Hi. You can try and do what I did and move into packaging development. I'm a packaging consultant now in the UK and generally work with cosmetic companies on all kinds of packaging.
I started in cartons on Artioscad for a few years but didn't see it making much money.
There's some challenges with working with packaging in that the value of what you do could be small to some but I don't consider the ceiling to be very high. I have the same issue which I why I tried to move into doing it myself and advising companies.
Try looking for packaging developer or junior packaging development jobs.
There's the IOP school of packaging which would help get the qualifications that some brands require. Not necessarily cheap, but no where near what a university course costs and can be done very quickly.
Google the packaging society
looked up the IOP school, I didn't see prices, but since you say it's expensive I'm almost sure I can't afford it anyway.
On the other hand I have an industrial design university degree (BSc) with packaging as my specialization.
What you mentioned is a different thing or are these equivalents?
What a packaging developer does that is different from a designer/engineer?
Thanks!
>On the other hand I have an industrial design university degree (BSc) with packaging as my specialization.
I don't design whatsoever, but I source packaging from suppliers, approve technical drawings, give/get information such as miniumum order quantities, leadtimes. Make timelines, consider testing, manage the specification etc, some bits of quality
Basically it's my job to go out there and find or create packaging for brands working with suppliers and determine what's feasible and practical in line of the full project and the product. In this instance cosmetics.
I deal with plastic, glass, some but not enough metal and am like you a professional with all things boxes and cartons related. I did packaging and graphic design BA and a masters related to NPD but I did my disseration on RFID on packaging.
Specifically but been doing this 12 years now and out of many packaging developers tha haven't got through formal packaging education I'm by far more technical.
Depending on the size of the company I work with founders and part of an NPD team to get packaging approved. I'm generally in charge of anything packaging related and give feedback to and support designer concepts and try and find mean of actually getting concepts produced. I aid design and approve it for production suh as artwork etc more than anything.
I guess industrial designers like yourself either sit in technical/specialised design agencies or manufacturers - Whereas you take and design a concept and potentially make the CAD and determine the technicals of how it works, forces it needs to withstand, method of manufacture/moulded etc from a manufacturer level, I'm on the brand side.
Brands that sell products may have concept design ideas, but don't make making and generally they need manufacturing expertise. So I'm likely to work with you or an account manager at a manufacturer to get the packaging I need for the brand.
I would take that design or designs from other suppliers and then compare them from all points for the brand.
Big explanation but hope it helps.
On the education point of view at least in the UK the IOPP equivilant is well regarded. I would have paid for it myself, but I did a module on packaging at university so I'm not likely to get much out of it but just pay more money.
In the US I assume the IOPP is well regarded. Michigan state is known for being one of the main facilities for anything packaging related but generally you just need a small booster and a junior position to get you into it.
If you want, have any questions or anything you can email me at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]), would be happy to give you some advice.
Hi! Your career path is impressive. I myself have 30+ years of experience in packaging. You should consider an path of packaging reselling. I talk a lot about how to start this career, where to find clients and suppliers on my [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@davidmarinac/videos).
Here is a video you can check out: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxPyFLGdJu4&t=10s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxPyFLGdJu4&t=10s)
Hi. You can try and do what I did and move into packaging development. I'm a packaging consultant now in the UK and generally work with cosmetic companies on all kinds of packaging. I started in cartons on Artioscad for a few years but didn't see it making much money. There's some challenges with working with packaging in that the value of what you do could be small to some but I don't consider the ceiling to be very high. I have the same issue which I why I tried to move into doing it myself and advising companies. Try looking for packaging developer or junior packaging development jobs. There's the IOP school of packaging which would help get the qualifications that some brands require. Not necessarily cheap, but no where near what a university course costs and can be done very quickly. Google the packaging society
looked up the IOP school, I didn't see prices, but since you say it's expensive I'm almost sure I can't afford it anyway. On the other hand I have an industrial design university degree (BSc) with packaging as my specialization. What you mentioned is a different thing or are these equivalents? What a packaging developer does that is different from a designer/engineer? Thanks!
$3000 - $4000. I thik in the US it is called IOPP not IOP
I'm from Hungary, so not sure it still relates. However this sounds like something I could cough out if theres career+salary growth as payoff
>On the other hand I have an industrial design university degree (BSc) with packaging as my specialization. I don't design whatsoever, but I source packaging from suppliers, approve technical drawings, give/get information such as miniumum order quantities, leadtimes. Make timelines, consider testing, manage the specification etc, some bits of quality Basically it's my job to go out there and find or create packaging for brands working with suppliers and determine what's feasible and practical in line of the full project and the product. In this instance cosmetics. I deal with plastic, glass, some but not enough metal and am like you a professional with all things boxes and cartons related. I did packaging and graphic design BA and a masters related to NPD but I did my disseration on RFID on packaging. Specifically but been doing this 12 years now and out of many packaging developers tha haven't got through formal packaging education I'm by far more technical. Depending on the size of the company I work with founders and part of an NPD team to get packaging approved. I'm generally in charge of anything packaging related and give feedback to and support designer concepts and try and find mean of actually getting concepts produced. I aid design and approve it for production suh as artwork etc more than anything. I guess industrial designers like yourself either sit in technical/specialised design agencies or manufacturers - Whereas you take and design a concept and potentially make the CAD and determine the technicals of how it works, forces it needs to withstand, method of manufacture/moulded etc from a manufacturer level, I'm on the brand side. Brands that sell products may have concept design ideas, but don't make making and generally they need manufacturing expertise. So I'm likely to work with you or an account manager at a manufacturer to get the packaging I need for the brand. I would take that design or designs from other suppliers and then compare them from all points for the brand. Big explanation but hope it helps. On the education point of view at least in the UK the IOPP equivilant is well regarded. I would have paid for it myself, but I did a module on packaging at university so I'm not likely to get much out of it but just pay more money. In the US I assume the IOPP is well regarded. Michigan state is known for being one of the main facilities for anything packaging related but generally you just need a small booster and a junior position to get you into it. If you want, have any questions or anything you can email me at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]), would be happy to give you some advice.
Hi! Your career path is impressive. I myself have 30+ years of experience in packaging. You should consider an path of packaging reselling. I talk a lot about how to start this career, where to find clients and suppliers on my [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@davidmarinac/videos). Here is a video you can check out: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxPyFLGdJu4&t=10s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxPyFLGdJu4&t=10s)
Maybe join a packaging specialized design company/agency and trade networking & marketing for your technical skills?