Writing a strong cover letter requires close attention to detail, from the tone of voice to avoiding those pesky spelling or grammar mistakes.
Overlooking similar small details can weaken your application.
Many candidates also struggle with how to address the letter, often opting for 'Dear Sir or Madam' when they can’t find the correct contact. This can make your cover letter feel impersonal.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to perfect these crucial elements, ensuring your cover letter is polished and professional without relying on clichés.
Cover letter examples for industrial design
Explore additional industrial design cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Head of Industrial Design
- Highlighting extensive industry experience: The cover letter effectively showcases 8+ years of experience in the health and wellness DTC branding, emphasising relevant expertise for a Creative Director role.
- Demonstrating leadership and team management skills: Emphasising the leadership of a creative team and boosting revenue by 45% underlines essential qualities for a creative leadership position.
- Showcasing successful collaboration: Mentioning collaboration with a marketing director to launch new products and achieve increased market penetration indicates strong cross-functional cooperation capabilities.
- Emphasising measurable achievements: The reference to a $150M sales milestone and viral campaign successes highlights the candidate's impact on business growth through creative strategies.
Industrial Design Director
- Emphasising Leadership and Innovation: The applicant highlights over 10 years of experience in leading innovative projects, underscoring their fit for a director role.
- Detailing Tangible Achievements: Specific successes, such as a 30% sales increase from a rebranding campaign and international design awards, demonstrate measurable impact and value addition.
- Showcasing Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in key industry tools like Solidworks and Rhino is emphasised, appealing to the technical requirements of an industrial design leadership position.
- Illustrating Strategic Vision: The candidate's strategic contributions, like aligning product design with corporate strategy and competitive market trends, highlight their ability to contribute to broader business goals.
Industrial Design Intern
- Relevant Experience: The cover letter highlights Isabella's leadership role in a multidisciplinary team, achieving significant efficiency improvements in chemical process modelling. Leading a team for a sustainable chemical process model demonstrates not only technical skills but also the ability to lead complex projects, which is crucial for engineering roles.
- Technical Proficiency: Emphasising technical skills with tools like Aspen Plus, MATLAB, and Aspen HYSYS is crucial for a chemical engineering student aiming for roles that require process simulation expertise. Notably, these skills have been successfully applied in competitions and university projects, showcasing practical application and problem-solving capabilities.
- Educational Accomplishments: The detailed mention of a BEng Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Warwick and related certifications like Aspen HYSYS Certification not only strengthens qualifications but also reflects a commitment to both academic and practical excellence.
- Safety and Process Innovation: Mentioning the development of safety assessments, such as HAZID and HAZOP studies, demonstrates a focus on safety, a critical aspect of chemical engineering projects. Additionally, the pursuit of innovation through process efficiency and cost reduction is highly relevant for roles focused on process engineering.
Senior Industrial Designer
- Emphasising Key Achievements: The cover letter effectively highlights Amelia's successful implementation of innovative lighting solutions that led to a significant market share increase and substantial investment for new product lines.
- Focus on Sustainability: The applicant underscores their leadership in sustainable design initiatives, aligning with the growing importance of eco-friendly practices in industry-specific roles.
- Leadership and Mentoring: Amelia's experience in mentoring junior designers and enhancing team productivity showcases her leadership capabilities, which are crucial for a senior role.
- Industry Recognition: Mentioning awards and recognition, like the Luminaire Award, adds credibility to her expertise and reputation in the field of industrial design.
Junior Industrial Designer
- Highlight specific achievements, such as the "Product Design Award" and "Design Patent Achiever," to demonstrate impact and success in past roles.
- Emphasise technical skills relevant to the role, such as proficiency in "3D CAD Software" and "SolidWorks," to showcase necessary competencies.
- Include relevant certifications like the "Advanced SolidWorks Training" to indicate specialised knowledge and continuous professional development.
- Reflect on the ability to contribute to organisational goals, such as improving "project efficiency" and enhancing "user experience," to align with potential employer priorities.
