Industrial Designer
Work Mode: Onsite
Location: Onsite – Kohler, WI
Opportunity
Support the development of innovative Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) strategies that shape Kohler's products, experiences, and environments. Partner with Design Managers, Design Directors, and cross-functional teams to identify emerging trends, explore material and finish opportunities, and translate design concepts into successful products and experiences. Contribute to CMF storytelling, research, and implementation while gaining a deep understanding of consumer needs, manufacturing processes, and brand strategy.
Create innovative concepts, products, services, experiences, and human interfaces through the design process while working cross-functionally with the influences from manufacturing, marketing, engineering, cost and timing to bring a design to concept to final launch.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in creating CMF concepts and visualizations that communicate design intent and support business objectives.
- Assist in the development of color palettes, finish standards, material specifications, mood boards, renderings, and presentation materials.
- Collaborate with industrial designers to ensure CMF strategy enhances product form, function, and user experience.
- Partner with engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, suppliers, and marketing teams to ensure successful implementation of CMF solutions.
- Help to define seasonal, long-term, and category-specific CMF direction to support new product development and future innovation pipelines.
- Drive CMF innovation through exploration of emerging materials, finishes, technologies, sustainability initiatives, and manufacturing processes.
- Design innovative products and take the designs from concept through implementation working collaboratively, cross-functionally to meet deadlines and deliverables, including presenting to convey design intent and concept connected to business need and partnering closely with internal and external teams, including engineering and marketing.
- Understand the consumer, especially in bathroom and kitchen settings, so that functional aspects can be considered along with aesthetic needs and cost objectives.
- Maintain awareness of existing products and products offered by competitor businesses.
- Stay informed about trends in luxury home products: color, materials, and processes, including maintaining knowledge of design software and new technologies to effectively convey design concepts.
- Create many diverse ideas in order to inspire and stimulate meaningful products.
Participate in new product development strategic activities, including generation of new product concepts.
- Determine appropriate approaches and execute design research, product concept drawings, physical modeling, renderings/visualizations, and product presentations.
- Develop and maintain familiarity with materials and processes used in the industry and the manufacture of Kohler plumbing products.
- Demonstrate ability to multi-task, project manage, and communicate verbally and in writing.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills/Requirements
- Bachelors degree from accredited university or college with an emphasis in product design, industrial design, or related field.
- Typically has up to 4 years of experience in industrial design, interior design, furniture, architecture, consumer research, or related fields.
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suites (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) and CAD tools such as Creo/Solidworks. Video animation is a plus.
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We will consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this opportunity.
We believe in supporting you from the moment you join us, which is why Kohler offers day 1 benefits. This means you’ll have access to your applicable benefit programs from your first day on the job, with no waiting period. The salary range for this position is $62,250 - $93,350. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location.
Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.
About Us
It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected]. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
