In Short
At On, our Material Design Team plays a vital role in shaping the aesthetics, performance, and sustainability of our products. Materials not only provide structure and durability but also convey states of mind. A Material Designer at On, equipped with technical knowledge of material manufacturing and performance, creates and curates materials in close collaboration with both the Design and Material Development teams, crafting visually compelling narratives for our products. By staying attuned to the latest trends in materials, finishes, and textures, as well as contemporary art and emerging artists, they cultivate expertise that elevates our design process.
Your Mission
- Seasonal Material Briefs: Create seasonal material briefs tailored to category and vertical needs, emphasizing commercialization, sustainability, and margin thresholds.
- Material Board Creation / Curation: Collaborate closely with the material teams to develop and curate material boards.
- Material Library Curation: Explore new materials, finishes, and treatments to enhance product performance, aesthetics, and sustainability.
- Material Development (Aesthetics): Design engineered materials and oversee new material developments aligned with project timelines.
- Materialways Proposals: Utilize knowledge of material properties and manufacturing processes to inform design and color decisions, ensuring feasibility.
- Material Map Creation: Develop material maps to guide design initiatives.
- Collaboration with FTW Designers: Work closely with footwear designers to ensure cohesive material choices.
- Connection with Color Designers: Collaborate with color designers to align color methodologies with material choices from the outset.
- Presentations: Present material design proposals, concepts, and narratives in compelling ways to secure buy-in from internal stakeholders, ensuring seamless integration of materials.
- Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with Design, Development, Product Strategy, and Material Development teams to align material strategies with overall product goals and brand initiatives.
- Inclusive Work Environment: Foster a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere that encourages creative exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- Trend Awareness: Stay updated on materials, finishes, and textures—exploring their impact in art, culture, and fashion to tell stories and convey emotions.
- Art Community Engagement: Maintain knowledge of contemporary art and emerging artists, focusing on their use of texture and finish.
- Inspiration Library: Regularly build and maintain a comprehensive inspiration library, including patterns, textures, designs, mood images, materials, and shapes, both digitally and physically.
Your Story
- Bachelor's degree in Textile/Product Design or a related field.
- 4+ years of experience in the footwear industry with a focus on Material Design.
- Proactive, thriving in a fast-paced environment while demonstrating the ability to solve complex challenges.
- Proficient in 2D design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and PLM; experience with 3D tools is a plus.
- Passionate about sustainability with experience in integrating sustainable practices into material sourcing.
- Strong understanding of competitor brands and distribution channels, with insights that drive product differentiation.
- Fluent in English, both written and spoken; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.
Meet the Team
Our Color and Materials Team plays a pivotal role in shaping the visual identity and aesthetic appeal of our products across all categories. Comprising talented professionals with diverse backgrounds in color theory and material science, our team collaborates seamlessly to deliver innovative and trend-setting designs that resonate with consumers and elevate our brand presence in the market. Essentially, our Color and Material Design Teams act as a creative powerhouse, intertwining the past, present, and future perspectives to drive the visual and tactile experience of our products. Through a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, we craft compelling color and material design solutions that captivate consumers, differentiate our brand, and inspire lasting connections in a competitive marketplace.
This role requires a balance of creative vision, technical expertise, and the ability to collaborate seamlessly across different teams. If you are passionate about color design in footwear and want to help shape the future of product aesthetics, we invite you to apply online using the form below.
Please note, only applications matching the job profile will be considered.