Head of Design Studio (Shanghai) at Avatr GmbH

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design Studio (Shanghai)

Company: Avatr GmbH

Location: Shanghai, China

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Transportation Design, Automotive Design Leadership

Date Posted: 2025-06-10T16:06:13

Experience Level: 15+ years (including 5+ years in senior leadership)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary design team focused on luxury automotive design in the Shanghai studio.
Drive innovation and design excellence across both production and advanced design projects for Smart Electric Vehicles (SEVs).
Act as a key design authority, overseeing all facets of automotive design from exterior and interior to concept development.
Ensure brand consistency and integrate regional consumer insights and market trends into the global design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is specifically focused on luxury automotive design within the burgeoning Smart Electric Vehicle (SEV) sector in China. This implies a strong emphasis on both aesthetic innovation and the integration of advanced technology and emotional intelligence into the vehicle design. The "Head of Studio" title indicates significant autonomy and responsibility for the Shanghai location's design output and team management.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse automotive design team, fostering a high-performance culture and encouraging creative collaboration across various design disciplines (exterior, interior, CMF, digital design).
Oversee production vehicle design and project management, working closely with product planning, local engineering, and global R&D teams to ensure seamless program execution from initial concept to final production.
Manage multiple concurrent design programs, ensuring timely delivery within scope, budget, and to the highest aesthetic and functional standards of luxury automotive design.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams at both local (Shanghai) and global (Munich) levels to drive integrated design solutions that align with brand strategy and market needs.
Support the Chief Design Officer of AVATR Global Design Center in managing the day-to-day operations of the Shanghai Design Studio, including strategic resource planning, budget management, talent acquisition, and performance management of design staff.
Act as a cultural and creative liaison between the Shanghai Design Studio and the global headquarters in Munich, effectively communicating regional consumer insights, market trends, and design progress to the global team.
Represent the design function in executive forums, design reviews, media engagements, public events, and other key stakeholder interactions as needed, articulating the design vision and strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Head of Studio" title and the mandate to oversee all facets of design in Shanghai, the responsibilities have been expanded to include strategic operational aspects like resource planning and budgeting, which are typical for a leadership role of this magnitude. The emphasis on luxury automotive design and SEVs highlights the need for experience in aesthetics, user experience within the vehicle, and cutting-edge technology integration.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Transportation Design, Industrial Design, or a closely related design field from a reputable institution. Advanced degrees or specialized training in automotive design are highly valued.

Experience: Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in the automotive design industry, with a mandatory minimum of 5 years in a senior design leadership or management role within a luxury automotive brand. A strong portfolio showcasing successful luxury vehicle design projects from concept to production is essential.

Required Skills:

Proven leadership and team management skills with the ability to mentor, inspire, and develop a diverse team of automotive design professionals.
Extensive experience in luxury automotive design, demonstrating a deep understanding of high-end aesthetics, craftsmanship, materials, and brand positioning.
Comprehensive knowledge of the complete automotive design process, including research, sketching, 2D/3D modeling, physical modeling, prototyping, and production handoff.
Strong project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple complex design programs concurrently, ensuring timely delivery within budget and quality standards.
Expertise in collaborating with cross-functional teams, including engineering, product planning, marketing, and manufacturing, to integrate design seamlessly into the overall vehicle development process.
Proficiency in digital design tools commonly used in automotive design (e.g., Alias, Maya, VRED, Photoshop, Sketchbook Pro) and a strong understanding of physical modeling processes (clay modeling, rapid prototyping).
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts and strategies effectively to executive leadership, internal teams, and external stakeholders.
Fluency in English for effective communication with global teams.

Preferred Skills:

Familiarity with the Chinese automotive industry, including market trends, consumer preferences, and local manufacturing processes.
Proficiency in Chinese (Mandarin) or German to facilitate communication with local teams and the global headquarters.
Experience with Smart Electric Vehicle (SEV) design, including an understanding of the unique design challenges and opportunities presented by electric powertrains and advanced technology integration.
Experience managing design budgets, resource allocation, and talent acquisition within a design studio environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize both deep automotive design expertise, particularly in the luxury segment, and significant leadership experience. The preference for Chinese automotive industry familiarity and language skills highlights the strategic importance of the Shanghai studio and the need for the leader to effectively bridge cultural and operational gaps between local and global teams.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Showcase a curated selection of your most impactful automotive design projects, particularly those in the luxury or high-end segment.
Include examples of both production vehicle designs and advanced concept work to demonstrate versatility and forward-thinking.
Clearly articulate your role and contributions to each project, especially highlighting your leadership in guiding design direction and managing teams.
Present a clear and compelling visual narrative for each project, showcasing the evolution from initial sketches and ideation through 3D modeling, physical models, and final production or concept realization.

