Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

The Work

Packaging designers create designs for all forms of packaging including bottles, packets, cartons and boxes. Their designs must be able to protect and preserve the contents of the package, and look good enough to persuade people to buy the product.  
 
They work on their ideas using traditional design tools such as pens and paints but, increasingly, they use computer-aided design (CAD). Meetings with clients and colleagues to discuss packaging requirements also take up a considerable amount of a packaging designer's time.  
 
Once the designer has an idea of what their clients require they make a series of rough sketches, the best of which are refined and presented to the customers for approval. When the best ideas have been chosen, packaging designers use model making techniques to see what their design looks like in three-dimensional form before it is finalised, and before production begins.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Determine sise and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and sise of type.
• Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
• Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
• Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
• Use computer software to generate new images.
• Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
• Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.
• Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.
• Draw and print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other artwork, using computer.
• Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.

Further Information

• Packaging Designer - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

The majority of packaging designers have a degree or equivalent in Packaging Design or in a relevant subject such as Graphic Design or Three-Dimensional Design. Some of these courses have options in packaging design.  
 Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship: Engineering operations, Computer-Aided Design, Cleanroom and Packaging Operations, CNC (Computer Numeric Control) Operator, Quality Management (Quality Assurance), Project management, Supervisory Management Leadership NFQ Level 5 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Art & Design, Design, Engineering, Product Design and Manufacture, Marketing at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: Engineering, Lean Six Sigma Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-9 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Engineering, Product Design, Innovation & Development, Manufacturing design, precision engineering, Art & Design, Marketing NFQ Levels 7-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development 

Postgraduate/ Doctoral Study Options Business, innovation, Marketing, product design, design thinking NFQ level 9-10

Design Skillnet 

Enterprise Ireland  

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €70k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Prosperity.ie/ Morgan McKinley / CPL

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment levels fell between 2021 and 2022, by approximately 3,000 persons, but remained above 2017 levels, resulting in a positive, but below average, annual average growth rate for the five-year period. Employment for this occupation was primarily in industry (accounting for a 60% share of employment). Employment permits issued were across a variety of technician roles (e.g. process, manufacturing, laboratory). The Recruitment Agency Survey identified vacancies for maintenance technicians in manufacturing with electrical/mechanical skills as difficult-to-fill.

Employers (Skills for Growth) experienced difficulties in filling a range of engineering technician roles, including aircraft technicians and manufacturing technicians, particularly for those with digital skills and knowledge of procedures/processes. There was a 3% increase in the number of online job adverts in 2022, driven by increases in electrical/electronic technicians and, to a lesser extent, laboratory technicians.

New apprenticeship registrations for a number of industry related technicians (including lab analysts) have risen strongly since the first of these programmes were introduced in 2017; by 2022 there were 314 new registrations across a range of apprenticeships (lab analyst, manufacturing technology, OEM engineer etc.) up from approximately 100 in 2017. Although demand seems to be lessening for these roles, issues with attracting suitable candidates remain for maintenance and laboratory technicians in particular, at least in the short-term.

• Institute of Designers in Ireland

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