Product designers are involved in developing new products and improving existing ones - everything from mobile phones and microwaves to motorbikes and machinery. As well as designing the items we use in everyday life, they also work on specialist products, such as medical, electronic and industrial equipment.

Product designers use a combination of design skills, knowledge of engineering and materials, and an understanding of commercial factors to design how products work and look, and to ensure they can be produced profitably.

It is the role of a hat designer to create new design ideas for hats and other headwear. These would traditionally have been made by a milliner, but many of today's hat designers work in both areas.

The type of work produced by a hat designer depends on the market level of the company or client. Those operating on a freelance basis will usually be working in exclusive markets, designing to the client's specific requirements. Those working for a high street shop or chain may spend much of their time liaising with overseas suppliers that specialise in mass production.

Cartoonists draw pictures and cartoons to amuse, educate and influence people. They may work in many different formats, including gag cartoons, humorous illustrations, editorial cartoons, comic strips, comic books, graphic novels and animation.

They produce work for a wide range of products, from newspapers, books, and comics through to websites, computer games, films and greetings cards.

Graphic designers produce designs that get their clients' messages across with high visual impact. They work on a huge variety of products, including websites, packaging, books and magazines, corporate identity (to give organisations a visual 'brand'), advertising, exhibitions and displays, computer games and TV and film title sequences.

Display designers and visual merchandisers use their design skills to promote the image, products and services of businesses and other organisations.

Display designers focus on designing displays, stands and panels for exhibitions, conferences and other events. They also produce point-of-sale displays, which are installed in hundreds of retail outlets.

Visual merchandisers create window and in-store displays of goods for retail shops and department stores.

The work involves:

Gemmologists identify and evaluate the quality, characteristics and value factors of diamonds, other gems and ornamental materials.

There is a great variety of gemmology jobs but the work may include:

Fine artists use visual expression to convey ideas, thoughts and feelings. They create original works of art, such as drawings, paintings, etchings, photographs, sculptures, linocuts, lithographs, screenprints, and computer-aided digital graphics. Artists often experiment with different art forms and techniques, and may work in two or three dimensions.

As well as experimenting and creating their own recognisable style of work, artists may also:

Goldsmiths/silversmiths produce and restore precious metalwork items, including jewellery, cutlery, candlesticks, trophies, goblets and shields.

They may specialise in particular precious metals, such as gold, silver or platinum. The work could include:

Interior designers plan the design of living space and commercial environments and manage the work of turning ideas into a reality that is practical and visually pleasing.

Projects can range from structural alterations to the choice of furnishings, curtains, wallpaper and lighting. The role includes:

The role

Visual Merchandisers create ways of displaying products in shops to make them look more appealing. This could be through designing window displays, or decorating a store in a seasonal theme, in a way that reflects the company’s image. The main purpose of this is to attract customers and maximise sales.

They may design ideas for displays, or carry out the instructions of a company design plan in doing this.