Industrial Designer, Waste Lab

BASIC FUNCTION

Responsible for creating high value products and services out of industrial wastes. Serve as a catalyst for how we as an organization understand material resources used in our processes. Promote creativity and the development of beautiful, artistic, high aesthetics as well as highly functional uses of wastes. Support NPD teams with practical help that allows them to find innovative, useful products and services for the waste streams generated as part of their NPD projects. Uphold the vision of the Kohler Waste Lab to meet changing business, human, and environmental needs.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Material Investigation – Evaluate the aesthetic and technical feasibility of new product and service ideas that use Kohler’s industrial waste streams through exploration and testing. Emphasis will be on craftsmanship and low tech approaches that optimize methods needed for the variable nature of the waste streams.
• Sample Procurement – Make beautiful and useful samples for aesthetic review, design direction development, new kinds of products and function testing. Rough tooling and process development to quickly visually describe desired outcomes. These should be inspirational and informative to the community at large and translatable to real business needs.
• Design – Practice as a hands-on designer developing own ideas. Act as design team member for both advanced development and manufacturing projects providing aesthetic and technical input.
• Relationships – Be a conduit to Kohler Industrial Design and targeted groups in order to promote active engagement during the development process such that there is an inspired adoption of waste stream consideration within NPD and related Kohler projects.
• Collaboration – Provide hands-on support for collaborators in the Kohler Waste Lab such that it is inviting for others, both Kohler associates and external partners, to “think through doing” – learning about materials, making samples and products.
• Creativity and Decorative Arts – Promote creative practice of the applied decorative arts and uphold the commitment to craftsmanship of the materials which we will develop.
• Keep abreast of new technologies and products relative to the Circular Economy
  
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Skills/Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in design, engineering, arts, or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience directly with product development and manufacturing.

The ideal candidate for this position will have outstanding hands-on making skills, with a proven ability to fast prototype, technical capability across a range of materials, and experience working between NPD and manufacturing. They should have excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills. They will be able to self-organize, prepare and implement a prototyping plan involving a wide diversity of materials and techniques, and have technical knowledge related to Kohler core businesses and processes.

Why Work at Kohler Co.?

Kohler Co.’s mission is to contribute to a higher level of gracious living for those who are touched by our products and services. We understand that it takes investment in our associates’ development to make that happen. So, we offer ongoing investment in each individual’s personal development and the opportunity to collaborate with others across functions and roles at Kohler.

In addition to the investment in your development, Kohler offers a benefits package including a competitive salary, health, vision, dental, 401(k) with company matching, and more!

About Us

Beyond the competitive benefits and compensation, Kohler proudly offers a rich history, steeped in creativity and a commitment to our associates and communities. We invite you to learn more about our culture and company at www.kohler.com .

It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified personnel in all job classifications without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, disability or veteran status. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact kohlerjobs@kohler.com . Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.