Quicksand is looking for a Design Strategist to partner us in our efforts to catalyse innovation and disruptive thinking to enhance everyday human experiences.
This role is imperative for understanding the varied contexts in which we operate - cutting across for-profit and not-for-profit sectors and across a wide range of domains - and helping frame and manage the process through which a highly skilled but diverse team within Quicksand can engage with the challenge at hand. All this, while staying true to the principles of human centered design and design thinking.
It doesn't matter if your foundational education is in business, technology, social sciences, design or any other field - but we expect that you would have a strong understanding and experience of working with the process of human centered design, be comfortable and at ease with the culture of creative environments and would be adept at juggling strategy, research, project management and design delivery. We do expect though that you will have stand-out skills for atleast your chosen domain of specialization and a working understanding of other disciplines.
If you're excited about working collaboratively with people from diverse disciplines and cultures, multi-tasking and trying new approaches, this would be the perfect opportunity for you.
Responsibilities:
- You would actively participate in business development taking the lead in identifying areas of interest for the studio, do extensive research and manage a pipeline of potential opportunities
- Assist in developing proposals, thinking through an appropriate process in response to the request for proposal and managing client communication to clarify and iteratively modify the proposal and having a firm grip on project finances.
- Managing the human centered design process is a fundamental responsibility in this role. This involves an active participation as a core team member right through the design process - assisting in ways your skills would allow through the phases of research, synthesis, reporting, ideation, iterative design and testing. Coordinating and collaborating with a diverse set of external and internal team members is also a defining attribute of HCD which you would be expected to contribute to.
- Anchor all project management related activities - managing client expectations, communication, project deliverables, timely delivery, project scope and financial discipline.
- Depending on what your core specialization is, your other responsibility will be in ensuring that the studio is constantly exploring and pushing boundaries within that domain. This implies bringing fresh inputs, new skills and partnerships to achieve outputs that have not been attempted before.
Qualifications
In this role, you need to have great analytical abilities and have the ability to look at the big picture and micro-details at the same time. This could come through an education in design but with experience of working in more strategic roles or an education in management, strategy or other analytical disciplines but with an experience of working in creative environments.
You would be the kind of person who thrives in a collaborative, multi‐disciplinary, entrepreneurial environment with minimal supervision. You would have worked in cross-cultural settings and would be equally at ease talking to various stakeholders. You would be able to think on your feet and be resourceful and creative in identifying multiple solutions to any context. You'd be skilled at working within time constraints and ensuring high quality outputs in fixed project timelines. You would be capable of delivering high quality work while insisting on high standards on self and others on the team. You would most importantly, have a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude towards your work.
Some specific qualifications you would need to have are:
- 4+ years of work experience in human centered design, design thinking, innovation consulting or design consulting
- Requirements around educational qualifications are quite open-ended but specialization in design strategy would be a bonus. Lack of it should be demonstrated through relevant experience
- If you have specialization in any core design discipline we would be keen to see examples of your craft, even if they are dated. Evidence of experimentation with mediums and technologies and independent creative work would be viewed very positively.
- Strong writing and communication skills demonstrated through authored publications, articles, reports or op-eds
- Proficiency in basic design softwares like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), Final Cut Pro or iMovie, Sketch and other wireframing and prototyping tools
- Excellent skills in presentation, word processing and spreadsheet tools (iWork / MS Office)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English with an ability to articulate decisions clearly. Knowledge of any other languages (including Hindi) would be a definite plus but is not mandatory.
- Ability and interest to pick up new skills as required. Strong will to experiment with new technologies.
- Ability to think critically and rigorous attention to detail. You should be adept at prioritizing what's important and cut out the non-essentials.
- A curious, human-centered, open-minded and experimental approach to design.
Opportunities
Quicksand offers competitive salaries, medical insurance, paid time off, and the opportunity to work in a variety of contexts and locations, while deeply engaging with people. In addition you'll get a chance to work with a very diverse array of professionals within the studio, who will challenge you but also provide collective support always. Apart from consulting projects you will have a chance to explore other interests and contexts, with several of our independent projects, including the UnBox festival (www.unboxfestival.com) that we anchor. The job will also involve a chance to meet and work with users across the spectrum for projects, as well as travel to workshops, client meetings and the occasional company offsite!
How to apply
To apply, send your resume, a thoughtful cover letter, and a link to your portfolio to: work@quicksand.co.in. Please mention 'Application for Design Strategist' in the subject line of your application email.