Product Design & Research
We have a number of companies within our group where product design and innovation is key, hence us recruiting a small product design team.
We have trained up product designers from Warehouse and Quality Control roles, and also brought qualified product design professionals on board. A product design role in our group varies from a £25,000 to a £50,000 salary.
Becoming a successful product designer can lead onto business innovation positions. This experience, along with all round business knowledge and other key skills and attributes may open up opportunities to move in to more senior roles such as Purchasing & Procurement, or Quality Control & Product Development.
Product Design and Research In More Detail
Our product designers have worked on a variety of projects including door, cabinet, and window hardware, sportscars, summerhouses/ offices, garden furniture and homeware products. They complete a research, design rational and sometimes also get involved in the manufacturing stage of the product too. As our business expands so will the range of different products being designed.
We have individuals that have degree level qualifications in product design, and others who have honed their design skills through training and development since joining the group.
The Product Design team also work closely with QC and Product Development on a variety of work on our existing product range, including ongoing testing and improvements.
For anyone considering a career in product design, a degree is often desirable, but not always essential. Good business understanding and knowledge of the relevant target audiences, experience in 3D design software and Adobe Creative Suite is advantageous, along with a combination of the following key skills and attributes:
A creative mindset.
Thorough and efficient with excellent attention to detail.
Practical with an eye for design.
Highly organised with the ability to delegate and multi task.
What Our Team Say
“Product Design is a role that involves not only designing new products with the 3D software but also carrying out your own research on the current market and landscape of the sector to help spot what the next trend will be. It is also crucial to have good presentation skills to show off your new designs, and present them to the development team whilst also having the ability to collaborate with other members to create the best possible products for the business to thrive. Once approved, it is also crucial to get working drawings completed for the products to assist in getting them prepared for the manufacturing phase of the process.
You can have various projects going on at once all at different points of the development timeline which keeps the role fresh and varied whilst the blend of individual work and team collaboration also helps with this. The technology is always advancing so it is quite fun to learn how new aspects of this technology works.”
— Rhodri. From The Anvil Product Manager.
“My days are a mix of creative problem-solving and design development. I handle bespoke customer requests, turning their ideas into reality, and also work with the Product Development team to design new products or refine existing ones. Every day is different, one moment I might be sketching or modelling a new piece, the next I’m studying finishes, or helping tweak a design. It’s a great balance of creativity and technical design, which keeps things exciting.
Honestly, I love how much I learn every single day. Being fairly new in my role, I’m soaking up as much as I can about our materials, finishes, and manufacturing processes. There’s something so satisfying about watching a drawing evolve into a real, tangible product. I also love seeing the variety of bespoke requests that come through, some of them are so creative, and they really push me to think outside the box. It’s also been really fun studying both our products and those of our competitors to brainstorm fresh, innovative ideas that still feel true to the From The Anvil brand.
There’s such a great mix of creativity and craftsmanship here, and it’s incredibly motivating to be surrounded by people who are so passionate about what they do. I can’t wait for the day one of my own designs comes in as a sample, that’s going to be such an exciting moment!”
-Mitalee. From The Anvil CAD & Bespoke Design Coordinator.