Product Designer

The Rowen Partnership; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A design-led furniture company in Woking seeks a Product Designer to create innovative homeware designs. The role involves translating concepts into detailed designs, collaborating with teams, and ensuring products align with the company's aesthetic. Ideal candidates will have 2+ years of experience, technical drawing skills, and proficiency in tools like Adobe Illustrator and Autodesk Fusion. This position offers a competitive salary, hybrid working, and a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Hybrid working

Generous holiday allowance

Company bonus scheme

Private Health Care Insurance

Employee discounts

Complimentary meals onsite

Qualifications

• 2+ years product design and development experience.
• Portfolio demonstrating refined product design work.
• Knowledge of product construction and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Translate seasonal concepts into resolved designs.
• Create technical drawings and design briefs.
• Work with the Product Developer to ensure manufacturability.

Skills

Product design experience

Technical drawing skills

Collaboration

Organizational skills

Education

Degree in Product or Furniture Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Autodesk Fusion

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

Job description

Rowen & Wren - Product Designer

Woking, Surrey

At Rowen & Wren, we take pride in creating considered collections that blend quiet elegance with enduring quality. Every product we bring into the world is a reflection of our design-led ethos, each carefully considered, timeless, and made to last. As we continue to grow, we’re looking for a Product Designer to join our close-knit Product team.

This role is a unique opportunity for someone who delights in the design process, from the first spark of an idea through to a fully formed piece ready for our customers’ homes. You’ll be responsible for creating new homeware designs across our categories, ensuring they remain aligned with the ethos of Rowen & Wren. You’ll work closely with the wider Product team and our global family of makers to bring those designs to life in accordance with the seasonal critical path.

With the guidance and support of the Product Manager, you’ll collaborate with brand, design and development to turn thoughtful ideas into considered, commercially viable products. You’ll have a meticulous eye for detail, a vast understanding of materials and making, and a sensitivity to proportion, form and finish. Above all, you’ll be excited by the opportunity to play a key part in shaping our collections, and to grow with us as a brand.

Responsibilities:

Design Development:
o Translate seasonal product concepts into resolved designs across our whole range of product categories.
o Create hand-drawn and digital sketches, technical drawings and detailed design briefs to guide sampling and production.
o Consider form, proportion, finish and materiality at every stage of the design process, from concept to final approval.
o Support the creative realisation of design briefs, ensuring consistency with the aesthetics of Rowen & Wren.

Collaboration:
o Work closely with our Product Developer to ensure designs are compliant, cost-effective and manufacturable at scale.
o Liaise with external makers and suppliers to refine samples and iterate designs where necessary.
o Assist in gathering reference imagery, mood boards and sketches to guide supplier interpretation of our designs.

Design Execution:
o Maintain consistency in quality, tone and character across our collections, ensuring each new product sits comfortably within the Rowen & Wren family.
o Document and archive all design iterations and assets in an organised, accessible format.
o Take part in regular design reviews and contribute to cross-functional meetings throughout the development cycle.

Inspiration & Research:
o Staying up to date with relevant industry trends by monitoring competitor activity, analysing relevant industry publications and following likeminded brands
o Research heritage references, design movements and materials to inform and support seasonal development.
o Visit trade fairs and exhibitions where relevant to support ongoing design development.

The Successful Candidate Will Have:

- A degree in Product or Furniture Design (or equivalent experience).
- 2+ years product design and development experience.
- A portfolio demonstrating refined, detail-focused product design work, ideally within the interiors or homewares space.
- A considered, understated design sensibility that aligns with the Rowen & Wren aesthetic.
- Strong technical drawing skills and fluency in Adobe Illustrator.
- Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop and InDesign.
- High-level experience with 3D CAD (Autodesk Fusion preferred) and rendering software is essential.
- Across a variety of product categories, an extensive knowledge of product construction, joinery and manufacturing processes.
- Broad understanding of materials, finishing techniques and how each can be expected to perform over time.
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple development projects concurrently.
- A collaborative, communicative approach and a desire to contribute as part of a close-knit team.

What We Offer:
- Competitive salary
- Hybrid working: enjoy the opportunity to work from home on Mondays and Fridays.

- Generous holiday allowance
- Company bonus scheme

- Private Health Care Insurance

- Long-service awards
- Employee discounts
- Complimentary breakfasts and lunches on-site from Monday to Thursday

If you feel this role is right for you, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your portfolio, CV and a short cover letter outlining your salary expectations and what excites you about the opportunity to join Rowen & Wren.