I am a student who is intrested in a field of engineering, but it has been difficult to narrow it down since there are so many fields of engineering. I have been watching Youtube videos over engineering to help me get a better idea of what I want and two videos intrigued me the most on what i would want to do, the names of the videos are “Design Engineer - Profiles of Scientists and Engineers” and "Day in the Life: Mechanical Engineer ". for the video "Day in the Life: Mechanical Engineer " they said that is not normally what mechanical engineers do but is it a possibilty? Could I become a Design Engineer with just a degree in Mechanical Engineering? Would I have to double major Mechanical Engineering with Industiral Design or some other major? Or would I get a degree in a Mechanical Engineering and master in Industial Design? Also once those have been narrowed down I am also curious as to which universities are the best to become a Design Engineer. Sorry for the numerous questions but if you could help me with this I would be very thankful. :>
First, you need to understand what you are talking about. “Industrial design” is an art field, focused on aesthetics, while engineering degrees are about function. Companies employ both, and they work together to produce the product, but the disciplines are quite different and it would take an unusual individual and a small company to have one person doing both jobs. Yes, you could pursue degrees in both fields but the number of employers looking for this two-disciplines-in-one role are small enough that it would be a very risky career path. To be honest, in so far as they have these positions I suspect that an engineering degree and an artistic bent would be sufficient - the art degree would probably be an unnecessary investment.
Second, you need to understand that “design engineer” generally refers to someone who designs the functional aspects of a given product. I am a design engineer, and aesthetics don’t play into anything I do, I design systems for customers who have absolutely zero concern over how pretty they are. And even if they did, someone else would take my circuit boards and optical systems and figure out a pretty case to put them in. The fact that he is called a design engineer does not mean that he is representative.
So are you interested in art, or engineering?
First, you need to understand what you are talking about. "Industrial design" is an art field, focused on aesthetics, while engineering degrees are about function. Companies employ both, and they work together to produce the product, but the disciplines are quite different and it would take an unusual individual and a small company to have one person doing both jobs. Yes, you could pursue degrees in both fields but the number of employers looking for this two-disciplines-in-one role are small enough that it would be a very risky career path. To be honest, in so far as they have these positions I suspect that an engineering degree and an artistic bent would be sufficient - the art degree would probably be an unnecessary investment.
So I could just be an mechanical engineer who has an “artistic bent” to be a design engineer?
Second, you need to understand that "design engineer" generally refers to someone who designs the functional aspects of a given product. I am a design engineer, and aesthetics don't play into anything I do, I design systems for customers who have absolutely zero concern over how pretty they are. And even if they did, someone else would take my circuit boards and optical systems and figure out a pretty case to put them in.
No asthetics involved at all? Then is an artistic bent still necessary? Are there any engineering fields more asthetically inclined but the job focus is still mainly the products function?
The fact that he is called a design engineer does not mean that he is representative.
Could you please rephrase that because for some reason I don’t understand what you are trying to say. Sorry.
So are you interested in art, or engineering?
Well, I am intersted in both which is why I thought the job of a Design Engineer would be perfect for me, but it turns out it wasn’t what I thought it would be.
Thank you so much for replying to my questions and I hope you can answer my other questions.
Found the video… interesting but a bit of a niche area
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djxAVBbGdPI
Tte engineer in the video has a PhD / specialized skills. But for undergrad she has two Stanford degrees - BS. in Mechanical Engineering (Product Design) and a B.A. in Art History …http://www.amandaparkes.com/
Found the video… interesting but a bit of a niche area
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djxAVBbGdPI
Tte engineer in the video has a PhD / specialized skills. But for undergrad she has two Stanford degrees - BS. in Mechanical Engineering (Product Design) and a B.A. in Art History ...http://www.amandaparkes.com/
The BS. in Mechanical Engineering (Product Design) sounds interesting 
Thank you for providing me with this information!
Probably. The issue is that this is two different skills and most companies will be content to hire two different people. The rare company willing to combine the two will probably be more forgiving about the lack of artistic credentials than they will be about a lack of engineering credentials.
Not really. I cannot think of any fields where the functional is the main concern but aesthetics are still part of the job responsibility… besides, of course, “not messing up the pretty design”. The roles are too different for many people to be well-skilled at both, and too few people are interested in combining the role for industry to have created a niche. I suspect that the exceptions are people who carved out those jobs themselves.
In many ways, it is like wanting to be a fighter pilot AND a fighter designer - you might have some skills in the other area, but each one requires enough training and practice that combining them in a single job just isn’t realistic.
I mean that if you found and interviewed for a thousand positions titled “design engineer”, maybe, maybe one would have an aesthetic component. The rest would be for engineers who would functionally design products, leaving any aesthetic concerns to professional artists.
It is fine to be interested in both, and if it makes you happy I would encourage you to study and pursue both to some extent… but I would not plan anything around finding a job that actually combines both. You might be able to have a side business, or a hobby, or you might be able to start your own business (in which case you make the rules and none of this matters), but I would not plan on finding a company willing to hire you for both roles.
It is fine to be interested in both, and if it makes you happy I would encourage you to study and pursue both to some extent... but I would not plan anything around finding a job that actually combines both. You might be able to have a side business, or a hobby, or you might be able to start your own business (in which case you make the rules and none of this matters), but I would not plan on finding a company willing to hire you for both roles.
Yeah, I think i’ll probably study mechanical engineering + a minor and then do a masters in engineering that concentrates in product design. I would work for a company that just requires me as an engineer and maybe i’ll start a bussiness … or not… I honestly have no idea :)) Luckily, I still have a lot of time to think about this and my thoughts are clearer now with the information you and others presented me. Thank you. 
Be careful using the term “product design” … it has various meanings, and I think usually not the one that you have in mind.
Look at the “industrial design” major at RIT. It might be what you are looking for.
If you are looking for an art degree, then this is indeed the right type of program. But it has approximately zero engineering.
Tufts has a program that might fit your interests. I can’t remember the name, but you should check the school out. It’s a mix of mechanical engineering and design, and focuses on packaging, ergonomics, and other important factors like that.
I think you are referring the Engineering Psychology program, which is what most schools call Human Factors. Those programs aren’t about aesthetics, they are about exploring the interface between operator and machine. Style and art don’t come up.
Check out Industrial Design at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and planning. #1 program in the country per Design Intelligence to save some money.