Product Designer

**Responsibilities**:

- **Research**:

- Research the discard materials thoroughly to understand different ways of working with them
- Research products made from recycling and upcycling with similar and other materials in India and abroad focussing on different techniques and innovations
- Research on different techniques / processes / tools / required for our products - physical market visits as well as online research
- Market research to study trends and understand scope and appeal of the craft skill / material / product range
- **Design Development**:

- Craft based product development across a wide range of craft skills including recycling and upcycling a range of discards (as mentioned above)
- Product development - designing, sampling and prototyping for all approved concepts
- Drive innovations particularly in flower recycling
- Incorporating features into the products that will appeal to our target audience (corporate professionals / retail customers as the case maybe) such as educational value, use of sustainable materials, durability, safety and so on.
- Designing suitable promotional material and branding including packaging and labels
- Market-centric designs focussed on our target bulk buyers for the different festive seasons - Diwali, Holi and Rakshabandhan ; as well as corporate gifting
- Plan and execute design development, sampling and prototyping along with our partner centres and trainers
- Ensure our product development is in keeping within target cost and price constraints / decisions
- **Training and Production**:

- Design training & capacity building of craft trainers and master artisans
- Monitor the design training of beneficiaries
- Understand process efficiency for the craft since this will be a key input in finalisation of our designs ensuring production and cost efficiencies
- Planning for an integrated production line along with production team
- Assisting production team in planning for assembly line production
- Planning (monthly, quarterly and annual) for design and production across our livelihood centres in and around Bangalore and Hyderabad
- Conducting train the trainer workshops for our trainers and partner centres on a need basis
- Ensure partner centres deliver samples / prototypes / production orders within committed timelines
- **Project Documentation**:

- Design documentation: skill techniques, design specifications, sampling process and quality guidelines, photographs and videos
- Actively involved in user feedback and testing of products
- Developing and standardising quality guidelines for all of the samples and products
- Submitting periodic reports as required
- **Working with Stakeholders**:

- Work closely with our partner organizations in and around Bangalore and in other cities
- Design coordination with other freelance designers engaged under the program
- Work with external experts / institutes / technical advisors / mentors assigned to the project
- Agencies involved in Branding, Packaging, Product Testing, Certifications and so on

**LinkedIn JD, Nov 2023**:
We are looking for a product designer for our Green Skilling Program. Role is based out of Bangalore with frequent local travels to livelihood centres in & around the city.

**Green Skilling Program Overview**:
The focus of this project is to provide livelihood opportunities for beneficiaries with no other sources of sustainable income including adults with intellectual disability and unskilled women from low income families in urban and rural areas. Further, there is a strong environmental focus and all of the skill training is focussed on craft skills involving recycling and up-cycling of a range of discard materials including such as Temple flowers, Paper-waste, Fabric leftovers and Silk thread discards.

**Responsibilities**:

- Product design and development : suited to artisan abilities, market needs and budget considerations
- Material research and innovations
- Designing suitable promotional material and branding including packaging and labels
- Conducting Train the trainer programs for our craft trainers across multiple locations
- Documentation of skill techniques, design specifications, sampling process and quality guidelines
- Work closely with our partner organizations in and around Bangalore and in other cities

**Qualifications**:

- Bachelor's / Master's degree in Design
- 2 - 5 years experience in product design or related field
- Prior experience in recycling / upcycling natural materials will be an advantage
- Strong creative, design and communication skills
- Proficient in design software and graphic design
- Knowledge of Kannada will be helpful

Pay: From ₹420,000.00 per year

**Experience**:

- total work: 4 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application Deadline: 10/10/2024
Expected Start Date: 19/09/2024