Product Designer, CMF
Description
Company Overview
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Wilsonart is a world leading manufacturer and distributor of engineered surfaces with approximately $1.4b in annual revenue and a global workforce of more than 4,500. Wilsonart surfaces are used in the office, education, healthcare, residential, hospitality and retail markets. Wilsonart, operating under the Wilsonart®, Resopal®, Polyrey®, Arborite®, Laminart®, Bushboard™, Mermaid™, Shore®, Ralph Wilson®, KML®, NewLeaf®, Wetwall®, Durcon® and Technistone® brands, manufactures and distributes High Pressure Laminate, Quartz, Solid Surface, Coordinated TFL and Edgebanding and other engineered surface options.
Wilsonart does business in more than 100 countries with manufacturing operations in North America, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Czech Republic.
Wilsonart does business in more than 100 countries with manufacturing operations in North America, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Czech Republic.
Positioned for Future Growth
An extensive global manufacturing footprint, state-of-the-art process technologies, and scalable Global distribution capabilities provide a meaningful competitive advantage with excellent brand recognition and a reputation for product innovation and superior service which allow for strong and stable margin performance and robust cash flow conversion. We have a strong company culture and extremely talented employee base as well as a dedicated and invested core Executive Leadership Team.
Our History
For more than 60 years, Wilsonart has honored our founders' promise to provide our customers with industry-leading products and service. In November 2012, Wilsonart became a new, independent company when Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R") and Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) completed a transaction for the sale of ITW's Decorative Surfaces business unit. CD&R acquired a majority stake in the new freestanding business and ITW retained an ongoing ownership stake.
Founded in 1978, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is a private equity firm with an investment strategy predicated on producing financial returns through building stronger, more profitable businesses. The Firm’s partners and advisors include a combination of skilled investment decision-makers and seasoned corporate leaders from major global enterprises. Since inception, CD&R has managed the investment of more than $18 billion in 56 businesses with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $90 billion. The Firm has offices in New York and London. For more information, please visit http://www.cdr-inc.com/.
Illinois Tool Works or ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 200 company that produces engineered fasteners and components, equipment and consumable systems, and specialty products. It employs more than 50,000 people, and is based in Glenview, Illinois, with operations in 57 countries.
Our Mission and Values
Wilsonart is driven by a mission to create surfaces people love, with service you can count on, delivered by people who care. Wilsonart is driven by providing beautiful, hard-working, on-trend and high performing engineered surfaces for whatever you need to cover. For decades, our companies worldwide have given designers and builders the right tools for the job, no matter how specialized. Today, we bring you a portfolio of solutions, both decorative and functional, that spans retail, hospitality, healthcare, education, office and institutional applications.
Service You Can Count On.
Wilsonart is dedicated to getting our customers what they want, when and how they want it. From a North American fleet of trucks, to strategically located distribution centers around the world, we can service the globe with our expanding range of products and services.
People Who Care.
Over 4,500 people strong, Wilsonart is made up of dedicated people who care about doing the right thing, every day. Whether it’s making a flawless sheet of high pressure laminate, volunteering at a community house raising or sourcing sustainable materials, Wilsonart people care deeply about what they do, who they do it for, and how they do it.
Job Summary
Manage the assembly and development of design and color for products to be marketed in Commercial and Residential markets, under the direction of the Director, Product Design. Research, analyze, create visual presentations for each project, incorporate innovative design trends in developing new products, and follow each project from concept to production for all Wilsonart product categories. Performs other tasks as needed.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Product Management, and Marketing teams and designers, along with external suppliers and manufacturers to ensure seamless integration of CMF concepts into the product development process.
• Analyze industry and design trends relevant to markets that the products are used in, and incorporate user research to assemble effective design solutions that meet business and user needs
• Work closely with Deco suppliers and manufacturing in communicating design direction and product development needs for the Wilsonart product categories. Manufacturing locations include but are not limited to Europe, Asia and North America.
• Understand and translate internal business objectives into effective design solutions that build brand equity
• Create effective communication tools to convey concepts, themes, colors, and research ideas to send to suppliers and to present to management.
• Assess influences and create tools used to present trends and designs to internal and external audiences, in a clear confident, professional manner
• Assist with the coordination of research and focus studies pertinent to product design introductions.
• Research trends and develop product design and trend presentations for internal and external audiences to assist in communication of the product design development.
