Product Designer

Job Description

Job Description

Since the invention of the Original Junk Drawer Organizer® in 1990, Madesmart® has elevated home organization through thoughtful,

award-winning design innovation. If you are a driven, endlessly curious, tenacious creative with a great eye and attention to detail, we invite you to join our team of innovators and creatives in our mission to revolutionize the home organization experience by inventing and designing new, ground-breaking solutions that embody our design criteria of style, quality, function, and affordability.

essential functions :

• Collaborate with CEO and design team to create packaging dielines and other merchandising assets with a sensitivity to costing and function.
• Act as a resource and provide guidance for fellow team members to help projects move along, understanding the parameters that make a successful madesmart® product.
• Combine market research, MS direction and category goals with basic engineering and plastics knowledge to identify gaps and new category opportunities to lead impactful product designs that fit the MS look and feel.
• Actively seek out improvement of overall team functionality, working together to identify and implement ideas for process and project improvements.
• Strategize around and support support design-related sales needs with presentation / marketing deliverables, new concepts, prototypes, and renders.

product designing / engineering :

• Perform research to continually seek out new trends and knowledge in retail and home organization to generate product and merchandising concepts that meet the needs of madesmart® strategy and our retail partners.
• Utilize findings to identify gaps and opportunities for madesmart® within existing and new categories, working collaboratively with CEO to develop design briefs and create annual plans and goals.
• Provide and lead a continuous flow of product and merchandising ideas as well as concept improvements based on madesmart® established product gaps, strategies, and client requests.
• Generate a variety of ideas quickly during early phases, working with team members to share ideas and get feedback.
• Iterate quickly during early design phase using sketches, brainstorming sessions, and rough prototypes to test and validate early ideas, including early quotes to establish price parameters.
• Initiate critiques and concept discussions as needed with design, engineering, graphics, and marketing teams and take active steps to test and qualify feedback.
• Initiate testing and research phases on items in development as needed, including surveys, store visits, market research, and user testing.
• Ensure concepts that move forward are high quality and meet functional, aesthetic and financial goals.
• Perform and document user research and testing on concepts to ensure they meet functionality requirements.
• Participate throughout development process on designs, following them from initial concept through to final, produced part.
• Develop products and merchandising that :

o are manufacturable

o meet deadlines

o meet product specs

o meet target production costs

o can be produced quickly and economically

sales / marketing support :

• Collaborate to plan and execute sales deliverables as requested, including presentation support, planograms, special research requests, renders, mock packaging, and prototypes
• Actively collaborate and keep communication open between graphics and marketing teams throughout development, providing product expertise and support on any packaging or marketing needs

culture :

• contribute daily to the we are a team environment
• mentor others as needed or requested
• openly share information with other team members
• help to create a clean, safe, and professional work environment
• actively participate in staff meetings and other meetings as needed
• perform other miscellaneous duties as apparent or assigned
• contribute to our positive and friendly environment

qualifications :

• 4-year degree in industrial design, product design, product engineering or equivalent
• 1-2+ years of experience in industrial design, product design, or product engineering; preferably in consumer product goods
• Proactive, strong verbal communication
• Excellent writing skills
• Willingness to receive feedback and collaborate to come to solutions
• Knowledge of design software Solidworks, Photoshop, Illustrator
• Strong analytical, organization, and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work effectively within a team and independently
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to follow through with the entire process, from initial concept through final, production ready files
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes, specifically injection molding
• Ability to efficiently multi-task and prioritize to meet deadlines
• 3D printing knowledge and basic shop experience a plus

Company Description

Madesmart Housewares is a women-owned, St. Paul-based company with over 30 years of experience in creating innovative and practical housewares that enhance everyday living.

With a focus on quality and efficiency, Madesmart aims to improve daily routines through thoughtfully designed products.

Company Description

Madesmart Housewares is a women-owned, St. Paul-based company with over 30 years of experience in creating innovative and practical housewares that enhance everyday living.

With a focus on quality and efficiency, Madesmart aims to improve daily routines through thoughtfully designed products.