by asking questions, seeking feedback, trying new things, challenging yourself, and embracing failure. Being curious and open-minded will help you grow as a designer and as a learner.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?