If you want to get ahead in your career as a design engineer, it may be time to learn a new language. And not just any language. As helpful as it is to know Spanish, German or Chinese nowadays, one language all engineers should study is a somewhat obscure tongue called "industrial design." Designers have more say-so than ever when it comes to influencing technology choices, particularly in consumer products. "You can see that influence in products like the iPod," says Chris Lefteri, a design consultant, author and expert on the application of materials in design. And for that reason, Lefteri argues it's increasingly important for engineers to understand the language of design.
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