Like the college years are more fun than the job years?
What does “fun” have to do with anything? You’re an adult now and need to focus on what you intend to do with the rest of your life. It’s called “work” for a reason. It’s your job, for the next four years, to pay attention and learn a trade. You must be technically better than the next student in order to land a position but keep in mind that your technical skills will improve significantly after you gain employment.
But as yo points out, there is more to getting a job than merely obtaining a degree in a chosen field; it isn’t just in your technical abilities. Your social skills will mature as you progress through college (and I am in no way referring to anything you can pick up of Facebook). “Fun” is of course a relative term. If you enjoy learning new things, interacting with people with similar interests, and problem solving then that’s fun…
You are already concerned with whether you will be able to find a job after graduation in five years - that is a good thing. But what you may want to ask yourself is, how much money do you think you want to make. While being a “designer” might appear lucrative, for the vast majority of practitioners it is only an “average” income ($55,000 +/-). And for most “designers” it is as much a labor of love as of income.
Focus in on being amazing at what you love. Keep watch on your peers (globally). You will learn the most from them, and they are your competition, so always have a sense of how you stack up.
It isn’t really a matter of IF you will be needed as an Industrial Designer. It’s a matter of if you WANT to be, if you are driven to be an Industrial Designer. Mediocre only occurs if you aren’t…
Read > COROFLOT Salary Guide
Read > United States Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook for Industrial Designers