In a nutshell:

IDEO (Shanghai) is in search of a Senior Industrial Designer who will create product designs and experiences that have a genuine impact on people’s lives, can generate ideas quickly without a lot of parameters, and lead clients and teams through the industrial design phase of a project.

Why is this role important for IDEO’s work?

A Senior Industrial Designer makes the biggest impact by strengthening the Industrial Design point of view at IDEO through work across a range of projects, from product interaction to software tools and applications to the web. Their skillset is critical to our business because they are able to work across disciplines, bringing their perspective to every project.  We count on them to create tangible design expressions, and communicate the essence of these ideas.

Once here you will:

•     Work with people that come from diverse backgrounds (like design researchers, communication designers, business designers, and interaction designers)
•     Get exposure to and involved with all aspects of the design process: user research, brainstorming, concept development, prototyping, working with engineers and manufacturers and design stewardship
•     Go out in the field and build empathy with a user through activities
•     Become a part of a culture that lets you both learn and teach while working with people outside of your immediate area of expertise

What does IDEO offer you?

IDEO is a place unlike any other. It’s a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients or the organization, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and optimism. Sure we work hard, but we also intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work-life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career.

Some previous projects to check out:

Kobo Aura: Designed two new eReaders that would exceed the expectations of readers who are truly passionate about the written word.  Both eReaders build on a strong, tactile experience, one that feels like a hardcover book.

Wayne Helix: A globally consistent design language and manufacturing approach for a new family of fuel dispensers that positively impact the lives of distributors, retailers, service technicians, and motorists worldwide. 

Brooks Cambium: Brooks England turned to IDEO to design its first new bike saddle in decades, it was essential that the design pay respect to the company’s heritage.  The Cambium C17 won a Eurobike Gold Award upon launch in 2013.

Node Chair: A reconfigurable, mobile swivel chair designed for today’s high-density classrooms, the Node was created in collaboration with Steelcase as part of their effort to bring campus classrooms up to speed with current teaching and learning styles.

Relevant experience and mindset:

•     You have knowledge of manufacturing processes and working closely with engineers, delivering engineering drawings and specifying CMF (colors, material, and finishes)
•     You have excellent storytelling and narrative skills especially around your craft as well as outstanding communication, presentation, and design team collaboration skill
•     You have strong visualization skills: from quick concept sketching to complete presentation sketches, 3D CAD modeling (Solidworks, Rhino, Fusion 360 or similar programs) to rendering (Keyshot, Cinema 4D or other similar programs).
•     Experience using Adobe Suite, CAD, and Grasshopper for Rhino or equivalent would be a plus.

Pop quiz, Hot Shot:

Please include your answer to the following question in your cover letter.

If you could redesign any object or experience: what would it be, why should it be redesigned, how might you make it better, what would be your design approach?

Application requirements and instructions:

To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, portfolio and pop quiz answer. Your portfolio should include at least 4 examples of work-related projects. In particular, we want to hear about the process involved in developing the design or project.  Bonus points if you include 2-3 projects you have worked on for fun.