Junior Product Designer

Role overview

Gensler is looking for a Junior Product Designer to join its Product Practice in New York. This is a hands-on industrial design position focused on products for the built environment, not UI/UX. The role partners with strategists, designers, and manufacturing collaborators to develop commercially viable products that improve user experience. Work covers the full product journey, including research, concept creation, design development, prototyping, validation, and launch.

Key responsibilities

• Work alongside cross-functional teams to develop new product ideas and solutions for spaces such as furniture, lighting, wall systems, flooring, and architectural hardware.
• Gather and analyze market, user, and competitor insights to uncover opportunities and guide product direction.
• Take part in design workshops, idea-generation sessions, and stakeholder reviews to refine concepts and shape strategy.
• Communicate design thinking through sketches, renderings, 3D models, prototypes, presentations, and technical documents.
• Assess concepts against criteria such as appearance, performance, ergonomics, sustainability, code compliance, manufacturability, and cost.
• Investigate and select suitable materials, finishes, colors, and production methods.
• Build and review mock-ups, prototypes, and sample runs to improve and verify product solutions.
• Present recommendations and concept directions to clients and project stakeholders.
• Experiment with new technologies, visualization software, computational design methods, and prototyping approaches to push product innovation forward.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate or graduate background in Industrial Design, Environmental Design, or a closely related object-based design field.
• Between 1 and 5 years of relevant product design experience.
• Strong command of SolidWorks, with rendering ability; KeyShot experience is preferred.
• Interest in and experience with AI visualization platforms such as Nano Banana is required.
• Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Solid capability in 3D modeling, prototyping, and exploring materials.
• Ability to read, create, or interpret technical drawings, fabrication information, and assembly diagrams.
• Practical experience with model making, digital fabrication such as CNC or laser cutting, or 3D printing is an advantage.
• Curiosity about emerging tools and methods, including generative AI, computational workflows, XR/VR/AR product visualization, parametric design, and sustainable material and fabrication techniques.
• Revit skills are a plus.
• Project management experience is an added advantage.

Additional characteristics

• You are highly driven to solve problems and find effective solutions.
• You welcome challenging assignments and exposure to new markets.
• You work well in teams and have shown leadership in school or community settings.
• You are organized and able to prioritize work effectively.
• You communicate clearly in verbal, written, and visual formats.
• You are comfortable with research in both speaking and writing.
• You are resourceful, self-directed, and eager to collaborate.
• You bring strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• You enjoy experimentation and iterative design thinking.
• You can tell compelling stories and present design intent with clarity.
• You are curious and critical about technology’s influence on the future of design.

Compensation and benefits

The estimated base salary for this role is between $70,000 and $80,000. Total compensation includes base pay and two bonuses each year, paid in June and December.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability coverage, wellness programs, flexible spending accounts, paid holidays, paid time off, a 401(k), profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and two bonus opportunities annually.

Gensler also supports professional development by reimbursing certain professional licenses, renewals, exam fees, and tuition for eligible courses or programs.

Life at Gensler

Gensler promotes a people-first culture that values both strong design outcomes and a balanced, healthy work life. The workplace includes activities and experiences such as art exhibitions, internal design competitions, and well-being initiatives.