Material Holdings is hiring: Aruliden Design Studio - Director, Industrial Desig

About Aruliden & Material

Aruliden is an award-winning studio that builds purpose-driven brands, products, and experiences. A multi-disciplinary team of strategists, 2D designers, and industrial designers work together to bring brands to life, whether crafting their strategic DNA, developing a graphic identity, or developing their physical and digital products. We’ve delivered design solutions for clients across a diverse range of sectors.

Aruliden is the design & innovation studio within Material, a global integrated marketing services company that specializes in uncovering deep, data-driven insights in order to create experiences for clients.

About the Director, Industrial Design Role

The Director of Industrial Design role is critical in bringing exceptional ideas to market for our clients while helping to maintain team health and shape our strategic vision.

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about creating groundbreaking products and experiences and has over 10 years of experience doing so. The Design Director will report to the VP of Experience Design and be a key voice in evolving the vision and mission of our design practice. This role will oversee multiple projects from conception to execution and directly manage several Industrial Designers. Team leadership and motivation skills are essential, along with strong concept, execution, and presentation skills.

The ideal candidate will have seen multiple physical products brought to market. Category experience might include one or more of: tech hardware, home appliances, beauty packaging, spatial environments, luxury goods, and 360° brand application.

They will have an understanding of how to translate strategy into design decisions and the ability to communicate the value of decisions persuasively. They will be comfortable collaborating across disciplines and know how to achieve clarity amid ambiguity.

Design Directors are representatives of the company and are expected to build strong relationships with current and new clients, expanding and uncovering new opportunities.

As an Industrial Design Director, you will:

Lead and oversee the work:

• Lead the full design process including strategic thinking, inspiration-gathering, ideation, 3D modeling, physical prototyping, and visual asset creation.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, from quick sprints to large initiatives.
• Work with client leads to outline new projects, establishing scope, staff resourcing, and deliverables while managing project cost and profitability.
• Develop and pilot new project types and ways of working to ensure continuous innovation in design.
• Execute on impactful customer experiences, recruiting internal insights teams for user research when appropriate.
• Maintain high quality standards for design, ensuring work is strategic, aesthetically appealing, and supports business goals.
• Champion ethics in design with knowledge of social & environmental principles.

Lead and Mentor the team:

• Coach, manage, and motivate the design team.
• Help build team culture and create a greater brand presence for Aruliden and Material.
• Communicate and advocate for the mission and needs of the team clearly and concisely.
• Work with other design teams to build a collaborative culture.

Build relationships:

• Develop trusted relationships with clients.
• Build a network of trusted freelancers and collaborators.
• Spot and unlock new opportunities with current or new clients.

About You

• 10+ years of relevant design experience.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional taste and execution.
• Degree in Industrial Design or equivalent experience.
• Experience building and leading a design team.
• Comfortable defining proposals and scopes of work for various project types.
• Good sense for delegation balanced with a willingness to be hands-on.
• Fluent in human-centered design approaches.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Deep experience guiding products through a development process.
• Experience liaising with manufacturers and engineers.
• Ability to create and amplify culture and motivate employees.
• Concept, strategy, sketching, and rendering skills.
• Expert-level proficiency in Keyshot, Solidworks, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Familiarity with Figma and Google Suite a plus.
• Located in NYC or surrounding areas, or willing to relocate.

Why work for Material?

Here’s a bit about who we are and highlights around what we offer.

Who We Are & What We Care About

• Material is a global company working with best-of-class brands worldwide. We create and launch new brands and products, putting innovation at the center of our practice.
• Material employees join a peer group of exceptionally talented colleagues. We develop capabilities across seven global practices including strategy, design, data, and technology.
• We prize inclusion and interconnectedness. Our commitment to deep human understanding uniquely equips us to bring a rich frame of reference to our work.
• A community focused on learning and making an impact. Material is an outcomes-focused company creating experiences that matter.

What We Offer

In addition to Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability and FSA, Material offers:

• A work environment that works best for you. This position requires proximity to NYC and willingness to be present in-office 3x per week.
• Flexible & synchronous time off. We offer Flexible Time Off along with companywide closures and 11 holidays.
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Every parent deserves to spend the first few months with their new child.
• Help planning for your future. We offer 401K match and financial wellness sessions.

Pay Range: 125,100.00 - 175,000.00

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.

Privacy Statement

Material is committed to protecting privacy in our recruiting processes. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

If you need support with a privacy-related matter, please send an email to: privacyrequests@materialplus.io