Industrial Design Team Leader
- Leadership Expertise: Highlighting leadership qualities by detailing roles such as Creative and Digital Design Team Leader and Head of Digital Marketing, showcasing the capacity to manage and inspire cross-functional teams effectively.
- Quantifiable Achievements: Emphasising quantifiable achievements such as a 35% increase in brand visibility and enhancement in customer experience by 28%, underpinning the applicant’s ability to deliver tangible results.
- Educational Background: Demonstrating strong educational credentials in Communications and Marketing from reputable universities, enhancing credibility and aligning with the role’s expectations.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: Leveraging courses like Data-Driven Marketing to underscore expertise in making informed strategic decisions using analytics, which is crucial in digital strategy roles.
Entry-Level Industrial Designer
- Emphasise industry-specific experience and achievements, such as leading design teams to enhance vehicle productivity and incorporating advanced technologies, crucial for a Senior Industrial Designer role.
- Highlight relevant projects, such as reducing design-to-market time and developing form language for flagship models, demonstrating a record of impactful contributions and innovation.
- Include any achievements or awards related to vehicle design, as they reinforce credibility and showcase recognition in the automotive design field.
- Detail sustainable design practices and material waste reduction efforts, underscoring a commitment to eco-friendly and forward-thinking work, resonating well with modern industry trends.
By Role
Industrial Design Consultant
- Specialised Certifications: Highlighting certifications such as the Financial Risk Management Certification signals expertise and commitment to the area of financial risk management, which is critical for roles in quantitative analysis.
- Emphasis on Achievements: Mentioning quantifiable achievements, such as improving risk assessment models that decreased risk exposure by 15%, demonstrates the ability to deliver tangible results.
- Technical Skills: Skills in machine learning, data analytics, and financial modelling are critical for quantitative analyst roles, showcasing the candidate's technical prowess in handling complex data and modelling tasks.
- Industry Experience: The cover letter effectively references extensive experience in notable financial institutions, illustrating a strong background and understanding of the sector's demands and challenges.
Industrial Design Assistant
- Showcase specialised knowledge by highlighting leadership in AI-driven design strategies and their impact on cost savings and efficiency, which is crucial for an Assistant Professor role focusing on Industrial and Inclusive Design.
- Include specific achievements such as securing substantial industry sponsorships and collaboration grants, demonstrating ability to support advanced research and attract funding, which is highly valued in academic appointments.
- Emphasise contributions to academia, like publishing peer-reviewed articles and participating in international conferences, as this establishes the applicant’s credibility and expertise in the academic field.
- Highlight relevant teaching awards and curriculum development experience, such as designing a Circular Economy curriculum, to convey effectiveness and innovation in an educational setting.
Industrial Design Technician
- Role-Specific Experience: The cover letter does a great job showcasing Lucas's direct experience in manufacturing engineering roles, emphasising achievements like leading process optimisation projects and collaborating with R&D teams to enhance production.
- Quantifiable Achievements: Lucas includes specific metrics such as a 20% increase in production efficiency and a 15% reduction in waste, providing concrete evidence of their capability to drive operational improvements.
- Relevant Education and Courses: Highlighting qualifications like a Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering and courses in manufacturing process automation demonstrates a strong educational foundation for the role.
- Key Skills and Certifications: Lucas appropriately mentions skills such as process optimisation, tool management, and automation, as well as a certification in "Advanced Plating Techniques" relevant to the specialisation of tooling and process optimisation.
Industrial Design Specialist
- Certifications: Highlighting the "Photorealistic Rendering with V-Ray" certification demonstrates specialised proficiency in achieving high-quality renderings, which is crucial for a 3D Rendering Specialist role.
- Technical Expertise: The cover letter effectively emphasises proficiency with essential software like AutoCAD, Revit, and various rendering engines (V-Ray, Corona Renderer, Octane Render), showcasing the candidate’s technical prowess required for industrial design rendering.
- Achievements in Efficiency: Mentioning the improvement in project delivery and design time (e.g., reducing delivery time by 20% and design time by 30%) provides concrete evidence of the candidate’s ability to enhance workflow efficiency and productivity.
