Industrial Designer Onboarding Checklist

Industrial Designer Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Industrial Designer starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Design onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Industrial Designer, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Industrial Designer onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Industrial Designer Onboarding Checklist

1. Introduction to the company: The HR department or a designated representative should provide a comprehensive overview of the company’s history, mission, values, and organizational structure. This will help the industrial designer understand the company’s culture and how their role fits into the bigger picture.

2. Familiarization with design processes: The design team lead or a senior industrial designer should explain the company’s design processes, methodologies, and tools. This will help the new hire understand how projects are executed, from concept development to prototyping and final production.

3. Introduction to design software and tools: The IT department or a designated expert should provide training on the specific design software and tools used within the company. This will ensure the industrial designer can effectively utilize the necessary software for their work.

4. Review of previous projects: The design team lead or a senior industrial designer should share past projects to familiarize the new hire with the company’s design aesthetic, quality standards, and design language. This will help the industrial designer align their work with the company’s established design principles.

5. Introduction to the design team: The design team lead should introduce the new hire to the rest of the design team, facilitating networking and collaboration. This will help the industrial designer build relationships and establish effective communication channels within the team.

6. Understanding the company’s target market: The marketing department or a designated representative should provide insights into the company’s target market, customer demographics, and market trends. This will help the industrial designer create designs that resonate with the intended audience.

7. Review of company’s design briefs: The design team lead or project manager should explain the company’s design briefs, including project objectives, constraints, and timelines. This will help the industrial designer understand the expectations and requirements for each project.

8. Introduction to the company’s suppliers and manufacturing processes: The procurement or operations department should provide an overview of the company’s suppliers and manufacturing processes. This will help the industrial designer understand the production capabilities and limitations, enabling them to design products that can be efficiently manufactured.

9. Training on safety regulations and standards: The HR department or a designated safety officer should provide training on relevant safety regulations and standards applicable to the industrial designer’s work. This will ensure the designer adheres to safety protocols and creates designs that meet regulatory requirements.

10. Introduction to quality control processes: The quality control department or a designated representative should explain the company’s quality control processes and procedures. This will help the industrial designer understand the importance of quality assurance and how their designs contribute to maintaining high product standards.

11. Collaboration with other departments: The industrial designer should be introduced to key stakeholders from other departments, such as engineering, marketing, and sales. This will facilitate cross-functional collaboration and ensure a holistic approach to product development.

12. Review of intellectual property policies: The legal department or a designated representative should explain the company’s intellectual property policies and procedures. This will help the industrial designer understand how to protect their own designs and respect the company’s intellectual property rights.

13. Introduction to project management tools: The project management team or a designated representative should provide training on the company’s project management tools and methodologies. This will help the industrial designer effectively manage their projects, track progress, and meet deadlines.

14. Performance expectations and evaluation: The HR department or the design team lead should clearly communicate the performance expectations and evaluation criteria for the industrial designer’s role. This will help the designer understand what is expected of them and how their performance will be assessed.

15. Ongoing professional development opportunities: The HR department or a designated representative should inform the industrial designer about any ongoing professional development opportunities, such as workshops, conferences, or training programs. This will encourage continuous learning and growth within the role.

16. Introduction to company policies and procedures: The HR department should provide an overview of the company’s policies and procedures, including those related to attendance, leave, code of conduct, and ethics. This will ensure the industrial designer understands and complies with the company’s policies.

17. Introduction to company benefits and perks: The HR department should explain the company’s benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, vacation policies, and any additional perks. This will help the industrial designer understand the full range of benefits they are entitled to as an employee.

18. Setting up workstations and equipment: The IT department or a designated representative should assist the industrial designer in setting up their workstation, installing necessary software, and ensuring all equipment is in working order. This will ensure the designer can start their work smoothly without any technical difficulties.

19. Introduction to company communication channels: The IT department or a designated representative should provide training on the company’s communication channels, such as email, instant messaging platforms, and project management tools. This will help the industrial designer effectively communicate and collaborate with colleagues.

20. Mentoring and buddy system: The design team lead or a senior industrial designer should assign a mentor or buddy to the new hire. This person will provide guidance, answer questions, and help the industrial designer navigate their new role and the company’s culture.

By completing these onboarding tasks, the industrial designer will have a solid foundation to start their journey with the new company, ensuring a smooth transition and setting them up for success in their role

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Industrial Designer checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Industrial Designer up to speed and working well in your Design team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.