PlayPower - Industrial Designer (Play Experiences & Innovation)

We are seeking a Industrial Designer who is equal parts imaginative thinker and skilled maker—someone who can translate insights, child development principles, and emerging play trends into compelling playground experiences. This designer will contribute to next-generation product lines, support design charrettes, help visualize future concepts, and collaborate closely with engineering to turn ideas into manufacturable solutions.
This role is ideal for someone who:
• Thrives in a fast-moving, collaborative design studio
• Loves sketching ideas as much as 3d modeling in CAD
• Believes deeply in inclusive design and equitable play
• Is excited by prototyping, testing, and constant iteration
• Wants to help redefine what outdoor play “can be”

What You’ll Do

Concept Creation & Visioning
• Generate fresh, boundary-pushing playground concepts through sketching, storyboards, Physical concept models, CAD models, and renderings.
• Participate in Design Journeys, field research, and trend exploration to uncover new play possibilities
• Contribute to early innovation sprints, brainstorming sessions, SCAMPER activities, and charrettes

Human-Centered & Inclusive Design
• Apply inclusive design thinking to ensure play is accessible, meaningful, and delightful for children of all abilities, especially visually impaired and sensory-seeking children
• Incorporate child development insights (movement, imagination, sensory, social play, inclusive play categories, etc.) into product ideation
• Perform end user research to understand market needs from a design perspective.

Collaboration & Communication
• Will work with engineering, product management, marketing, sustainability teams, and manufacturing to bring concepts to life
• Present design intent clearly through visuals, models, and storytelling
• Contribute to a positive, curious, and collaborative team culture

Prototyping & Iteration
• Build physical and digital prototypes to explore form, scale, material, and interaction
• Support user testing and playground observation to refine concepts
• Incorporate feedback quickly and creatively

Design Documentation
• Generate concept decks, 3D models, 2D control drawings, and handoff materials
• Maintain strong design intent through the product development lifecycles

Who You Are
You might be our next team member if you are:
• A creative thinker with strong visualization skills (Such as concept sketching, building scaled models, 3D modeling and rendering, and creating communicative storytelling presentations...etc.)
• Comfortable with ambiguity and energized by exploration
• A strong communicator—visually, verbally, and collaboratively
• Someone who takes play seriously (but not themselves too seriously!)
• Curious about emerging materials, technologies, sustainability strategies, and new play patterns
• Passionate about inclusive design and designing for all children
• Enthusiastic about field trips, concept sprints, and working hands-on

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or related field
• Proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks, Rhino, Fusion 360, or similar)
• Strong sketching and rapid visualization ability
• Experience with prototyping (digital and/or physical)
• Portfolio demonstrating innovative thinking, problem-solving, and aesthetic sensitivity
• Experience in play, child development, recreation, or outdoor products is a plus (but not required)

What We Offer
• Opportunity to shape the next generation of play experiences
• A creative studio culture with collaborative teammates
• Access to playgrounds, prototypes, field tests, and lots of real-world inspiration
• Professional development opportunities (Predictive Index, CPSI, workshops, design journeys, conferences)
• Competitive compensation and benefits