- Leadership and Collaboration: Describing experiences where the candidate led a team and collaborated across departments (increasing client conversion rate by 25% and reducing revisions by 30%) reflects strong leadership skills and the capacity to work well with cross-functional teams.
Industrial Design Coordinator
- Emphasise significant achievements such as the 40% reduction in non-productive time which demonstrates problem-solving abilities and project coordination expertise, crucial for a technical coordinator role.
- Highlight specific certifications like the PMP and Advanced Subsea Engineering Certificate as they add credibility to project management and specialised technical skills.
- Include details of collaboration with senior leadership and cross-department improvements, which underscore the candidate's ability to enhance communication and facilitate project objectives.
- Mention the successful management of offshore operations, improving safety compliance and efficiency, reflecting well on the candidate's technical support and operational oversight capabilities.
Industrial Design Analyst
- Relevant Experience: The cover letter effectively highlights the candidate's experience in roles directly related to engineering consulting and supply chain management, such as Data Analyst at DHL Supply Chain and Supply Chain Analyst at Kuehne + Nagel.
- Impact and Achievements: The letter goes beyond listing responsibilities by quantifying accomplishments, such as achieving a 20% improvement in warehouse efficiency and a £150,000 annual saving from system implementation.
- Skill Highlight: Key skills like Data Analysis, SQL, and Statistical Analysis are emphasised, which are crucial for the role and important for supporting supply chain optimisation efforts.
- Education and Certifications: The candidate mentions relevant degrees and specialised courses, such as the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management and certifications in data analysis and supply chain design, demonstrating a solid educational foundation for the role.
Industrial Design Strategist
- Highlighting the strategic and analytical skills is crucial for a Brand Strategist. Eva effectively showcases her expertise in these areas through detailed examples from prior roles, such as conducting in-depth market research and creating comprehensive strategic plans.
- The inclusion of metrics and specific achievements, such as increasing brand awareness by 30% and client market share by 20%, provides concrete evidence of Eva’s impact, making her experience compelling and measurable.
- Emphasising collaboration and communication skills is essential, as demonstrated by Eva's experience working with cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams, and improving client communication channels, which are critical for success in brand strategy roles.
- The diverse educational background, including a Master's in Strategic Marketing from a prestigious institution, and specific courses related to brand strategy, positions Eva as a well-qualified candidate with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Industrial Design Project Lead
- Emphasise technical qualifications, such as the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, which are highly valued in roles focused on operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
- Highlight successful project management experiences, particularly those where you've led cross-functional teams and achieved significant efficiency or productivity improvements.
- Focus on achievements that demonstrate your ability to apply lean methodologies and other process improvements, significantly reducing costs and production times.
- Include impactful results from past roles, such as the 20% reduction in cycle time and £200,000 savings annually, as these quantifiable outcomes underscore your capability to deliver tangible benefits.
Industrial Design Researcher
- Relevant Experience: The candidate's extensive experience in industrial design and user insight is clearly showcased through their roles in leading companies like Dyson, Unilever, and Electrolux.
- Measurable Achievements: Highlighting specific achievements, such as increasing product usability by 30% and contributing to a 20% increase in market fit, provides concrete evidence of their impact and effectiveness.
- Skills and Methods: The cover letter effectively emphasises key skills like ethnography, usability testing, and design thinking, which are crucial for a design researcher role.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Emphasising collaboration with design and engineering teams shows the candidate's ability to work across different functions to integrate insights into actionable design decisions.
Industrial Design Product Developer
- Emphasise relevant achievements such as the development of a product that reduced production costs by 20%, demonstrating both impact and innovation in product design.
- Highlight experience with CAD software and proficiency in industrial design and user research, showcasing a blend of technical and user-centric skills essential for a Graduate Product Developer.
- Include any awards or recognitions received, such as the User-Centric Design Award, to showcase credibility and excellence in design accomplishments.
- Mention hands-on experience with sustainable materials and eco-friendly design projects, demonstrating a commitment to environmentally responsible product development, an essential aspect in today's industry.
