Color and Materials Designer Job Description

Where an industrial designer shapes the form of a vehicle, this role owns the surfaces a passenger actually touches and sees: the colors, coverings, and finishes inside the cabin. In aircraft, cars, and powersports vehicles, that ownership starts in the early stages of vehicle projects and lasts until the design goes into serial production. Passengers notice the result immediately. Buyers of luxury helicopter interiors judge a cabin by the fit of a stitched seat and the consistency of a finish across suppliers, so material decisions carry weight that a sketch alone never does.

Success as a Color and Materials Designer means vehicle interiors that stay consistent from early concept through serial production, with finishes that suppliers can reproduce every time. Inside a vehicle design team, the designer answers to engineering reviews and draws on a materials laboratory and an external supplier network for what can actually be built.

Career Impact: Owning material and color decisions for vehicle interiors gives a designer a portfolio of shipped luxury seats and cabins that automotive and aerospace employers recognize.

Business Impact: Perceived quality on serialized vehicles improves when materials and finishes are specified precisely before designs reach serial production.

Growth Opportunity: Running a materials library and a supplier network adds the scope needed to advance to senior CMF designer.

• Define color, material, and finish specifications for assigned vehicle programs, meeting the design brief and project constraints.
• Develop creative interior concepts and translate them into practical solutions that satisfy complex technical criteria.
• Advise external suppliers on the development of new materials and finishes that strengthen product differentiation in each range.
• Coordinate the production of color options, graphic media, and finish alternatives for several product ranges and their deliverables.
• Contribute material and finish input to vehicle projects from their early stages onward.
• Represent color and material decisions in design reviews and engineering meetings, supported by prepared presentation material.
• Monitor the perceived quality of visible interior surfaces from concept through serialized production.
• Sketch seat and interior design intent to communicate color and material direction to the wider project team.

• Bachelor's degree in industrial design, graphic design, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of interior color and materials design experience, with a vehicle or transportation focus.
• Clear written and spoken English communication, including confident presentation of design decisions to design and engineering teams.
• Working knowledge of material and finish development, including how specifications are written for suppliers.
• Creativity in applying materials and finishes to vehicle interiors, with the ability to propose fresh and practical solutions.
• Ability to sketch and visualize color and material design intent so that others can understand it quickly.
• Ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team, including suppliers and engineers, on several projects at once.
• Structured, methodical planning and organization skills to meet project deadlines under design brief and program constraints.

• Hands-on experience with saddlery techniques and their application to seat design, particularly in luxury and VIP interiors.
• Deep knowledge of perceived quality standards and how they are set, monitored, and enforced with suppliers.
• Understanding of the complete vehicle development process, from concept work through to serial production.
• Prior project coordination experience, including scheduling deliverables and meetings with design, engineering, and supplier teams.

• Perceived quality audit score per vehicle, reflecting how consistent visible surfaces look on serialized units.
• Supplier first-pass approval rate, in percent, showing how often submitted material samples meet specification.
• Specification cycle time in days, measuring how fast briefs become approved finishes.
• First-round design review approval rate in percent, reflecting how closely concepts meet the brief.
• Supplier rework requests per program, showing how clearly specifications were written.

• Base Salary Range: $70,000 to $105,000 per year for mid-level designers in vehicle manufacturing
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus, typically 5% to 10% of base salary
• Equity: Uncommon at this level, occasionally restricted stock units at large manufacturers
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage with employer-paid premiums, plus health savings account eligibility
• PTO: 15 to 20 days of paid time off plus about 10 paid holidays
• Common Perks: Retirement plan matching, tuition assistance, and employee vehicle purchase or lease discounts

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment is contingent on a satisfactory background check. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act are available on request during the application or interview process. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

The Color and Materials Designer owns color, material, and finish strategies for assigned consumer appliance product categories, shaping concepts and specifications for global markets. Reporting to the consumer appliance design team, the Color and Materials Designer works closely with industrial designers on wireframed interface layouts and prototype samples, keeping products usable, on brand, and relevant to market trends.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop Color, Material, Finish strategies for assigned product categories.
• Research and curate trend-supporting imagery.
• Create inspirational moodboards to portray trends, influences, and design strategies.
• Execute Color, Texture, and Graphics concepts and specifications.
• Explore patterns and finishes for assigned product categories.
• Work closely with ID designers during the product development process to align on product goals.
• Create UI/UX workflows through wireframing while working closely with ID designers to implement interface layouts.
• Participate in ideation and brainstorming sessions.
• Assist in the development of computer-generated renderings.
• Stay current with best practices and technical knowledge.
• Assist in preparing final prototype and sales samples.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, or equivalent creative background.
• 2 or more years of relevant experience in product colors, materials, graphics, product design, or a combination of equivalent experience.
• Understanding of color theory and the importance of color in the success of products.
• Strong working knowledge of Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office, and KeyShot.
• Strong attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Ability to interact with team members on projects in a fluid and inclusive environment.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple projects.
• Exceptional sense of freshness and ability to challenge the status quo.
• Show flexibility, adapt, and work well in a team setting.

