Junior Industrial - Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Industrial / Product Designer

Company: MillerKnoll (Colebrook Bosson Saunders)

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design & Development Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-25

Experience Level: 0-2 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Support the end-to-end product development lifecycle for innovative ergonomic products, from initial concept generation to market launch.

• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of designers, engineers, and manufacturing specialists to bring award-winning products to life.

• Utilize 3D CAD software and visualization tools to translate design intent into tangible prototypes and production-ready designs.

• Contribute to a culture of continuous learning and innovation, exploring new technologies and methodologies within product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the operations of product development, focusing on the practical application of design principles within a manufacturing and commercial context. The emphasis on "design for the good of humankind" and the integration of user experience, engineering integrity, and commercial viability highlights a holistic approach to product creation, which is a hallmark of effective GTM operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Generate innovative design concepts that effectively address user needs, technical constraints, and commercial objectives.

• Develop detailed sketches, 3D CAD models, and compelling visualization materials to clearly communicate design intent to stakeholders.

• Actively participate in all stages of product development, from initial ideation and concept refinement through to production readiness and launch support.

• Contribute to design reviews, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional project workshops to foster collaborative problem-solving.

• Balance aesthetic considerations with functionality, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness throughout the product development process.

• Construct and evaluate prototypes, mock-ups, and proof-of-concept models to validate design decisions and identify potential issues early.

• Support rigorous product testing and validation activities, meticulously documenting findings to inform design refinements and problem-solving efforts.

• Cultivate a deep understanding of how design choices directly impact product performance, overall quality, and manufacturing outcomes.

• Foster strong working relationships with internal teams including Design, Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, Operations, and Manufacturing.

• Assist in preparing product documentation, user instructions, and supporting materials to ensure seamless product integration and user adoption.

• Contribute positively to a collaborative, creative, and results-oriented team environment, promoting knowledge sharing and best practices.

• Build foundational knowledge of various manufacturing processes, material properties, and assembly techniques relevant to product creation.

• Develop proficiency in essential product development tools, methodologies, and industry best practices, enhancing overall operational efficiency.

• Gain comprehensive insight into the product lifecycle, from initial opportunity identification to successful market launch and post-launch analysis.

• Actively seek opportunities to broaden understanding of the wider business operations and how diverse functions contribute synergistically to product success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach to product development operations, requiring the candidate to be involved in tangible creation and problem-solving. The collaboration aspect with manufacturing and operations teams is critical for successful product commercialization and speaks to the operational integration required.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Design Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

Experience: Graduate or up to two years of relevant industry experience in product design or development.

Required Skills:

• A strong passion for product design and a keen interest in the end-to-end product development process.

• Demonstrated creative thinking and robust problem-solving capabilities applied to design challenges.

• Excellent visual and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts effectively.

• A positive and proactive attitude, coupled with a willingness to take ownership of tasks and contribute to team goals.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team environment.

• High attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work in all aspects of design and development.

• Curiosity and enthusiasm for exploring new tools, technologies, and innovative ways of working, including emerging AI-enabled tools.

• Working knowledge of 3D CAD software, with a strong preference for SolidWorks.

• Proficient sketching, visualization, and communication skills essential for conveying design intent.

• Foundational understanding of materials, manufacturing principles, and their implications on product design.

• Ability to translate abstract ideas into concrete physical and digital concepts.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for enhanced visual communication and presentation.

• Familiarity with emerging digital and AI-driven design tools, such as Nano Banana, Veo, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Midjourney, or similar platforms for ideation, visualization, communication, or research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements highlight a blend of creative and technical skills, essential for a product designer operating within a GTM context. The emphasis on a portfolio and practical application of design thinking points towards an operations-focused evaluation of candidates. The explicit mention of AI tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to design operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a strong demonstration of creativity, intellectual curiosity, and effective problem-solving abilities.

• Evidence of project work that clearly illustrates robust design thinking, a solid technical understanding, and a practical, hands-on approach to product development.