Process Documentation:

Detail your design process for key projects, including initial research and discovery phases (market analysis, consumer insights).
Illustrate your ideation and iteration methods, showcasing sketches, alternative concepts, and design refinements.
Explain your approach to validation and testing, including how design decisions were informed by user feedback, engineering constraints, and brand objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Head of Studio role, the portfolio needs to demonstrate not just personal design skill but also leadership in guiding a team through the design process. Emphasis is placed on showcasing strategic thinking, project management, and the ability to deliver on complex automotive programs, especially in the luxury space. Process documentation is crucial to show how you lead teams through the entire design lifecycle.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on research for Head of Design Studio roles in the luxury automotive sector in Shanghai, China, with over 15 years of experience, the estimated annual base salary range is typically between CNY 800,000 and CNY 1,500,000 (approximately USD 110,000 - USD 205,000). This estimate is based on publicly available salary data for senior design leadership roles in the Chinese automotive industry, factoring in the high cost of living in Shanghai and the specialized nature of luxury automotive design. The actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific experience, track record, and negotiation.

Benefits:

Comprehensive health insurance plan, potentially including international coverage given the global nature of the company.
Retirement savings plan or pension scheme in accordance with Chinese labor laws and company policy.
Paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and national holidays.
Potential for performance-based bonuses and long-term incentives tied to company and design studio success.
Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and industry events relevant to automotive design and leadership.
Relocation assistance may be provided for candidates moving to Shanghai.
Employee discounts on company products (vehicles) and services.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, likely requiring flexibility to accommodate collaboration with global teams in different time zones (Munich, etc.) and the demands of managing multiple design projects. Specific schedules may vary based on project phases and deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is an estimate based on regional market data for highly experienced, senior-level design leadership in the luxury automotive sector in Shanghai. Benefits are inferred based on typical offerings for executive-level roles in large international companies operating in China, with specific considerations for design professionals (e.g., professional development).

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Motor Vehicle Manufacturing, specifically focusing on Smart Electric Vehicles (SEVs). This industry is characterized by rapid technological advancements, intense competition, and a strong emphasis on both performance and user experience.

Company Size: Avatr GmbH has between 1,001 and 5,000 employees globally. This indicates a well-established company with significant resources, structured teams, and potential for global impact, yet small and agile enough for individuals to have significant influence.

Founded: Avatr GmbH was founded in 2018. As a relatively young company in the automotive sector, particularly in the SEV space, they likely have a dynamic, innovative culture focused on quickly bringing new technologies and designs to market.

Team Structure:

The Shanghai Design Studio is a key part of the AVATR Global Design Center, reporting to the Chief Design Officer based in Munich.
The team comprises multidisciplinary design professionals covering exterior design, interior design, Color, Material, and Finish (CMF), and potentially digital user experience within the vehicle.
Significant cross-functional collaboration is expected with local engineering, product planning, and global R&D and design teams.

Methodology:

The design process likely involves a mix of traditional automotive design methodologies (sketching, clay modeling) and advanced digital design tools and workflows.
Emphasis is placed on integrating regional consumer insights and market trends into the design process, suggesting a user-centered approach tailored to the Chinese market.
Collaboration with engineering and product teams is crucial for translating design concepts into feasible production solutions.

Company Website: https://www.avatr.com/en

📝 Enhancement Note: Company size and founding date provide context on the company's stage and culture. The industry focus on SEVs highlights the importance of integrating technology and user experience into automotive design. The team structure and methodology are inferred from the job description's emphasis on global collaboration and integrating regional insights, which is common for international design studios.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role represents a senior executive-level position within the design organization, signifying a significant level of responsibility for a major design studio and its output. It is likely equivalent to a Director or Vice President level within a larger automotive company's design structure.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design Studio in Shanghai reports directly to the Chief Design Officer of the AVATR Global Design Center, who is based in Munich. This direct reporting line indicates high visibility and strategic importance of the Shanghai studio to the global design strategy.

Design Impact: The Head of Design Studio will have a direct and significant impact on the design direction and execution of AVATR's production vehicles and future concepts, particularly those targeted at or influenced by the Chinese market. The role is critical in translating brand vision into tangible vehicle designs that resonate with luxury SEV consumers.

