Whoa! Be careful when using the word always. I think you might be confusing product design with design engineering there, besides, I’ve seen industrial designers give thought to mass production, assembly, and function just as much as I’ve seen design engineers give consideration to clients, aesthetics, and needs.
I just tell people that I’m a designer and if I get a quizzical look I elaborate that I do product development, product design, graphic design, and exhibit design. Then to mess with people I tell them that I design the components that I use to design the exhibits that I design the graphics for.