• Visual documentation of the design process, including research, ideation, concept development, prototyping, testing, and final design resolution.

• Examples of projects that highlight an understanding of user-centered design principles and how they were integrated into the final product. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of workflows and methodologies used in the development of portfolio projects, emphasizing stages of concept generation and refinement.

• Clear articulation of the prototyping and testing phases, including methods used and how findings informed design iterations and problem-solving.

• Demonstration of how technical requirements, manufacturability, and cost considerations were balanced throughout the design and development process.

• Evidence of collaborative contributions to projects, illustrating effective communication and integration with other functional areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, serving as tangible evidence of an operations candidate's ability to execute design processes and deliver results. The emphasis on demonstrating design thinking, technical understanding, and a practical approach is key for evaluating their potential contribution to product development operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Junior Industrial/Product Designers in London with 0-2 years of experience, the estimated salary range is £28,000 - £38,000 per annum.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) policy, encompassing vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Pension scheme with employer matching contributions to support long-term financial planning.

• Opportunities for professional development, including access to training programs, workshops, and industry conferences.

• Employee assistance program (EAP) offering confidential support for personal and professional well-being.

• Potential for participation in employee stock purchase plans or other equity incentives.

• Access to company product discounts and potential for ergonomic workplace assessments.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week, with potential for some flexibility depending on project needs and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical compensation for junior design roles in London, considering the specified experience level and the company's industry. Benefits are standard for a full-time position in the UK, tailored to professionals in design and engineering fields.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Furniture & Furnishings Manufacturing; Industrial Design; Ergonomics.

Company Size: MillerKnoll is a large enterprise, comprising several well-known brands including Herman Miller and Knoll, with a global presence. Colebrook Bosson Saunders (CBS) operates as an integrated design and development team within this larger structure.

Founded: Colebrook Bosson Saunders (CBS) has been established for over 30 years, bringing a wealth of experience to the MillerKnoll organization.

Team Structure:

• The in-house design and development team at CBS is comprised of experienced designers and engineers who mentor junior talent.

• This team likely operates with a project-based structure, reporting to senior design and development leadership.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management, Marketing, Operations, and Manufacturing teams to ensure holistic product success. Methodology:

• A strong emphasis on design thinking, user-centered design, and iterative development processes.

• Integration of engineering excellence and manufacturing expertise from concept through to production.

• Commitment to creating market-leading solutions that enhance user experience through the seamless connection of people and technology.

• A culture that encourages curiosity, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning in product development operations.

Company Website: https://www.millerknoll.com/ and https://www.colebrookbossonsaunders.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding MillerKnoll's broader market position and CBS's specific role within it is crucial. The emphasis on "design for the good of humankind" suggests a values-driven culture that impacts operational decisions and product development priorities.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at an entry-level (Junior) within the product design and development operations. It offers a foundational experience in the complete product lifecycle, preparing individuals for mid-level design and engineering roles.

Reporting Structure: The Junior Industrial/Product Designer will report to senior members of the in-house design and development team, likely a Design Manager or Lead Industrial Designer. They will work collaboratively with engineers and other cross-functional teams.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is on the successful ideation, development, and commercialization of new ergonomic products. Contributions directly influence product quality, user satisfaction, manufacturability, and ultimately, the company's market competitiveness and revenue generation through high-quality product offerings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Develop advanced expertise in 3D CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks), advanced visualization techniques, material science, and manufacturing processes.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance into roles such as Industrial Designer, Product Engineer, Senior Product Designer, or Design Team Lead, with increasing responsibility for product strategy and execution.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broad experience across product management, marketing, operations, and manufacturing, fostering a holistic understanding of business operations and product commercialization.

• Innovation & Technology: Opportunity to explore and implement emerging technologies, including AI-driven design tools, within the product development workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role is clearly defined within the product development operations, with a path towards greater design autonomy and leadership. The emphasis on cross-functional exposure is vital for understanding the broader GTM strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the London - Union Street office, which serves as a hub for design, development, and potentially sales/client engagement activities. It is designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): 35 Union Street, London, United Kingdom. This central London location offers excellent accessibility via public transport.

