臺灣初任工業設計師的工作與適應情形研究

Work Conditions and Job Adaptation of Novice Industrial Designers in Taiwan

初任工業設計師在工作歷程當中必然會遭遇諸多困擾及適應問題，是否能順利克服與調適，攸關著設計師後續的工作表現及生涯發展。本研究以半結構式深度訪談及問卷，調查工作資歷未滿三年的台灣工業設計系畢業生，進入職場後的工作及適應情形。本研究的主要發現為：1.初任工業設計師的主要工作壓力為「有時沒有設計靈感」、「工作時程」、「自我要求」；2.主要工作挫折為「提案不被接受」、「抓不到設計方向」、「自身努力不被了解」；3.人際溝通困擾為「不同的上級有著衝突的命令」、「難與上級溝通」、及「無法直接與客戶溝通」；4.其他工作困擾包括「產業相關知識不足」、「技術或製程知識不足」、「設計經驗不足」、「英語能力不足」、「缺乏說服力或自信」、「無法獨立作業」；5.有助工作學習的方法為「主動多詢問」、「請教前輩或專家」、「了解公司之前製造的產品」；6.即將成為設計師的人須事先做好的準備為「對設計需要有工作熱情或興趣」、「熟悉設計軟體」、「設定好自己的工作目標」、「加強手繪能力」。本文最後進而探討這些發現對設計教育及實務的意涵，並針對產業界、教育界、工設學生、及後續研究提出建議。本研究的結果不僅有助於初任工業設計師了解進入職場後可能遭遇的困擾及適應，亦可提供設計教師及設計管理者在輔導學生及初任工業設計師時的參考。

Industrial design graduates newly entering the workplace inevitably encounter various adaptation problems in the first few years. The job performance and further career development of novice industrial designers heavily depends on whether or not they can overcome these problems and appropriately adjust themselves in the working environment. This paper reports an investigation of the work conditions and job adaptation of novice industrial designers within three years after graduation in Taiwan. The study was conducted with in-depth interviews and questionnaire surveys. The findings can be summarized as follows: 1. The top three most severe problems they face are: 'lack of inspirations for the design tasks', 'the proposed designs being rejected', and 'contrary job commands being given by different superiors.' These problems are generally resolved by the novice designers through consultation with mentors and discussion with colleagues. 2. The top three most frequently used methods for further learning/training adopted by the novice designers are: 'initiative inquiry', 'consultation with mentors', and 'being guided by senior designers.' 3. Based on their experience in job adaptation, the novice designers suggest that industrial design students should prepare for the future work by: 'having a passion for and a keen interest in design', 'getting familiar with design software packages', 'setting job goals for the future', and 'being competent in design sketching.' The findings could help novice industrial designers to adapt to the workplace more easily, as well as a reference for design educators and design managers. Furthermore, in addition to further studies, some implications for design education and practices are also discussed.