Difference Between Industrial Design and Room Design (Explained)

Last Updated on July 12, 2023 By Emma W. Thomas

Industrial design and room design are two distinct disciplines that differ in their focus and scope. Industrial design primarily deals with the creation and development of products, such as furniture, appliances, or vehicles, focusing on functionality, aesthetics, and user experience. On the other hand, room design is concerned with creating visually appealing and functional spaces within a room, considering factors like layout, color schemes, furniture placement, and lighting.

Differences between industrial design and room design

To understand in-depth, here are distinct industrial and room design features, along with commonly asked questions for clear comparison.

Industrial design	Room design
Renders design solutions to create products	Strictly adheres to principles of developing ethics and creating attractive spaces.
Largely depends on the user’s demands based on price, functionality, and design.	It mainly focuses on interior architectural spaces based on the requirements and themes.
Caters to the production of goods in large quantities for user consumption	Caters to space planning and internal design outlook
It requires a bachelor’s degree in the field of engineering	Requires a bachelor’s degree in interior design

Differences between Industrial design and room design employment

The employment landscape for industrial designers and room designers differs in several aspects. Here are some key differences:

• Focus: Industrial designers primarily work in industries related to product design, manufacturing, and engineering. They are employed by companies involved in the production of consumer goods, furniture, electronics, automobiles, and more. Room designers, on the other hand, are often employed in interior design firms, and architectural firms, or work as independent consultants, focusing on creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces within residential or commercial buildings.
• Skill Set: Industrial designers require a strong understanding of engineering principles, materials, manufacturing processes, and product development. They need proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software and must be skilled in prototyping and creating functional prototypes. Room designers, on the other hand, need a deep understanding of space planning, color theory, furniture selection, lighting design, and overall aesthetics. They often possess knowledge of interior design software and have a creative eye for creating cohesive room layouts.
• Projects and Clients: Industrial designers typically work on large-scale projects involving the design and development of products for mass production. They may collaborate with engineering teams and marketing departments to create innovative and marketable products. Room designers, on the other hand, work on a smaller scale, focusing on individual rooms or spaces. They often work closely with clients to understand their needs, preferences, and budget, and create personalized designs that reflect the client’s style and functional requirements.
• Work Environment: Industrial designers may work in office settings, design studios, or manufacturing facilities, collaborating with teams and utilizing specialized design software and equipment. Room designers often work in a mix of office and on-site environments. They visit client locations, conduct site measurements, and work closely with contractors and suppliers to implement their designs.

Differences between skills used in industrial design and room design

While room design and industrial design may have slight similarities, they use different skills in accomplishing their tasks. Over the decades, industrial designers have been known to be critical thinkers who execute tasks and solve problems related to construction and all fields of goods production. Here is an outline of the skills each of these fields requires:

Industrial design skills	Room design skills
Computer and software usage	Visual thinking
Problem-solving through brainstorming	Creativity and attention to detail
Mechanical skills	Mastery of color basics knowledge
Analytical thinking	Good apprehension of spatial balance
Understanding of art and design	Budgeting skills
Creativity and imagination	Time management

Industrial and room designers need special skills to be highly proficient and marketable in their practice field. Most industrial designers’ skills are engineering-oriented to make ideas work well with software by integrating mechanical and technology. 

Industrial design and room design’s main differences

Industrial design majorly deals with the housing and mass production of goods and focuses on customer perception, end-user needs, and the business case. Room design concentrates on enhancing the general appearance of the inner sections of the building by making them more habitable. 

Besides that, there are other differences as industrial design goes beyond physical appearance. The features of each field are discussed below:

Industrial design

• Exposes everything

Unlike room design, where many things are hidden beyond facades, industrial design exposes them. It highlights functional characteristics like beams, pipes, and bricks with rough ceilings, bare walls, and concrete floors. This leaves out many outfits that bring out the real picture of a house and save more while enhancing aesthetics and elegance. 

• Blends the old and new

Industrial design is fundamentally a combination of the vintage and modern designs of housing. It doesn’t fit in the old or new. The neutral color palette, large steel doors, and windows make it look like a modern form, particularly the streamlined decors. Nonetheless, the exposed bricks and pipes, one-time furniture, and open-concept spaces define its nature.

• The rough texture is the most preferred

Slightly different from other design patterns, rough texture wins. It comes in terms of wood and metal surfaces, exposed bricks, and concrete without having to add any coverings. Even the soft parts are replaced with antiques and vintage rugs to maintain the tough texture.

