« Training and Career Path Explained »
Becoming a watch designer yourself one day – few goals are as appealing to young watch enthusiasts. But before your own creations are on display by the thousands in downtown boutiques, years of intensive training lie ahead – whether at university or through vocational training. One thing is certain: there is no single right path to the goal. Some routes, however, are particularly effective and offer good chances of landing your dream job.
What Is Expected of a Designer
As with any other training path, it is very helpful to assess your personal qualifications before deciding on a specific degree program or apprenticeship. In the case of a designer, the requirements – regardless of specialization – go well beyond the ability to draw well. Mathematical skills, especially an understanding of geometric relationships, form an important foundation. After all, as soon as a design is put into practice, calculations provide the necessary basis for precise work.
In addition, designers will work with CAD software every day in their later careers, using it to create two- and three-dimensional models – of a watch, for example. A fundamental interest in information technology and a willingness to spend several hours at a time in front of a screen are therefore essential. It is important to understand that the designer must have an overview of the entire product development process and does not simply draw and leave the rest to other departments. Business knowledge regarding the costs of production, materials, and development is therefore also part of the toolkit for future success.
Designing Watches as a Product or Industrial Designer
Degree programs in product or industrial design are ideally suited to acquiring these skills. The two options are very similar in content and are offered at many locations: while aspiring product designers will find programs in Berlin, Hannover, or Weimar, for example, industrial design can be studied at universities in Osnabrück, Darmstadt, and Halle, as well as in a number of other cities. Many programs allow students to focus on specific areas in later semesters, so future watch designers are well advised to choose jewelry design.
The work of a watchmaker and that of a watch designer must be clearly distinguished: while a watchmaker specializes in building timepieces and needs not only knowledge of how the components function but also the highest level of manual skill, the designer's focus is on styling and development. Nevertheless, a watch designer cannot practice the profession without also being familiar with the inner workings of these masterpieces – yet this knowledge is not taught along the usual path to becoming a product or industrial designer. It therefore makes sense to gain additional hands-on experience through vocational training – at a watchmaking workshop or jeweler, for example.
But there is also a direct route – the shortcut takes us straight to Geneva, the heart of the watch industry.
A Degree in Watch Design – It Really Exists
More precisely, at the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD - Genève). To pass the selection process, prospective designers must submit a portfolio of creative work and succeed in an interview with the admissions committee. After one year of study in jewelry and accessories design, students finally specialize in watches at the "Chair in Watch Design." The curriculum covers an astonishing range: in both the bachelor's and master's programs, alongside the classic disciplines from drawing to programming, the history of watchmaking, marketing, and creative projects in collaboration with established watch brands are also on the syllabus.
The last point in particular gives aspiring watch designers a considerable advantage over a conventional degree designed for more broadly oriented product designers. Instead of working only on their own, students here get the chance to collaborate with manufacturers while still in training – and it is not unusual for student designs to make it into the splendid display windows of the boutiques within just a few months. Seeing your own watch in a store while you are still studying – there is no better support and no more direct path to your dream job.
What's more, there is no better place than Geneva to launch a career as a watch designer: Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Chopard are just a few of the brands headquartered in the home of watchmaking.
A Profession with a Future
After completing your training, the career path that follows is too individual to describe in general terms – job postings for watch designers are probably rare, not least because of how sought-after these positions are and the limited number of specialists needed.
Career starters can expect to be selected according to criteria similar to those applied during their studies: first and foremost, of course, know-how and creativity count, but technical aptitude and the famous "soft skills" also factor into the decision. If you have already collaborated with a company as part of your studies, this often serves as an important career springboard.
Training for Your Dream Job Pays Off
This dream job certainly has a promising future: on the rise for decades since the quartz crisis, the watch industry is more successful today than ever before. Above all, the diversity is impressive: classic gold watches, smartwatches, and modern pilot's watches are just a few of the creations that showcase the creativity and ingenuity of today's designers.
There is therefore no question that talented people will continue to be needed to sustain and carry on this success story. Shaping the future in what is arguably one of the most beautiful professions in the world – the demanding path to becoming a watch designer is definitely one worth taking.
