Product Designer - Lighting

Target•Minneapolis, MN

2d•$73,000 - $132,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Designer, Lighting, you will design and develop lighting products for Target's Owned Brands, translating brand direction, guest insights and emerging trends into compelling, commercially viable products. We're looking for a product designer with a strong understanding of three-dimensional form, materials, construction and manufacturing who can take an idea from initial concept through development and into mass production. Previous experience designing lighting is strongly preferred. Experience designing and developing furniture, home décor or other manufactured consumer products will also be considered. You will own projects throughout the product development process, from research, ideation and concept development through CAD, material and finish selection, prototyping, sample review and production. You'll balance creative ambition with cost, manufacturing capabilities, quality and the realities of producing products at scale. The role is performed in office 4 days per week at our Downtown MN campus.

Requirements

Four-year degree in Industrial Design, Product Design or a related design field, or equivalent professional experience.
3+ years of professional product or industrial design experience, ideally developing manufactured consumer products.
Portfolio demonstrating strong product design thinking, three-dimensional form development and products that have progressed from concept through production.
Experience designing products intended for scaled or mass production, with an understanding of the relationship between design intent, manufacturing processes, cost and quality.
Strong sketching, visualization and presentation skills.
Proficiency in 3D CAD and modeling software such as SolidWorks, Rhino, Fusion 360 or comparable tools.
Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator and Photoshop.
Working knowledge of materials, finishes, manufacturing processes, construction methods and product assembly.
Experience developing and evaluating prototypes, samples and production-ready designs.
Ability to communicate design intent clearly and collaborate effectively with engineers, sourcing teams, merchants, vendors and manufacturing partners.
Strong aesthetic judgment with exceptional attention to proportion, materiality, finish and product detail.
Ability to independently manage multiple projects and development timelines while responding to changing business needs.

Nice To Haves

Professional experience designing decorative lighting or lighting fixtures.
Experience taking lighting products from concept through engineering, sampling and mass production.
Understanding of lighting construction, electrical components, LED technologies, diffusers and related components.
Familiarity with safety, testing and certification considerations for consumer lighting, including UL/ETL requirements.
Experience working directly with overseas vendors, factories or manufacturing partners.
Experience with rendering and visualization tools such as KeyShot or comparable software.

Responsibilities

Research the market, guest needs, design trends, materials, finishes, manufacturing techniques and emerging lighting innovations to identify new product opportunities.
Develop original lighting concepts through sketching, 2D visualization, 3D CAD modeling, rendering and physical prototyping.
Design across lighting forms such as table and floor lamps, pendants, chandeliers, sconces and other decorative lighting categories.
Translate creative concepts into well-resolved products with thoughtful attention to proportion, scale, construction, materials, finishes and details.
Drive assigned products from concept through production, maintaining design intent throughout development and manufacturing.
Create clear CAD models, drawings, renderings, specifications and presentations that effectively communicate design intent to internal teams and external manufacturing partners.
Partner closely with Engineering, Technical Design, Sourcing and manufacturing partners to develop products that are manufacturable, cost-effective, safe and appropriate for high-volume production.
Evaluate prototypes and production samples, identify design and construction issues and provide clear direction to improve aesthetics, function, quality and manufacturability.
Develop a working understanding of lighting components and construction, including sockets, cords, switches, LEDs, drivers, diffusers and other relevant electrical and mechanical components.
Explore materials and manufacturing processes relevant to lighting, including metal fabrication, casting, extrusion, glass, ceramics, wood, plastics and mixed-material construction.
Partner with Merchandising to ensure product concepts support assortment strategies, price points, brand positioning and business objectives.
Collaborate with designers across Home to build cohesive collections and maintain a consistent Owned Brand point of view.
Manage multiple projects and development timelines while communicating proactively with internal and external partners.