Growth Opportunities:

Further advancement within AVATR's global design organization, potentially leading to expanded responsibilities across multiple studios or a higher executive design role.
Opportunity to become a recognized leader in the rapidly evolving Chinese SEV design landscape, building a strong reputation and network.
Development of strategic leadership skills, including managing international teams, navigating complex cross-cultural collaborations, and influencing global design strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career level and reporting structure are clear indicators of a senior leadership role with significant strategic influence. Growth opportunities are inferred based on the nature of the position within a global organization and the dynamic industry context of SEVs in China, suggesting potential for both vertical advancement and increased industry recognition.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: The Shanghai Design Studio is likely a state-of-the-art creative environment equipped with advanced digital design tools, physical modeling facilities (clay modeling, milling), presentation spaces, and collaborative areas designed to foster innovation and creativity in automotive design.

Office Location(s): Shanghai, China. Shanghai is a major global hub known for its vibrant design scene and technological advancements, providing access to a skilled talent pool and industry resources. Specific address within Shanghai would be provided later in the process.

Design Workspace Context:

The workspace is designed to facilitate both individual creative work and collaborative team sessions, crucial for the iterative process of automotive design.
Equipped with advanced hardware and software for 2D sketching, 3D modeling, rendering, and virtual reality visualization.
Features physical modeling areas for creating and refining clay models and prototypes, essential for evaluating automotive forms and proportions.
Includes presentation spaces for design reviews and stakeholder communication, demonstrating the importance of visual storytelling in the design process.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time and on-site in Shanghai. The work schedule will need to accommodate collaboration with teams in different time zones, particularly the Munich headquarters, which may require some flexibility in working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment is based on typical facilities and requirements for an automotive design studio, especially one focusing on luxury and advanced vehicle concepts. The location in Shanghai adds context regarding the local design ecosystem and potential for talent acquisition and industry engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

The initial screening will likely involve a review of your resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience in luxury automotive design and design leadership.
Subsequent rounds may include interviews with HR, the Chief Design Officer, and potentially other executive leaders to evaluate leadership experience, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.
A significant part of the interview process will likely involve a detailed portfolio review and presentation where you walk through your key projects, highlighting your design process, leadership contributions, and impact.
Expect discussions around your experience managing design teams, overseeing complex projects, collaborating with engineering and product teams, and integrating market insights into design.
There may be a design challenge or case study presentation to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to articulate design rationale under pressure.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate your portfolio specifically for this luxury automotive design leadership role, emphasizing projects that demonstrate your experience with high-end vehicles and managing the full design lifecycle.
Focus on storytelling for each project, clearly outlining the problem, your design process, key decisions, challenges overcome, and the final outcome.
Quantify your impact where possible, such as contributions to successful vehicle launches, design awards, or improvements in design efficiency.
Showcase your leadership by illustrating how you guided your team, fostered collaboration, and influenced design outcomes.
Ensure high-quality visuals that showcase your aesthetic sensibility and attention to detail, critical for luxury design.

Challenge Preparation:

If a design challenge is part of the process, be prepared to demonstrate your ability to quickly understand a design brief, develop conceptual solutions, and articulate your design thinking process within a limited timeframe.
Practice presenting your work and rationale clearly and concisely, anticipating questions about your design decisions, technical feasibility, and market relevance.
Consider how you would approach a design problem as a studio head, considering team delegation, resource constraints, and strategic alignment.

ATS Keywords: Automotive Design, Luxury Design, Transportation Design, Design Leadership, Design Management, Studio Head, Creative Direction, Production Design, Advanced Design, Vehicle Design, Exterior Design, Interior Design, CMF Design, Digital Design, Physical Modeling, Clay Modeling, Project Management, Team Leadership, Cross-functional Collaboration, Strategic Planning, Talent Management, Budget Management, Market Trends, Consumer Insights, SEV Design, Electric Vehicles, Design Process, Design Strategy, Portfolio Review, Case Study, Alias, Maya, VRED, Photoshop, Sketchbook Pro, Shanghai, China, Global Design, Brand Consistency, Design Excellence, Innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process tips are tailored to a senior design leadership role, emphasizing the need to showcase leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex projects through the portfolio and interview discussions. The ATS keywords cover a comprehensive range of skills and experiences relevant to this specific role in the automotive design industry.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Alias: Essential for creating high-quality 3D surface models for automotive exterior and interior design. Proficiency in advanced surfacing techniques is critical.
Maya: Used for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering, often employed for concept visualization and complex surfacing.
VRED: A key tool for creating realistic real-time renderings and virtual reality experiences of vehicle designs, crucial for design reviews and presentations.
Photoshop / Sketchbook Pro: Industry-standard tools for 2D sketching, concept illustration, and digital painting, used in the initial ideation phases.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Collaboration Platforms: Tools for team communication, project management, and file sharing (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, project management software) to facilitate collaboration within the Shanghai studio and with global teams.
Handoff Tools: Software and processes for preparing design data for engineering and manufacturing handoff, ensuring accuracy and feasibility.
Documentation Tools: Platforms for creating and maintaining design specifications, style guides, and design system documentation.