• Work closely with Product Management on the coordination of design updates and launches for all Wilsonart product categories.
• Work closely with Product Management for sales analysis studies used to determine movers, market designs, and categories of growth.
• Contribute to the development and presentation of CEU’s, product, and trend presentations to designers/architects and customers.
• Conduct comprehensive research on global and regional color and material trends, staying in touch with industry advancements and emerging technologies, attend material related Expo’s and trend shows.
• Perform color tuning and material mastering to ensure consistency of colors and materials prior to production and distribute mastered materials to sister organizations.
• Benchmark competitive products to identify gaps and aid in design direction
• Analyze industry and design trends relevant to markets that the products are used in, and incorporate user research to assemble effective design solutions that meet business and user needs
• Work closely with Deco suppliers and manufacturing in communicating design direction and product development needs for the Wilsonart product categories. Manufacturing locations include but are not limited to Europe, Asia and North America.
• Understand and translate internal business objectives into effective design solutions that build brand equity
• Create effective communication tools to convey concepts, themes, colors, and research ideas to send to suppliers and to present to management.
• Assess influences and create tools used to present trends and designs to internal and external audiences, in a clear confident, professional manner
• Assist with the coordination of research and focus studies pertinent to product design introductions.
• Research trends and develop product design and trend presentations for internal and external audiences to assist in communication of the product design development.
• Work closely with Product Management on the coordination of design updates and launches for all Wilsonart product categories.
• Work closely with Product Management for sales analysis studies used to determine movers, market designs, and categories of growth.
• Contribute to the development and presentation of CEU’s, product, and trend presentations to designers/architects and customers.
• Conduct comprehensive research on global and regional color and material trends, staying in touch with industry advancements and emerging technologies, attend material related Expo’s and trend shows.
• Perform color tuning and material mastering to ensure consistency of colors and materials prior to production and distribute mastered materials to sister organizations.
• Benchmark competitive products to identify gaps and aid in design direction
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
• Knowledge and commitment to the design project life cycle: user research, requirements gathering, ideation & concept creation, and design development
• Excellent presentation skills in varied settings; must be able to adapt to the audience
• Excellent project management and organization skills
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, Rhino, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Pro-active, self-motivated, and methodical working style
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with the ability to communicate with internal department teams as well as external vendors
• Experience in the handling and creation of digital files
• Scanning, separating, and color development skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Flexible and creative with the ability to provide appropriate solutions that meet project time lines
• Knowledge and experience with design or production of engineered surfacing products such as Laminates, Quartz, Solid Surface, and Epoxy Surfaces or other large format surfacing materials.
• Grasp of current industry knowledge and trends. Must be able to adapt to changing market conditions and keep current on industry developments.
• Create tools used to present trends and designs to internal and external audiences, in a clear confident, professional manner.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required, up to 25 – 30 % of time.
• Excellent presentation skills in varied settings; must be able to adapt to the audience
• Excellent project management and organization skills
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, Rhino, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Pro-active, self-motivated, and methodical working style
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with the ability to communicate with internal department teams as well as external vendors
• Experience in the handling and creation of digital files
• Scanning, separating, and color development skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Flexible and creative with the ability to provide appropriate solutions that meet project time lines
• Knowledge and experience with design or production of engineered surfacing products such as Laminates, Quartz, Solid Surface, and Epoxy Surfaces or other large format surfacing materials.
• Grasp of current industry knowledge and trends. Must be able to adapt to changing market conditions and keep current on industry developments.
• Create tools used to present trends and designs to internal and external audiences, in a clear confident, professional manner.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required, up to 25 – 30 % of time.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION:
• Bachelor Degree Required
• Concentration in recognized design field (Color and Materials Design, Interior Design, Product Design, Graphic Design or Industrial Design) or related field
• Bachelor Degree Required
• Concentration in recognized design field (Color and Materials Design, Interior Design, Product Design, Graphic Design or Industrial Design) or related field
EXPERIENCE:
• 2+ years
• Hands on product design development and project management experience
• 2+ years
• Hands on product design development and project management experience
WORKING CONDITIONS
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Light to medium work
• Involves pushing and or pulling
• Lifting and standing
• Using force equal to handling materials up to 40 pounds
• Involves pushing and or pulling
• Lifting and standing
• Using force equal to handling materials up to 40 pounds
ENVIRONMENT:
Located in a comfortable indoor area. Examples: executive, management and support positions
Wilsonart is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.