Industrial Design Quality Assurance
- Highlight relevant experience: Chloe Bell effectively outlines over 10 years of experience in security operations, which is crucial for a Defence Analyst role.
- Mention specific achievements: The cover letter details specific accomplishments, like improving operational efficiency by 30% and implementing telework solutions, demonstrating proven results in strategic and telework operations management.
- Emphasise specialised skills and certifications: The inclusion of skills such as "Strategic Analysis," "Telework Operations," alongside a "Telework Management Certification," directly addresses the specialised requirements for remote defence analysis work.
- Showcase leadership and management abilities: By citing leadership roles and achievements such as "Managed a team in delivering high-stake defence projects with a 100% success rate," Chloe Bell articulates leadership capabilities essential for the role.
Industrial Design cover letter example
Rosie Gray
Bristol
+44 1234 567890
help@enhancv.com
Dear Hiring Manager,
With a decade of experience in industrial design focusing on luxury bathroom interiors, I am driven to bring my expertise in creating sophisticated and sustainable designs to your innovative team. Having researched your company’s commitment to redefining luxury standards with a sustainable approach, I am impressed by your dedication to eco-friendly practices and superior craftsmanship.
During my tenure at Lavish Bathware Ltd, I led a design team to launch an eco-friendly bathroom accessories range, enhancing product sales by 20% within the first quarter. This achievement came from my ability to integrate sustainable design principles and develop a streamlined workflow, which reduced our time-to-market by 30%. My passion for leveraging cutting-edge technology like 3D modeling and advanced rendering techniques successfully contributed to boosting our online user engagement by 35%, demonstrating my impact on driving business growth through innovative design strategies.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experiences align with the goals of your design team. Please feel free to contact me to schedule a meeting, and I am keen to explore how my initiatives can contribute to your company's success. Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Rosie Gray, Industrial Designer
Why this cover letter is impressive:
- Highlight Relevant Experience: Mention your industry-specific experience, like the ten years in industrial design for luxury bathroom interiors, to establish credibility and expertise tailored to the role.
- Emphasize Achievements with Metrics: Quantify your impact, such as improving product sales by 20% and reducing time-to-market, to illustrate the tangible benefits you can bring to the company.
- Align with Company Values: Detail how your work aligns with the company's focus on sustainability and innovation, showcasing your understanding of their mission and your commitment to shared goals.
- Demonstrate Technological Proficiency: Reference advanced skills, like 3D modeling and rendering techniques, to emphasize your ability to drive user engagement and embrace technology in design processes.
Importance of cover letters in the United Kingdom
Cover letters are a crucial part of your application, offering additional details beyond your CV.
Here’s why they’re essential:
- Supporting your CV: Now's your opportunity to provide some context for your experience, with more information on your key achievements and how your profile could benefit the position and organisation to which you're applying.
- Showcases your character: Taking the time to write a cover letter demonstrates that you’re proactive, organised, ambitious, and genuinely interested in the role.
- Reflects your career goals: Use the cover letter to outline your long-term career career aspirations and how this role aligns with your broader plans.
What UK employers expect from a cover letter
Want to make an excellent first impression on your UK employers with your cover letter?
Here are three handy tips and tricks to keep in mind when creating yours:
- Take the time to research: Invest in learning about the company and role by exploring their website, social media, and doing a thorough Google search. Focus on the products and services they offer, as well as awards and industry recognitions.
- Focus on the company's values: Refer back to your research and to uncover what the company believes in. Integrate those values into your cover letter by explaining how you embody them. For example, if they value diligence, highlight how you’ve consistently met tight deadlines or successfully managed heavy workloads.
- Align your skills with the job requirements: Read the job advert carefully and identify the most sought-after skills. Select the top three skills that you can substantiate with your most noteworthy achievements, to demonstrate your expertise in those areas.
How to format a industrial design cover letter
Keep in mind that your cover letter is intended for the recruiters' eyes only, not for the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) software that aligns your job application with role requirements. That's why it's essential to concentrate on the quality of the content and presentation to make a memorable first impression.