Research & Testing:

Research Tools: Methods and tools for conducting market research, competitive analysis, and gathering consumer insights relevant to automotive design and the Chinese market.
Testing Tools: Approaches and platforms for validating design concepts through user testing, surveys, and feedback collection.
Analytics Tools: Understanding of how design performance can be measured and optimized using relevant data and analytics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology section lists industry-standard software for automotive design, emphasizing those relevant to both digital modeling and visualization, which are critical in modern vehicle development. Collaboration and research tools are included to reflect the broader scope of a leadership role that involves cross-functional interaction and market understanding.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Emotional Intelligence: Reflecting AVATR's brand focus, the design culture values creating vehicles that are not just functional but also emotionally resonant and intuitive companions for users.
Casual Luxury: The design team is expected to embody a philosophy of relaxed sophistication, creating designs that are both high-end and approachable.
Forward-Looking Design: Emphasis on innovation and exploring future trends in mobility, technology, and aesthetics to create designs that are cutting-edge and visionary.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration: A strong value placed on bringing together diverse backgrounds and design disciplines to foster a rich and inspiring creative atmosphere.

Collaboration Style:

The team likely practices open communication and a "bold and lively discourse" of different views, as described by the Chief Design Officer, encouraging constructive critique and multidimensional design thinking.
Collaboration extends beyond the design team to include close interaction with engineering, product planning, and marketing to ensure integrated solutions.
Knowledge sharing and mentorship are likely encouraged within the studio and potentially with other global design centers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The design values and collaboration style are directly drawn from the "Who we are" and "What it's like to work with us" sections of the original description, highlighting the company's specific cultural emphasis on emotional intelligence, casual luxury, and multidisciplinary collaboration within the design team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Balancing global design strategy with regional market demands and consumer preferences in China, requiring strong cultural liaison skills.
Managing multiple concurrent design projects from concept through production within tight timelines and budget constraints inherent in the fast-paced automotive industry, particularly for SEVs.
Leading and motivating a diverse, multidisciplinary team, fostering a shared vision, and ensuring high performance and creative output.
Integrating cutting-edge technology and emotional intelligence into luxury vehicle design in a meaningful and aesthetically pleasing way.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Opportunity to deepen expertise in the rapidly evolving SEV market in China, gaining insights into local trends, technologies, and consumer behavior.
Development of advanced leadership skills in managing a global design studio, including strategic planning, cross-cultural communication, and talent development.
Exposure to cutting-edge automotive technologies and innovative design methodologies within a forward-thinking company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Design challenges are identified based on the nature of the role (leading a studio in a specific region, managing complex projects) and the industry context (fast-paced SEV market). Growth opportunities are linked to the challenges and the potential for developing specialized expertise and leadership skills in a global automotive design setting.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to discuss your end-to-end automotive design process for a recent luxury vehicle project you led, from initial research and ideation to production handoff. Use specific examples from your portfolio.
Explain how you incorporate user research and market insights into your design decisions, particularly for global markets or specific regions like China.
Describe your approach to collaborating with engineering and product teams to ensure design feasibility and alignment with technical requirements.

Company Culture Questions:

Research AVATR's brand values, particularly "emotional intelligence" and "casual luxury." Be ready to discuss how these values influence your design philosophy and how you would instill them in your team.
Discuss your experience managing diverse, multidisciplinary design teams and fostering a collaborative and innovative studio culture.
Explain how you would act as a cultural and creative liaison between the Shanghai studio and the Munich headquarters, ensuring effective communication and integration.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Structure your portfolio presentation around key projects that best demonstrate your luxury automotive design experience and leadership capabilities.
For each project, clearly articulate the design problem, your strategic approach as a leader, the design process followed by your team, and the final outcome and impact.
Emphasize your role in guiding the design direction, managing the team, and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to a senior leadership role in automotive design, focusing on demonstrating not only design expertise but also strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to manage complex projects and teams. Emphasis is placed on discussing process, collaboration, and cultural fit within the context of AVATR's stated values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your specific experience in luxury automotive design, design leadership, and managing multidisciplinary teams.
Prepare a compelling portfolio that showcases your most relevant work, emphasizing projects from concept to production and clearly articulating your leadership contributions.
Practice presenting your portfolio and discussing your design process and leadership philosophy in preparation for interviews.
Research AVATR GmbH, its brand values, recent vehicle launches, and its position in the Smart Electric Vehicle market, particularly in China, to demonstrate your understanding and interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Head of Design Studio (Shanghai)