Industrial Designer (1 Year Contract)

Teknion is a family-owned business with an international reach; we strive to be approachable and responsive, always open to collaboration, and focused on the right solutions for our customers. We still make what we sell, and we recognize the accountability that entails – to our clients, our employees, and our planet.

We are seeking an Industrial Designer (Intermediate) for a one-year contract position within our Corporate Design & Innovation department located at our North York, ON head office. This position will focus on designing all types of furniture for the office environment, exclusive of seating. 

Reporting to the Design Director, the successful candidate will be curious and collaborative. They will enjoy working within multidisciplinary teams that strive to create meaningful and holistic product experiences for the evolution of work, workers, and workplace.

What will you be responsible for in this role?

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Contribute directly to design research activities through field observation, client interactions, tracking industry trends, benchmarking products, and design sprints
• Conceptualize new product ideas; outline the opportunity, features, form, and applications to support the creation of a new project brief or in response an existing one
• Create sketches to solve detailed design problems and communicate ideas to others
• Develop human-centered design solutions through an understanding of materials, structure, manufacturing, ergonomics, user needs, and business requirements
• Evolve concepts through a systematic and iterative process of modeling, testing, analysis and refinement
• Provide insights and rationale on design-related issues in cross-disciplinary project teams to collectively solve product design and development issues

COMMUNICATION & LEADERSHIP

• Manage the development, deliverables, and communication activities between project team members that are related to industrial design activities; communicate any project related issues to management in an accurate and timely fashion
• Maintain organized design documentation for projects including scope maps, the tracking of key decisions, compatibility guidelines, and any reference notes required for user guides
• Communicate the product design story through different media at varying stages of development including sketches, renderings, mockups, CAD models, and presentations
• Create formal and informal presentations to support development work and communicate design intent; modify style and content to communicate with different audiences

What skills are needed for this role?

• Aptitude for problem solving, demonstrate creativity and innovation in projects
• Ability to integrate & synthesize external inputs in the development of ideas; agile and adaptable as project needs change
• Self-manages time, tasks, and next steps; pays attention to detail and verifies work
• Continuous learner, curious, asks questions and grows skill set
• Working knowledge of materials and manufacturing process and their impact on designs
• Comfortable using shop tools to create scale models
• Proactively assists and involves others; initiates collaboration and seeks input from others
• Demonstrates integrity; treats everyone equally with fairness, honesty, and respect

What experience and education is preferred for this role? 

• Bachelor of Industrial Design degree preferred
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• 5-10 years work experience as a practicing Industrial Designer
• Experience with furniture design and / or design research a plus
• Proficient in SolidWorks and standard design software (i.e. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, Keyshot)
• Portfolio demonstrating design thinking, hands-on expertise, and problem-solving skills

Teknion is committed to supporting a culture of diversity and accessibility across the organization, starting with the hiring process.  It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. Teknion welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

By applying for a position with Teknion, you understand that, should you be made an offer, it will be contingent on your undergoing and successfully completing a background check consistent with Teknion’s employment policies. Background checks may include some or all the following based on the nature of the position: SSN/SIN validation, education verification, employment verification, credit check and criminal check. You will be notified during the hiring process which checks are required by the position.