Design development lead

Iittala has a vacancy for a design development lead to join its team in Helsinki, Finland.

We are looking for a highly talented design development lead who is passionate about all things design, a strong team leader, has a highly energised creative mind and is hungry for creative exploration with a meticulous attention to detail. Working on both seasonal collections and core line extensions you will play a crucial role in turning story-led concepts into robust products for production and distribution. Working closely with the creative director and design team, this role calls for an individual who can operate across multiple product categories and materials and can comfortably and productively lead a small team within a larger organisation.

Who you are:

• creative design development lead with a self-motivated drive to generate big ideas
• someone who is interested in art, culture and is constantly looking for inspiration from subcultures and looks beyond the obvious
• skilled researcher who can find genuine and original inspiration
• someone who is hands-on and enjoys the marriage of design and craft
• able to lead development of design products from designer’s concepts to implementation
• highly inventive development leader who understands value of creativity and can lead the critical path from design idea to execution
• skilled in balancing multiple stakeholder inputs and delivering quality to agreed timelines and standards
• detail-oriented, impeccable attention to detail
• highly skilled and proficient in digital design tools
• skilled at using multiple prototyping methodologies including hand modelling and digital
• experienced in working closely with suppliers, manufacturing processes, and materials
• appreciation for artisans and craftmanship
• excellent communicator and presenter, both verbally and visually
• strong time management and organisational skills, able to set goals and priorities
• university educated within product/industrial design or human-centered design engineering
• five to ten year’s experienced in the design environment

What you’ll be doing:

• oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of design development projects including setting timelines, milestones and budgets, as well as ensuring that projects are completed on time, within scope and to a high standard
• manage the workflow of the design development team, ensuring efficient collaboration between designers, developers and other stakeholders
• guide and support the design development team, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment; mentor team members, helping them grow their skills and career paths
• apply technical knowledge to solve complex design challenges, ensuring that designs are feasible and can be translated into functional products or solutions
• creating pioneering, original, and dynamic designs for new and existing product collections in accordance with the creative vision
• freehand sketching
• creating advanced 3D models with excellent proficiency in Rhino and/or Solidworks
• creating photorealistic renders using Keyshot
• creating low and high-fidelity prototypes from handcrafted methods, CNC machining to 3D-printed sampling
• communicating and presenting your designs to key stakeholders
• perfecting the design for manufacturing, drafting design specifications, making design trade-offs
• developing specification packs for costings and handover phases of development
• working closely with suppliers and internal factories
• exploring, pushing and challenging manufacturing capabilities

Please submit your application via the apply for job button below.

Salary: Undisclosed