Workspace Context:

• A modern, collaborative workspace designed to facilitate interaction among design, engineering, and other business functions.

• Access to essential design tools and technology, including advanced CAD software, visualization equipment, and potentially rapid prototyping facilities.

• Opportunities for informal and formal collaboration with experienced professionals, fostering a dynamic learning environment.

• A focus on creating an ergonomic and inspiring environment conducive to creative work and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time, on-site work schedule (approximately 40 hours per week) with potential for some flexibility to accommodate project timelines and collaborative needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is key for a role involving physical prototyping and hands-on collaboration, which are critical components of product development operations. The workspace context emphasizes a supportive environment for learning and executing design processes.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess foundational skills, education, and relevant experience. Candidates are evaluated on their demonstrated design thinking, technical understanding, and creative problem-solving.

• First Interview: Typically a conversation with a hiring manager or senior designer to discuss the candidate's background, motivations, and understanding of product design principles. This stage often includes a review of specific portfolio projects.

• Technical Assessment/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to complete a design challenge or present a detailed walkthrough of a key portfolio project. This assesses their approach to problem-solving, technical proficiency (e.g., CAD skills), and ability to articulate design decisions and outcomes.

• Final Interview: Meeting with key stakeholders from design, engineering, and potentially product management to evaluate cultural fit, collaborative potential, and overall alignment with the team's operational objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure & Narrative: Organize your portfolio logically, with a clear narrative for each project that explains the problem, your process, your solutions, and the outcomes.

• Process Over Polish: While polished visuals are important, emphasize the design process, your problem-solving approach, and how you arrived at your final design. Show your thinking.

• Technical Depth: Clearly demonstrate your proficiency in 3D CAD (especially SolidWorks), sketching, and visualization techniques. Explain the technical challenges you addressed.

• Impact & Collaboration: Highlight the impact of your designs (e.g., user feedback, manufacturability improvements) and any collaborative contributions you made.

• AI Tool Integration: If you have experience with AI tools for design, showcase how you leveraged them to enhance your workflow or outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Be prepared to analyze a design brief thoroughly and ask clarifying questions.

• Demonstrate Process: Focus on outlining your design process, even if you can't complete a full solution within the allotted time. Show your methodology.

• Justify Decisions: Be ready to explain and defend your design choices, referencing user needs, technical feasibility, and commercial considerations.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your ideas clearly and concisely, managing your time effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process for this role are heavily focused on demonstrating practical design execution and problem-solving within a product development operations framework. Candidates should prepare to articulate their process and technical capabilities thoroughly.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• 3D CAD Software: SolidWorks is the primary requirement, used for detailed modeling, part design, assembly, and creating technical drawings.

• Sketching & Visualization: Tools for rapid ideation, concept development, and creating compelling visual presentations. This may include traditional sketching, digital sketching tablets, and rendering software.

• Prototyping: Access to and knowledge of various prototyping methods, potentially including 3D printing, CNC machining, and manual model-making techniques.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not the primary focus for a junior designer, understanding how design decisions impact product performance metrics will be key. This may involve basic data interpretation from user testing or market feedback reports. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design responsibilities, but understanding how products are managed and brought to market via CRM and marketing automation tools will provide broader business context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on design and engineering tools. Proficiency in SolidWorks is a critical requirement, indicating the importance of precise digital modeling in the product development workflow. The mention of AI tools suggests an openness to integrating new technologies into the design operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design for Good: A core value that drives the creation of products that genuinely improve user experience and contribute positively to society. This translates to thoughtful design decisions and a focus on human-centered outcomes.

• Innovation & Curiosity: Encouraging exploration of new ideas, technologies, and approaches to design and product development, fostering a dynamic and forward-thinking operational environment.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and cross-functional partnerships as essential for bringing complex products to market successfully. Open communication and shared problem-solving are key.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to high standards in design, engineering, and manufacturing, ensuring that products are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, durable, and reliable.

