Director Industrial Design

About the role:  

Our mission is to design earwear that offers protection, comfort & self-expression and to help millions of people worldwide. This year we're getting big on great people, product innovation and a strong brand. And in a few years, we might even be the first hardware unicorn in Belgium. We're looking for a Director Industrial Design to build and lead a team of crazy-talented industrial designers and style specialists, with a razor-sharp eye on the aesthetics and style of our products and campaigns. 

Your management skills are on point

The way you inspire and lead your team of growing designers is damn cool. So much so that you’re known for jumping into team meetings with your “light-bulb moments”, such as a quick sketch or a bit of creative insight. Which makes you a star leader. Your current team of 2 Industrial Designers and 2 Style Specialists will be leading the way with our seasonal launches, special editions and co-branded products, so when it comes to making sure everything’s up to scratch, you make sure you’re on it.

You’re a pro at improving processes and current ways of working in a positive and proactive way - inspiring the team as you go. Managing budgets and planning? You’ve got it down. You know that organization and structure makes for a stronger, more productive team that gets more results.

Your passion for design wins us over

You’re a creative, design obsessed artist, who has honed their craft to have ultra confidence and pride in their work. Making you the legend we’re all raving about. That’s why we trust you to work alongside the engineering manager and product management team to guard the quality of design in all product stages. In fact, you’re such a design guru that we know you’re going to take on and implement the improvements in existing products – all because you stay up-to-date with the latest developments and trends.

You’re a perfectionist, with crazy attention to detail

You’re all about making sure things are ‘just right’. And your awesome communication skills have a big part in making it happen. You liaise with the marketing and design teams to make sure that deadlines of product development are right on track.

You take charge of our product design guidelines, making sure that all Loop products are in line with the same look and feel. You’re a master at reviewing the designer’s work to ensure exceptional quality on all design projects – whilst maintaining brand consistency to boot. And when you hit challenges along the way, you handle them like a pro with determination and motivation.

What you’ll do: 

• Develop and implement industrial design strategies that align with the company's overall business goals and objectives.
• Drive the creation of design guidelines and standards, ensuring consistency and excellence across all products.
• Lead the design process from ideation to execution, ensuring that the design team is delivering high-quality, innovative products that meet customer needs.
• Hire, mentor, and develop a team of industrial designers and style specialists, providing coaching and guidance to drive their growth and development.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and marketing, to ensure that designs are in line with market trends, user needs, and technical feasibility.
• Lead the evaluation of new design technologies and tools, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in the industry.
• Improve product development processes internally by implementing or improving our way of working.
• Manage the design budget and resource allocation, ensuring that projects are completed within budget and on time.

 How you’ll do it:  

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial Design or a related field.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in the consumer goods industry, with a focus on industrial design.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience leading and scaling teams of industrial designers.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating design expertise across a range of product categories and industries.
• Excellent leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a team of designers.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills to balance design excellence with business goals and objectives.

If you are an energetic and strategic designer with a passion for leading teams to create innovative and high-quality products, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity as Director of Industrial Design.