Job details

Senior Industrial Design Director

About Us

Material is a global strategy, insights, design, and technology partner to companies striving for true customer centricity and ongoing relevance in a digital first, customer-led world. By leveraging proprietary, science-based tools that enable human understanding, we inform and create customer-centric business models and experiences + deploy measurement systems – to build transformational relationships between businesses and the people they serve.

Aruliden, a Material company, is an award-winning design and innovation studio. We work with Fortune 100 clients and high-growth startups to create category-defining brands, products and experiences end-to-end. Driven by our commitment to design excellence, craft and sustainability, our international team has launched billion dollar brands and built household products used across the globe. We are strategic designers at heart and the results are all around you: growing businesses and products, services, and experiences that people love.

As Aruliden enters its next chapter of growth, we are looking for an SF-based Senior Director of Industrial Design to help lead our exceptionally talented ID team. This is a critical role for both Aruliden and our parent company, Material – the creative leadership, team guidance and hands-on mentorship you provide will lead to award-winning, world class work and deep partnerships with both leading-edge start ups and our largest accounts. Our ideal candidate has a passion for design in all its forms, impeccable taste, and a deep skill set related to the craft of ID, including an extraordinary sense of aesthetics, concept development, strong sketching abilities, strong 3D CAD modeling for prototyping and production, an understanding of a variety of manufacturing processes, as well as the ability to translate brand values into great products.

As a Senior Director, you will be participating in new business conversations, shaping project approaches, managing teams of designers, and leading client work from inception through delivery, across projects that span consumer technology, lifestyle, and beauty categories. You will help build an environment and culture – especially within the design studio - where the very best ideas are born and thrive. You will be responsible for developing trusted relationships with clients, telling compelling and strategic stories, and building an influential creative network.

You are passionate about design at the intersection of consumer technology, keeping your finger on the pulse of current and future trends. You are looking for a company where you have the opportunity to pursue your interests and push yourself beyond your own creative threshold, elevating every brand and project put in front of you.

What we expect:

Your team leadership and motivation skills are absolutely essential for the role, in fact they are the magic that will make this role work. You will coach, lead and inspire the team continuously so we are best in class.
You will continue to push design excellence throughout the organization while building, leading and managing a very talented design team. In this role, you’ll be expected to lead multiple large, complex projects and be a role model for interdisciplinary teams.
Core to building culture, recruiting great talent, and creating a greater brand presence for Aruliden as a whole in the marketplace. Working with the partners to establish Aruliden as a key leader for design and creative excellence.
Mentor and coach staff with a wide range of design and leadership capabilities, from entry level to Associate Design Directors.
Implement robust onboarding and career growth pathways for staff that empower individuals to perform at their highest capacity.
Organize and manage the activities of the team to ensure program and people objectives are met.
Be a champion for the design team within the broader organization. Communicate and advocate for the mission and needs of the team clearly and concisely.
Work with other design groups throughout the company to build a collaborative design culture, a cohesive user experience, and a powerful brand.
Collaborate across disciplines with Brand Design and Strategy, leading Design and Innovation projects. strategic design thinking and storytelling to connect users, business and brand needs to generate innovative design solutions
Lead the full design process from ideation and sketching to 3D modeling, rendering and product implementation
Work closely with the finance and leadership team to understand overall project profitability and how to actively clear bottlenecks
Identify appropriate resources based on project scopes and to evaluate teams for assigned projects
Develop and nurture your trusted relationships with clients to help add to Aruliden’s influential creative network
Actively bring new business opportunities to the overall organization, diversifying our service offerings
Manage client relationships and strong influence in new business meetings to close projects

What it will take:

10+ years of relevant design experience within consumer technology
Degree in Industrial Design or equivalent experience
Proven experience leading corporate design functions with demonstrated success and results.
A selfless leader who inspires trust and commitment within their team and in the broader organization through integrity, passion, and professional excellence.
Hands on work style – not one to overly delegate, but rolls up sleeves and interacts with the team
Proven experience leading multiple projects and product families on the market BT
Exceptional ability to collaborate and facilitate the design process
Experience building and leading a design team
Strong portfolio demonstrating superior taste, ideation, and execution
Ability to work in a fast paced environment
Ability to lead and motivate employees at all levels within the studio
Concept, Strategy, Sketching and Rendering skills
3D CAD/surface and solid modeling proficiency (Solidworks preferred)
Keyshot or 3DS Max rendering and animation software, Adobe Creative Suite & FIGMA proficiency
Excellent communication and presentation skills

Pay Range: $150,000-210,000

The range shown represents a grouping of relevant ranges currently in use at Material. Actual range for this position may differ, depending on location and specific skillset required for the work itself.

We offer

Competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 401k matching, paid time off, paid parking, casual dress, company-wide and team events
Centrally located offices in energizing cities around the country along with hybrid and remote work options
Performance-based culture and endless opportunities for growth

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Material Glassdoor Company Review

3.3

Material DE&I Review

4.0

CEO of Material

Bill Kanarick

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By Material

About Material Material is a leading global consumer intelligence and customer experience consultancy. Partnering with business leaders, we help tackle their most significant customer challenges to help them differentiate in the marketplace, build...

FUNDING

INDUSTRY

TEAM SIZE

LOCATION

Hybrid, based in Los Angeles, CA

DATE POSTED

April 14, 2023