• Uses the open-concept

Usually, living spaces are incorporated in a large single room and only separated using cabinets and sometimes screens. The idea is to keep the room as open as possible. The more light is let in, the better. Still, it defines another crucial characteristic of industrial design: using large steel windows. 

• Features worn furniture

Furniture with worn paint surfaces is classic for an industrial home design. Whether secondhand furniture or other tables, stools, and chairs from restoration hardware, all fit in an industrial design environment. Furniture made from wood, steel, and iron adds to the space to make the environment as pleasing as possible. Coffee tables on castors and metal chairs like the Draftsman types, wire baskets and shelving, vintage metal lockers, and coffee tables with casters work well with such spaces. 

Room design

• Keeping rooms minimal yet functional

As mentioned earlier, room design aims to enhance the appearance of the interior sections of the house: bedrooms, living rooms, kitchen, and the rest. For instance, you may improve your living room design by painting it with light, monochromatic, or neutral colors that compliment your furniture. A single potted plant with a bold or contrasting color may also be used to improve visual interest as far as décor is concerned. 

• Focuses on low-budget ideas

Since a room may not be large to include huge items, a strict focus on a low budget works well for room design. It includes using warm and appealing colors and bright-colored cushions to make the room vibrant and paintings and locally manufactured artifacts to style the venue. A few indoor plants to make the space welcoming, a chic rug, and vintage-looking decors are also included to make it classier. 

• Improves the appearance of all rooms

Room designs make every room appealing; dining rooms, kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms, offices, conservatories, sunrooms, etc. It further extends to ceiling designs, cabinetry, colors, backsplashes, pantries, flooring materials, and appliance selection.

 In addition, it ensures there are different lighting patterns, fireplaces, entertainment features, gorgeous vanities, and freestanding tubs in bathrooms. The home theatre features must be modest, with white and other bright shades to make it entirely devoted to comfort.

Cost differences between industrial design and room design

Design charges vary depending on the experience level of whoever you choose to hire. That being said, most room and interior designers charge hourly rates. Typically, most designers charge from $50 to $500, but you should expect to pay between $100 to $200 without considering the cost of the furniture. A rough estimate of room designers will be as follows:

Hourly rates for room designers:

Cost	Hourly rate
Highest cost	$500
Average cost	$100
Lowest cost	$50

No matter the rates, most home designers will have your project done at $1,500 to $12,000. On average, a typical home will cost $5,000. Other pricing models are cost per room and cost per square foot. These billing methods are common when hiring a company specializing in interior design. 

On such occasions, plan to spend at least $975 per room, keeping in mind that the prices may differ depending on the size of your rooms. The price could rise to $3,200 per room if you purchase furniture from the same designer. Therefore, only use this technique if you have a more straightforward project that doesn’t require any form of customization. 

However, charging per square foot is becoming rare for most designers but happens to be the cheapest and most convenient to you as a homeowner. Specifically, use this method when needing design services, like a bathroom or other room that only occupies a small portion of your house. Expect to pay $9 per square foot on average when hiring any designer who uses this billing method.

Industrial designers working independently may be cheaper, while those working with companies will charge high hourly rates. The fee for industrial designers is not static and varies based on the designers and workstations. 

Here’s an overview of what freelancing industrial designers charge:

Experience level	Hourly rate
Beginner	$26
Intermediate	$59
Experts	$192

Of course, other designers will have different rates and may even charge transport fees. Others will prefer to charge daily depending on the amount of work done. Choosing a good designer who will work well to meet your needs at an affordable cost is the most appropriate option.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you differentiate between industrial design and room design?

The features of industrial and room design are notable. For industrial design, look out for caged lighting, bare Edison bulbs, table lamps, and metal dome pendants to illuminate industrial spaces in open layouts and copper kitchenware and cookware. The use of concrete is also finding its way into industrial design, particularly on countertops and floors. It’s dark grey to blend with metals and woods.

What makes a bathroom of industrial design different from a room design?

An industrial-design bathroom is simple but classy. Most bathrooms will have dark brown exposed pipes running above the vanity, black ceilings with bold designs, Matte black fixtures separate showerheads and showers, brick walls, and metal sliding doors. Others will have corrugated steel panels, exposed hanging lightbulbs, and concrete bathtubs. A room design bathroom will rarely have such features, making them a good point of distinction.

Final Word

Industrial design and room design are great ways to maintain the architectural integrity of your home despite their distinct features. Use cost-effective ways to hire designers with great skills to furnish your home. While designing may augment the appearance of your home, it also increases its resale value.

References:

https://thedutchladydesigns.com/what-is-the-difference-between-interior-design-and-industrial-design/
https://entrance-exam.net/difference-between-interior-designer-and-industrial-designer/