Don’t forget to include:
- Your address and contact details
- The employer’s name and address
- Date
- Greeting
- Introductory paragraph
- Body paragraphs
- Closing paragraph
- Sign-off and signature
Now for some formatting tips and tricks: choose modern fonts such as Rubik, Volkhov, or Raleway instead of traditional ones like Arial. Keep your cover letter single-spaced with margins of around 1-inch (2.5 cm). To maintain a professional and consistent look, ensure that both your CV and cover letter use the same font style.
Lastly, always send your cover letter as a PDF to preserve its formatting and prevent any edits once it's sent, ensuring your design and layout remain intact for the recruiters.
How to write your industrial design cover letter salutation
First impressions often start with the greeting and in the case of your job application, 'Dear Sir or Madam' simply won't suffice.
Find out who’s hiring for the role—by calling or emailing the company, searching online, or using LinkedIn—and address them correctly.
Generally, you should address them by their surname (e.g., 'Dear Mrs Weasley'), but if you've spoken to them before, you might use their first name (e.g., 'Dear Albus').
How to write your industrial design cover letter intro
While your cover letter should remain professional, adding a touch of personality or humour can make you stand out.
Hiring managers sift through countless applications, day in and day out. Anything unique or personable that grabs their attention could give you a competitive edge.
But do your homework first to ensure a dash of creativity would be appropriate and suitable to the company culture.
Cover Letter Intro
Having long admired XYZ Studio for its commitment to sustainable design and innovative solutions that elegantly blend form and function, I am eager to contribute my skills to your team’s ground-breaking projects.
RIGHT
How to write your industrial design cover letter body
Your cover letter body is the most spacious and vital part of this document—it highlights your true value and the impact you can bring as a candidate.
Remember, your cover letter serves a different purpose to your CV. Here, you need to show your skills in context by telling the story of one significant achievement, hinting at how you’ll help your future employer achieve their goals.
So, when writing your cover letter body:
- Use concrete achievements to demonstrate your personality and impact.
- Support your achievements with quantifiable data and metrics.
- Tell the story of a successful project you’ve worked on and explain how you contributed to the outcome.
- Highlight both hard and soft skills to make your story more engaging.
- Focus on skills that are most relevant to the role and align with the company’s needs.
Cover Letter Body
During my tenure at InnovateDesign Ltd, I spearheaded a groundbreaking project which resulted in the successful redesign of our flagship office chair series. By leveraging my expertise in user-centred design and ergonomic principles, I led a cross-functional team to reimagine the product from top to bottom. This project culminated in a 30% increase in sales and a 20% reduction in production costs within the first six months of launch.
A core component of this achievement was the rigorous iterative design process we implemented, focusing on extensive user feedback and prototyping. My role in orchestrating these efforts enabled us to craft a product that not only exceeded customer expectations in terms of comfort and aesthetics but also streamlined our manufacturing workflow through innovative material choices. This not only demonstrated my ability to balance creative vision with practical implementation but also showcased my skills in fostering collaboration and driving tangible business results.
RIGHT
How to write a closing paragraph
Looking to leave a lasting impression with your cover letter closing?
Then, you should certainly end with a promise—one that outlines what you aim to achieve in the role. Ensure your goals are realistic and align with the company’s needs.
You might also include a call to action, enquiring when you can expect to hear back and what the next steps in the hiring process will be.
Cover Letter Closing
I am eager to bring my extensive experience and passion for innovation in industrial design to your esteemed company. I am confident that my skills align well with your needs and I am excited about the possibility of contributing to your team. I would be delighted to discuss how my background, skills, and enthusiasms can meet the goals of your projects in further detail. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience to schedule an interview. Thank you very much for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you soon.
RIGHT
Conclusion
Crafting an engaging cover letter can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your job application. Always personalise your letter by addressing the hiring manager directly and linking your qualifications to the role's requirements.
Highlight relevant achievements that set you apart and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the company. Maintain a professional format that complements your CV, creating a cohesive and polished application.