Embedded within the helicopter CMF design function, the Color and Materials Designer shapes attractive, function-driven interiors across the whole helicopter range, including VIP models, and sets the perceived quality standards for future and serialized aircraft. Working closely with the materials laboratory, suppliers, and saddlers, the Color and Materials Designer proposes materials and seat designs that keep cabins distinguished and consistent.

Core Functions

• Lead and manage the perceived quality process and set up the Perceived Quality standards for helicopter products.
• Monitor and control the perceived quality of future products until serial definition (objectives, specifications, rules).
• Monitor the perceived quality of serialized helicopters and identify key perceived quality improvements needed.
• Manage and support suppliers to reach the expected perceived quality, including saddlers.
• Support design work by proposing creative ideas, challenging the status quo, and demonstrating a real innovative mindset.
• Manage the materials library, create and animate the materials suppliers network.
• Elaborate innovative and consistent CMF definition for helicopters.
• Propose and contribute to innovative seat design, combining innovative materials and saddlery techniques.

Qualifications & Experience

• Strong experience in the CMF design and/or perceived quality field.
• Experience from the automotive industry and/or aeronautics industry is a merit.
• Experience in specific techniques of saddlery.
• Deep knowledge and sensibility in perceived quality.
• Solid creativity and ability to sketch seat design intent.
• Basic knowledge of 3D digital design concepts.
• Proficiency in the Adobe Design package, ie Illustrator, Photoshop, and others renderings tools.
• Strong ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues across the organization.
• Ability to work well autonomously and within a team in a deadline-oriented environment.
• Strong aesthetic sensibility and customer/user oriented.
• Good English communication skills.

Reporting to the Performance design team, the Color and Materials Designer delivers seasonal color palettes, graphics, and material direction for assigned footwear categories. Partnering with the Creative Direction teams and materials developers, the Color and Materials Designer keeps each season's footwear aligned with the direction the Creative Director sets.

Primary Duties

• Apply color, graphics, and materials to assigned footwear categories.
• Create necessary sell-in tools and mood boards for design and product marketing teams.
• Work with the Color & Trend Creative Direction team to gather trend information and imagery from multimedia, fashion shows, the internet, travel, and retail.
• Process this information to inform the creation of seasonal color palettes.
• Assist in the seasonal presentation of materials, color, and graphics to the design teams, including palettes and imagery relating to the seasonal design themes.
• Assist in the creation and execution of material stories with overall cross-category themes.
• Work with the Materials Development Team to create or customize materials specific to brand concepts.
• Travel to markets, shows, and other venues domestically and internationally to research and deliver color, material concepts, market and lifestyle trends.
• Deliver graphic presentations, installations, and regular trend updates to the design community.

Skills & Qualifications

• 18 or more months of design experience.
• Solid interest and knowledge of materials and experience working with different fabrics.
• Solid interest and knowledge of color trends and how they evolve.
• Working knowledge of color mixing, color compatibility, and color placement.
• Basic knowledge of Graphic Design is a plus.
• Working knowledge of material trends globally.
• Advanced-level proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and ideally, Adobe Photoshop.
• A strong team player who can work independently.
• Strong communication, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Ability to take direction and follow a design brief.
• Ability to respond quickly to multiple projects with strong time management skills.

Sitting at the intersection of design and engineering, the Color and Materials Designer builds complete design proposals for assigned automotive and transportation programs, turning creative concepts into practical solutions that meet complex technical criteria. Operating across project and engineering meetings, design reviews, and external supplier relationships, the Color and Materials Designer speaks for color and material decisions, so finished vehicles reflect the intended design.

Duties

• Create and deliver complete design proposals according to design brief and project constraints in assigned programs.
• Produce creative detailed design solutions fulfilling complex technical criteria.
• Develop concepts, which are translated into practical solutions in co-operation with external suppliers.
• Prepare presentation material for reviews.
• Participate in design reviews.
• Attend project and engineering meetings.
• Represent Colour & Material in project-related forums.

Requirements

• University degree in Design or Fine Arts.
• Experience in the field of automotive/transportation design.
• Competence within other design-related industries is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of colour and material development.
• Understanding of the complete car development process.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite with ability to visualize and communicate ideas effectively in 2D and 3D.
• Experience in Alias, VRED, and KeyShot is an advantage.
• A good team player with strong drive, independent, and confident.
• Ability to be structured, methodical, and analytical, with good planning ability.
• Strong communicator with good presentation skills and fluency in English.

A key member of the running footwear design team, the Color and Materials Designer shapes seasonal creative direction, material concepts, and tech packs for performance running footwear. Collaborating across product managers, athletes, and the research and development department, the Color and Materials Designer keeps designs within consumer and price point targets, so each season's line reflects athlete needs.