• Continuous Learning: Promoting an environment where team members are encouraged to expand their knowledge base, acquire new skills, and stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Active collaboration with engineering, product management, marketing, and manufacturing teams to ensure alignment and successful product launches.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture that embraces constructive feedback loops throughout the design and development process to refine concepts and optimize solutions.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging team members to share insights, best practices, and learnings to collectively elevate the team's capabilities and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture emphasizes values that are crucial for effective product development operations: a user-centric approach, a drive for innovation, strong teamwork, and a commitment to quality. These values guide how individuals operate and contribute to the overall success of product launches.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Competing Demands: Effectively integrating user needs, technical feasibility, manufacturing constraints, and commercial viability within design solutions.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying current with advancements in design software, materials, manufacturing processes, and emerging technologies like AI.

• Cross-functional Communication: Navigating diverse perspectives and ensuring clear, effective communication across different departments (design, engineering, marketing, operations).

• Translating Concepts to Production: Overcoming the practical challenges of scaling designs from prototypes to mass manufacturing while maintaining quality and cost targets.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced CAD & Design Software: Deepen expertise in SolidWorks and explore other relevant design and visualization tools.

• Material Science & Manufacturing: Gain hands-on knowledge of a wider range of materials and production techniques.

• Product Lifecycle Management: Develop a comprehensive understanding of the entire product development and commercialization process.

• AI in Design: Explore and experiment with AI-powered tools to enhance ideation, simulation, and design optimization workflows.

• Mentorship: Benefit from guidance and knowledge transfer from experienced industrial designers and engineers within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for entry-level roles in product development operations, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach to learning. The growth opportunities are structured to build a well-rounded design professional with a strong operational understanding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a product you've designed that you're particularly proud of. Walk me through your process from concept to completion, highlighting the challenges you faced and how you overcame them." (Focus on design thinking, problem-solving, and technical execution.)

• "How do you approach balancing aesthetic considerations with functional requirements and manufacturability in your designs?" (Demonstrate an understanding of integrated product development operations.)

• "Imagine we need to develop a new ergonomic accessory for a home office setup. What would be your initial steps in approaching this design challenge?" (Showcase your ideation process, research methods, and user-centric approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about MillerKnoll and Colebrook Bosson Saunders specifically, and how do you see your design philosophy aligning with our mission of 'design for the good of humankind'?" (Research company values and mission.)

• "How do you envision contributing to a collaborative design and development team, and what is your preferred style of teamwork?" (Highlight your collaborative skills and team player mentality.)

• "What are your thoughts on the increasing role of AI in product design, and how might you see it being applied in this role?" (Show enthusiasm for innovation and understanding of emerging technologies.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Project Selection: Choose 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills in CAD, problem-solving, and the end-to-end design process.

• Storytelling: Clearly articulate the problem statement, your research and ideation phases, the solutions you developed, the technical considerations, and the final outcomes.

• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality renders, sketches, diagrams, and photos of prototypes to illustrate your points effectively.

• Technical Detail: Be prepared to discuss the specifics of your CAD modeling, material choices, and manufacturing considerations.

• Conciseness: Present your work efficiently, respecting the allocated time and focusing on the most impactful aspects of each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent but also an understanding of the operational aspects of product development—how design translates into a tangible, manufacturable, and marketable product.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the MillerKnoll careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight relevant skills and projects that demonstrate your proficiency in 3D CAD (especially SolidWorks), product development processes, and problem-solving. Emphasize any experience with user-centered design and manufacturing considerations.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your educational background, any relevant internships or project experience, and lists all technical skills, particularly software proficiency. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and project outcomes clearly. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail and answer questions about your problem-solving approach and collaborative style.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research MillerKnoll and Colebrook Bosson Saunders, understanding their mission, values, and product portfolio. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest in their operational approach to design.

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

---