At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product design from concept to production in a dynamic team.
- Company: Join a growing homeware business supplying major retailers.
- Benefits: Enjoy free parking, 20 days annual leave, and a competitive salary.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative environment that values innovation and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Product Design or relevant experience required.
- Other info: On-site role with occasional travel; must have a full UK driving licence.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Are you a visionary designer with a keen eye for interior trends? Do you excel in dynamic, collaborative environments where your creativity drives innovation? If so, we’d love to hear from you. We’re thrilled to be recruiting a product designer in Rutland on behalf of a growing homeware business that supplies to a range of major retailers. The successful candidate will actively work to lead product design from concept to production and ensuring creativity meets commercial goals.
Salary: £25,000 – £35,000
Working hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm (37.5 hours)
Location: On-site
Benefits: Free parking, 20 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
Duties and responsibilities:
- Collaborate with the product development team to create innovative, customer-focused solutions
- Lead the full design lifecycle for assigned categories—from initial concept through to production sign-off—ensuring alignment with brand and market expectations
- Manage and adhere to the critical path, ensuring timely delivery of new product launches and seasonal updates
- Apply commercial awareness to design decisions, balancing creativity with cost-effectiveness and market trends
- Produce high-quality, detail-oriented design packs and presentations for internal and external stakeholders
- Liaise with factories and clients to ensure accurate sample development and timely execution
- Stay current with industry testing standards and compliance regulations, integrating them into design briefs
- Maintain organised records of all design activities and update development trackers to ensure transparency and alignment across teams
Required skills and experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Product Design or a related field, or equivalent industry experience
- Proven experience in product design, ideally within the retail or homeware sector
- Proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with strong attention to detail
- Skilled in Microsoft Office 365, particularly Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
- Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to meet tight deadlines
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills; a collaborative team player
- Ability to work efficiently under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Full, clean UK driving licence (occasional travel may be required)
Contact Detail:
Vanilla Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Designer
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the homeware and product design sectors. Attend industry events, workshops, or online webinars to connect with potential colleagues and employers. This can help you gain insights into the company culture and expectations.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your portfolio effectively. Make sure it highlights your best work, especially projects that demonstrate your ability to balance creativity with commercial goals. Tailor your portfolio to reflect the style and values of the company you're applying to.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by researching the latest trends in homeware design. Be ready to discuss how these trends can influence your design decisions and align with the company's vision. This shows your passion and understanding of the market.
✨Tip Number 4
Practice your communication skills. As a product designer, you'll need to collaborate with various teams. Being able to articulate your ideas clearly and listen to feedback will be crucial in demonstrating your fit for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in product design, especially within the retail or homeware sector. Emphasise your proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as any project management skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for design and your understanding of current interior trends. Mention specific examples of how you've led design projects from concept to production, aligning creativity with commercial goals.
Showcase Your Portfolio: Include a link to your portfolio that demonstrates your design process and final products. Highlight projects that reflect your ability to create innovative, customer-focused solutions and your attention to detail.
Prepare for Interviews: Be ready to discuss your design philosophy and how you manage the design lifecycle. Prepare examples of how you've collaborated with teams and liaised with clients or factories to ensure timely execution of projects.
How to prepare for a job interview at Vanilla Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Portfolio
Make sure to bring a well-organised portfolio that highlights your best work. Include a variety of projects that demonstrate your design process, from concept sketches to final products, and be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
✨Understand the Brand
Research the homeware business thoroughly before the interview. Familiarise yourself with their product lines, target market, and recent trends in the industry. This will help you tailor your answers and show how your design philosophy aligns with their brand values.
✨Prepare for Collaboration Questions
Since the role involves working closely with teams, be ready to discuss your experience in collaborative environments. Think of specific examples where you successfully worked with others to achieve a common goal, and highlight your communication skills.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Be prepared to talk about how you balance creativity with commercial goals. Discuss how you've made design decisions that consider cost-effectiveness and market trends, showing that you understand the business side of product design.