The vocational maturity and career choices of female industrial design students in Taiwanese universities

Product and Industrial Design (ID) is frequently regarded as a masculine and maledominated profession. Female Taiwanese industrial designers, similar to those in other countries, have not been as active as men in this field. However, more female students are enrolled in ID programmes in Taiwan than are male students, with the total ratio of female students reaching 61 per cent countrywide. To understand the cause of such inactivity, investigating female ID students’ career choices as they complete professional education is crucial. This study investigated the vocational maturity and career choices of female ID students in Taiwan. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 417 female ID students from 24 departments belonging to one of 23 Taiwanese universities. The results show that vocational maturity was generally positive, but a significant proportion of women intend to work outside of ID, possibly due to an overly negative view of ID as an industry. The outcome can be used to guide educators to assist female ID talents plan their career and enhance their employment opportunities.