Abstract
This paper discusses the results of a sub-section of a larger survey that measured the performance of employed and contracted industrial designers on 25 functional areas, as well as the importance of these functions to the organisations. The study found that perceptions varied between organisations that used in-house and those that contracted out industrial designers on various measures. For example, the contracted industrial designers significantly under-performed on seven functions compared to in-house industrial designers. They have not performed significantly better than in-house industrial designers on any function. The results of this research could be used to guide educational institutions in regard to curricula for industrial design courses so that future graduates will fulfil industry requirements.
Citation
Bohemia, E. (2004) The Difference Between In-house and Contracted Industrial Designers: An Australian Perspective., in Redmond, J., Durling, D. and de Bono, A (eds.), Futureground - DRS International Conference 2004, 17-21 November, Melbourne, Australia. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2004/researchpapers/156
The Difference Between In-house and Contracted Industrial Designers: An Australian Perspective.
This paper discusses the results of a sub-section of a larger survey that measured the performance of employed and contracted industrial designers on 25 functional areas, as well as the importance of these functions to the organisations. The study found that perceptions varied between organisations that used in-house and those that contracted out industrial designers on various measures. For example, the contracted industrial designers significantly under-performed on seven functions compared to in-house industrial designers. They have not performed significantly better than in-house industrial designers on any function. The results of this research could be used to guide educational institutions in regard to curricula for industrial design courses so that future graduates will fulfil industry requirements.