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Senior Specialist - Material Designer
Location: Zurich
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In short
At On, our material design team plays a crucial role in shaping the aesthetics, performance, and sustainability of our products. Materials provide structure, durability, and the ability to communicate states of mind. With technical knowledge of material manufacturing and performance, a material designer at On creates and curates materials in close collaboration with the Design and material development teams to produce 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 an expertise that informs and elevates our design process.
Your Mission
- Seasonal material briefs - Create seasonal material briefs by category and vertical needs with an eye towards commercialization, sustainability and margin thresholds
- Material board creation / curation - happens in close collaboration with the material teams
- Material library curation - Explore new materials, finishes, and treatments to enhance product performance, aesthetics, and sustainability
- Material development (aesthetics) - Design of engineered materials and new material developments within an inline timeline
- Materialways proposals - Utilize knowledge of material properties and manufacturing processes to inform design and color decisions to ensure feasibility.
- Material map creation
- Strong collaboration with FTW designers
- Connection with color designers to ensure color methodologies are connected to material choices from the start
- Present material design proposals, concepts, and narratives in compelling ways to gain buy-in from internal stakeholders ensuring seamless integration of materials
- Work closely with Design, Development, Product Strategy and Material development teams to align material strategies with overall product goals and brand initiatives
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, encouraging creative exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- Keep up to date with materials, finishes, and textures—how they are combined, how they are used, and how they create impact in art, culture, and fashion to tell stories and convey emotions.
- Stay knowledgeable about contemporary art and new artists, focusing on how they use texture and finish in their work.
- Regularly build and maintain a comprehensive inspiration library that includes patterns, textures, designs, mood images, materials, and shapes, both digitally and physically.
Image gallery
Your story
- Bachelor's degree in Textile/Product Design or similar field
- 4+ years of experience in the footwear industry with a focus on Material design
- Proactive and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment, with a demonstrated ability to solve complex challenges
- You possess proficiency in the 2D design tools such as: Adobe Creative Suite, PLM, etc, 3D tools would be plus
- Passionate about sustainability and experience in integrating sustainable practices into materials sourcing
- Strong understanding of competitor brands and distribution channels, with a knack for gaining insights that drive product differentiation
- Fluent in English, written and spoken, any other language would be a plus
About 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 our consumers and elevate our brand presence in the market. In essence, our Color and Material Design Teams serve as the creative powerhouse pulling together 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 the competitive marketplace. This role requires someone with 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’d love to hear from you!
About the Team video
What we offer
On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.
On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.
What to expect
We want to set everyone up for success, so here’s the lowdown on how we hire. Our process is a two-way street – bringing you into our culture, while helping us learn how you think.
Our full process can last about eight weeks from application to offer, because we care about getting it right. These steps explain how we usually do things.
Before you get started, feel free to consider if you want to work with us. Strange question? Well, we give people a lot of space to navigate their day-to-day and that style isn't for everyone. We want you to be passionate about what you do and be sure this is the right fit. Because when skills and passion combine – it creates that 'Wow' moment.