Functions

• Collaborate with the Design Manager to create seasonal creative direction for category silos, material concepts, artwork examples, and blue-sky ideas.
• Create trends and competitive market research data and provide it in a format for product managers and team members to review easily for seasonal inspiration, competitive research, and line planning.
• Create design options in an acceptable format, meeting deadlines, to present to product managers and the team for selecting and narrowing down the lines.
• Follow provided briefs by product managers and the team, targeting consumers and price points efficiently.
• Provide completed upper and tooling tech packs and materialization specs to development, meeting deadlines in an acceptable format to begin sourcing for the season with cost in mind.
• Communicate designs to the color team with clear and simplified CAD documentation.
• Collaborate well with other team members and assist on projects as needed.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in Industrial Design or similar or equivalent work experience.
• 5 or more years of footwear design experience.
• Proven track record of skillful technical performance athletic design with proven success on the market.
• Thorough knowledge of shoe construction, materials, color, and maneuverability to affect pricing; sustainable design, and manufacturing knowledge a plus.
• Understanding of the consumer market and all global regions.
• Ability to translate current footwear trends and athlete insights into forward-looking performance running footwear.
• Expertise in tooling design and precise tech pack creation, with hand prototyping skills a plus.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, or Sketchbook Pro, with 3D/VR software experience a plus.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), with Office 365-like applications a plus.
• Strong conceptual thinking, technical problem-solving skills, and ability to advance creative dialogue with team members.
• Clear 2D and 3D design communication skills in digital and hand sketching, and presentation preparation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentations, contributing to meetings, communicating with third-party vendors, and supporting team members.
• Strong organizational skills for managing timelines and assisting team members as needed.

Product differentiation across several vehicle ranges depends on the Color and Materials Designer, who leads the production of color options, graphic media, and material and finish choices from the early stages of vehicle projects. Serving as an advisor to suppliers and a member of a multidisciplinary team, the Color and Materials Designer manages every color, material, and finish deliverable across the ranges.

Accountabilities

• Coordinate creation steps, production of colour options and graphic media, and generate options for finishes and materials for several product ranges.
• Manage all deliverables related to colourations, materials and colours.
• Participate in the creation and development of colouration and graphic themes.
• Provide input into the application of materials and finishes in the early stages of vehicle projects.
• Directly advise suppliers on the development of new materials to enhance product differentiation.

Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in industrial design, graphic design, or other relevant training.
• 2 or more years of experience, with a strong background in colouring and graphic design.
• Prior experience with project coordination.
• Be creative in the use and application of materials and stay up to date with the latest trends in multiple areas (fashion, graphic design, interior design, colouration, product design, transportation design, architecture, etc.).
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Willingness to have group discussions about work.
• Good sense of organization and independence, paired with strong interpersonal skills to work with a variety of professional clients.
• Good English and/or French skills.

As the Color and Materials Designer, this role owns CMF specifications, surface patterns, and design solutions across client projects, taking each program from concept to commercialization. The Design Manager and internal design team rely on this work to keep specifications clear, records accurate, and color match requests moving for client programs.

Activities

• Develop clear and concise CMF specifications in collaboration with the Design Manager and Internal Design Team for the benefit of all key stakeholders across the organization.
• Employ strong conceptual skills and persuasive articulation of creative ideas that support the aesthetic direction of various client projects.
• Provide fresh, leading, relevant, and feasible CMF design solutions that reflect market needs.
• Interpret and incorporate abstract concepts and translate to designs based on visual and verbal information provided.
• Maintain key customer relationships, networks, and trend resources.
• Provide CMF support to all manufacturing and supplier sites as needed.
• Manage CMF from concept to commercialization.
• Provide project administrative support, including precise and accurate record-keeping, and review project PDT's for design accuracy.
• Assist in managing client expectations and communications, and proactively follow up to expedite program work for color match requests.
• Apply knowledge of printing processes and texture offerings in design development.
• Synthesize multiple and/or conflicting requirements and problem-solve to create outstanding design solutions that expand capabilities.
• Work independently and/or as an active member of a multi-disciplinary project team, which may include dedication to a single large project or to multiple smaller projects simultaneously.
• Stay abreast of the latest aesthetic trends and how trends can contribute to company capability and library of designs.

Position Requirements

• BA/BS in Design or related discipline; an Associate Degree may be considered with 5 years of pertinent experience.
• 3 or more years of relevant design experience, ideally in one or more of the following fields: Color & Trim, Graphic Design, and Textile Design.
• Experience working with global brands and clients across different categories.
• Experience in trend analysis, storyboarding, and surface pattern making.
• Working knowledge of flat-bed, continuous, and digital print processes is preferred.
• Proven trends and materials development skills, primarily in the manufacturing industry.
• Strong skill set in techniques for manipulation of digital files.
• Skilled in creating repeats of digital patterns.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite programs, particularly Photoshop and Illustrator, and in MS Office with emphasis on Word and PowerPoint.
• Ability to fluently speak and understand English.
• Exceptional communicator (verbal, written, and visual), with the ability to clearly communicate design intent, inspire creative solutions, and negotiate key metrics.
• Willingness to perform physical activities related to traveling, such as driving, moving throughout airports, and flying, with international travel approximately 15 to 25%.
• Clear vision to detect minute flaws in material with or without corrective lenses, including successful completion of Farnsworth Munsell Color Vision Testing (Superior Discrimination on Munsell 100 Hue Test).