Industrial Designer

**READ THIS ENTIRELY BEFORE APPLYING!**Shelfology is looking for a righteous industrial designer to help build our product line and level up our product design game! If you love solving real design problems fast and beautifully, geeking out on machinery, and turning prototypes into production winners, this is your shot to own the whole prototyping and rollout process. As a member of our small (but excellent (and humble)) design team, your primary focus will be to transform ideas into engaging and results-driven products. You should be able to pivot from one project to another easily, as we have embraced the hungry hustle mentality of a startup. You don’t get bogged down in corporate buzzwords like “lean” vs “agile” but care more about stellar work, all day everyday. You love to follow and understand current design trends. We have broad needs, and the more skills you possess, the better. Expect to star in a video or two as well. The joys of being in a startup! You should be able to create physical prototypes (3D printed or fully fabricated in the shop) and refine designs based on feedback, ensuring durability and easy installation for USA-made quality. This means you take the time to train and use the machinery across our org and become the SME within our shops regarding those machines. Laser, CNC, box maker, etc. Ability to propose production solutions for new product and utilize the full capability of our machinery. Be ready to work with your directors and our vendors directly to solve complex problems under tight deadlines. You should also enjoy new challenges and be ready to share your talents in a highly creative and collaborative environment. No egos allowed, you should be happy to edit and refine your designs…nothing is precious and failure is part of the process. Your mindset and skillset should enable you to: Be a team player and self starter Able to explore creative ideas without needing your hand held Be able to spearhead new projects with little to no direction (exciting!) Understand and improve the Shelfology brand Take full ownership of every prototype that hits the shop—no excuses, just results Get intimately familiar with every machine in the building (metal shop, wood shop, Boxmaker, CNC, you name it) Hunt for efficiencies (WoodWop wizardry encouraged) Keep costs smart while staying 100% within our in-house capabilities Train the team to be pros during rollouts Stay truly humble, collaborative, and ready to iterate until each product is ABSOLUTELY perfect Key Responsibilities Design Innovation: Sketch and develop 3D models for new shelving products and accessories, balancing aesthetics with usability. Incorporate trends like minimalist lines or bold color palettes to delight our designer audience. A strong understanding of the creative process, its steps, and a desire to work within this framework. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Product Manager, engineers, and production team to align designs with technical specs and manufacturing feasibility, while working with marketing to capture the brand’s vibrant voice. Material Exploration: Experiment with materials like powder-coated steel and premium solid hardwoods and more to enhance product texture and strength, reflecting Shelfology’s craftsmanship ethos. Trend Awareness: Stay ahead of design trends, drawing inspiration from modern living spaces to craft products that resonate with homeowners and professionals alike. Project Coordination & Ownership: Work hand-in-hand with Steve D to keep everything moving. Take total accountability for every prototype—collaborate with shop leads and stakeholders to deliver fast, spot-on results every time. Prototyping Powerhouse: Design and build prototypes from quick 3D prints all the way to full wood/metal shop builds. Fabricate custom jigs and fixtures to make new products production-ready. Shop Mastery & Efficiency: Become the go-to expert on all our machinery so you can confidently produce parts yourself. Hu…