Learning Resources / Educational Insights / hand2mind
Industrial Designer II
Learning Resources / Educational Insights / hand2mind, Vernon Hills, Illinois, United States, 60061
About Learning Resources:
We are on a mission to
bring learning to life!
We are Learning Resources®, and we have been helping parents and teachers build generations of amazing kids since 1984. Voted among the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces in 2020, 2021 and 2022, we’re a 150-person strong, family-owned company on a mission to bring learning to life with our award-winning products, including Toy of the Year winners Tumble Trax®, Botley® the Coding Robot, and Coding Critters™. From ABCs and 123s to fine motor and STEM skills, our educational toys offer kids the building blocks they need to succeed in school and develop a lifelong love of learning. We pride ourselves on being committed to our employee’s personal and professional development, a thriving culture and a diverse, creative atmosphere. Along with our culture and competitive benefits package, we offer opportunities for training and development by Harvard and UCLA professors as well as in-demand, motivating external speakers. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! We hope you’ll come join our award-winning team today!
Team & Position Description:
We are seeking an Industrial Designer II to join our dynamic design team! What makes us stand out? We create award-winning, durable, and fun products for teachers, parents, children, and pets. Join us and be a part of something awesome!
What you’ll do day to day:Lead the creation of sketches, 3D models, renderings, and specification documents to effectively communicate design concepts internally and with outside vendors.Operate and manage 3D printers for creating models used in assembly reviews, user testing, and presentations.Lead user testing and online surveys to validate design concepts, ensuring alignment with market trends and user needs.Facilitate cross-functional product brainstorming sessions, driving innovation and problem-solving.Lead design reviews, providing critical feedback and ensuring continuous improvement in designs.What we’re looking for:
Design and prototype 15-20 products annually, ensuring timely delivery. This will involve a combination of children’s and pet products.Prepare 5-7 concepts for user testing through prototyping or renderings to gather valuable user data.Achieve a high level of proficiency in 3D printing and prototyping within the first 60 days.Conduct comprehensive research on the latest trends in both the toy and pet industries, utilizing this research to develop groundbreaking product ideas. Trend research should be conducted 2-3 times per year for each industry.Lead and participate in 2-3 continuous improvement projects within the product development and industrial design teams annually.Incorporate feedback from collaborative sessions into your design process, demonstrating strong adaptability and refinement skills.Deliver finished renderings for presentations, product reviews, and sales presentations 2-3 times annually.Preferred:
Extensive experience with plastic materials and manufacturing processes.BS/BA in Industrial Design, Toy Design, or equivalent experience.Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to know when to seek input from others.Demonstrate ability to rapidly iterate design concepts, whether through sketches or 3D modeling.Proficiency in 3D CAD (Rhinoceros preferred) and rendering software (KeyShot).A portfolio showcasing innovative thinking and on-trend designs in consumer products, with a strong emphasis on toy design.
We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.
Please note : This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.
We are on a mission to
bring learning to life!
We are Learning Resources®, and we have been helping parents and teachers build generations of amazing kids since 1984. Voted among the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces in 2020, 2021 and 2022, we’re a 150-person strong, family-owned company on a mission to bring learning to life with our award-winning products, including Toy of the Year winners Tumble Trax®, Botley® the Coding Robot, and Coding Critters™. From ABCs and 123s to fine motor and STEM skills, our educational toys offer kids the building blocks they need to succeed in school and develop a lifelong love of learning. We pride ourselves on being committed to our employee’s personal and professional development, a thriving culture and a diverse, creative atmosphere. Along with our culture and competitive benefits package, we offer opportunities for training and development by Harvard and UCLA professors as well as in-demand, motivating external speakers. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! We hope you’ll come join our award-winning team today!
Team & Position Description:
We are seeking an Industrial Designer II to join our dynamic design team! What makes us stand out? We create award-winning, durable, and fun products for teachers, parents, children, and pets. Join us and be a part of something awesome!
What you’ll do day to day:Lead the creation of sketches, 3D models, renderings, and specification documents to effectively communicate design concepts internally and with outside vendors.Operate and manage 3D printers for creating models used in assembly reviews, user testing, and presentations.Lead user testing and online surveys to validate design concepts, ensuring alignment with market trends and user needs.Facilitate cross-functional product brainstorming sessions, driving innovation and problem-solving.Lead design reviews, providing critical feedback and ensuring continuous improvement in designs.What we’re looking for:
Design and prototype 15-20 products annually, ensuring timely delivery. This will involve a combination of children’s and pet products.Prepare 5-7 concepts for user testing through prototyping or renderings to gather valuable user data.Achieve a high level of proficiency in 3D printing and prototyping within the first 60 days.Conduct comprehensive research on the latest trends in both the toy and pet industries, utilizing this research to develop groundbreaking product ideas. Trend research should be conducted 2-3 times per year for each industry.Lead and participate in 2-3 continuous improvement projects within the product development and industrial design teams annually.Incorporate feedback from collaborative sessions into your design process, demonstrating strong adaptability and refinement skills.Deliver finished renderings for presentations, product reviews, and sales presentations 2-3 times annually.Preferred:
Extensive experience with plastic materials and manufacturing processes.BS/BA in Industrial Design, Toy Design, or equivalent experience.Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to know when to seek input from others.Demonstrate ability to rapidly iterate design concepts, whether through sketches or 3D modeling.Proficiency in 3D CAD (Rhinoceros preferred) and rendering software (KeyShot).A portfolio showcasing innovative thinking and on-trend designs in consumer products, with a strong emphasis on toy design.
We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.
Please note : This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.