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Cmf Design Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Whoop

CMF Designer II (Accessories & Apparel)

Boston, MA · On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

Execute CMF (Color, Material, Finish) design across WHOOP bands and accessories, defining color, material, finish, and surface treatments that align with the brand and product vision * Drive seasonal ...

SharkNinja

Ux Designer, Mobile Apps

Needham, MA · On-site

Elevate the Shark and Ninja brands by helping to define the connected experience for next-generation hardware products, within a multi-disciplinary UX, ID & CMF design team. * Translate consumer ...

Whoop

Senior Industrial Design, Lead

Boston, MA · On-site

$110K - $118K/yr

Lead CMF direction in collaboration with CMF and Brand partners, ensuring every material, finish, texture, and color decision reinforces the WHOOP design language. * Build and evolve design systems ...

SharkNinja

Ux Designer, Mobile Apps

Needham, MA · On-site

Elevate the Shark and Ninja brands by helping to define the connected experience for next-generation hardware products, within a multi-disciplinary UX, ID & CMF design team. * Translate consumer ...

Bose Corporation

Lead Industrial Designer

Framingham, MA · Hybrid

$173K/yr

Drive alignment across cross-functional teams (UX/UI, CMF, ME/EE, acoustics, PM, marketing) and clearly rationalize tradeoffs. * Balance design intent with technical feasibility, cost, performance ...

Bose Corporation

Lead Industrial Designer

Framingham, MA · On-site

$126K - $173K/yr

Drive alignment across cross-functional teams (UX/UI, CMF, ME/EE, acoustics, PM, marketing) and clearly rationalize tradeoffs. * Balance design intent with technical feasibility, cost, performance ...

Boseallaboutme

Lead Industrial Designer

Framingham, MA · Hybrid

Drive alignment across cross-functional teams (UX/UI, CMF, ME/EE, acoustics, PM, marketing) and clearly rationalize tradeoffs. * Balance design intent with technical feasibility, cost, performance ...

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Cmf Design information

See Boston, MA salary details

$20

$51

$75

How much do cmf design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for cmf design in Boston, MA is $51.25, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42.02 and $61.35 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by CMF designers in their daily work?

CMF Designers often encounter the challenge of balancing innovative aesthetics with practical manufacturing constraints, such as material availability, cost, and durability. They must work closely with engineering, product development, and marketing teams to ensure their designs not only look appealing but are also feasible for mass production. Tight project timelines and the need to stay current with industry trends can add to the pressure. However, overcoming these challenges is rewarding, as it results in products that stand out in the marketplace and enhance user experience.

What is a CMF design?

A CMF (Color, Material, and Finish) Design job focuses on defining the visual and tactile elements of a product to enhance its aesthetics, functionality, and user experience. CMF designers work closely with industrial designers, engineers, and marketing teams to select colors, materials, and surface treatments that align with brand identity and user preferences. Their role involves researching trends, sourcing materials, and ensuring manufacturability while considering sustainability and durability.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the CMF design position?

To thrive as a CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Designer, you need a strong background in industrial design, material science, and color theory, often supported by a design degree or related certification. Proficiency in design software like Adobe Creative Suite, 3D modeling tools, and knowledge of material sourcing systems are typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are important soft skills for success in this field. These skills enable you to create visually appealing and manufacturable product finishes that meet both aesthetic and functional requirements.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cmf Design jobs in Boston, MA? The most popular types of Cmf Design jobs in Boston, MA are:
What are popular job titles related to Cmf Design jobs in Boston, MA? For Cmf Design jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
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Cmf Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cmf Design job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $106,607 per year, or $51.3 per hour.

Director Product Design, Trend & CMF

Staples, Inc.

Framingham, MA • On-site

$159K - $196K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Staples rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 629 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

426th of 731 rated retailers

Job description


This is a unique opportunity to define how Staples Own Brand products look, feel, and show up in the world-at scale, across categories used every day by millions of customers.
This role will help define and evolve the visual and emotional identity of Staples Own Brand products- shaping how each brand comes to life through product. Through trend, color, material, and finish strategy, this leader will establish distinct brand personas and translate them into scalable product design systems that create cohesion across categories, seasons, and customer touchpoints.
We are seeking a Director Product Design to build and lead our CMF (Color, Material & Finish) and product trend capability within the Strategic Enablement + Centers of Excellence function. This role operates as a horizontal design authority across brands and categories, ensuring consistent, high-quality product expression at scale.
This role is firmly rooted in product design-not marketing creative. While informed by brand strategy and marketing-led brand expression, this leader owns how brand comes to life physically in the product - through color, material, finish, and overall product composition.
You will define product design language, seasonal direction, and enterprise-wide design systems that enable teams to consistently deliver cohesive, differentiated, and commercially successful assortments.
What You'll Do
Product Design Language & Brand Translation
  • Define and codify the visual identity systems of each Staples Own Brand product
  • Establish what each product shouldlook like and feel like
  • Translate brand positioning into repeatable CMF principles and design rules that scale across categories
  • Establish enterprise-wide CMF and trend frameworks to guide product development across Own Brands
  • Partner with Brand Marketing to ensure alignment to brand strategy-while owning product-level execution, not marketing creative
  • Act as a cross-category design authority, influencing assortment architecture and product decisions in partnership with merchandising leadership
  • Help shape the long-term creative direction of Staples Private Brands through design leadership
  • Use CMF and trend strategy to elevate perceived value and strengthen Private Brand differentiation

Trend Strategy & Brand Translation
  • Identify and synthesize macro, cultural, consumer, and design trends relevant to Staples Own Brands
  • Translate trends into commercially viable product direction tailored to each brand's positioning, customer, and price tier
  • Create, evolve, and apply brand personas to ensure trend direction reinforces each Brand's distinct identity and target customer
  • Build differentiated seasonal narratives that create emotional connection while remaining scalable and executable
  • Define how trends should appear across good / better / best tiers and across distinct brand architectures
  • Monitor competitive retail and design landscapes to identify whitespace opportunities and emerging aesthetic shifts

CMF Design & Execution
  • Set and guide CMF direction across a wide range of product categories (furniture, tech accessories, writing, notebooks, organization, etc.)
  • Develop elevated, manufacturable CMF solutions that balance design intent with cost, durability, and scalability
  • Guide work from concept through production-ready execution, including sample review and approval
  • Ensure color accuracy, finish consistency, and material quality across development and manufacturing
  • Leverage design strategy to improve perceived quality, drive sell-through, and support effective good/better/best tiering

Cross-Functional Leadership & Global Collaboration
  • Serve as the central product design voice across merchandising, product development, sourcing, packaging, and brand teams
  • Influence without direct authority, driving alignment through strong design perspective and clear frameworks
  • Partner closely with global partners to stay connected to materials innovation and manufacturing capabilities
  • Introduce clearer creative decision frameworks and governance to improve speed, alignment, and consistency

Design Systems & Creative Operations
  • Build and maintain CMF libraries, seasonal frameworks, approved palettes, and material standards
  • Develop scalable tools that enable teams and suppliers to execute design direction consistently and efficiently
  • Leverage AI and digital tools to accelerate concepting, visualization, and trend exploration
  • Communicate direction through clear, compelling visual storytelling, frameworks, and design documentation

What We're Looking For
Experience
  • 8-12+ years in CMF design, product design, or trend-driven product development
  • Experience in private brand, retail, or multi-category product environments
  • Proven ability to translate trends into commercially successful product direction
  • Experience working with global suppliers, factories, or design teams

Skills & Attributes
  • Exceptional eye for color, material, finish, texture, and product composition
  • Strong understanding of trend forecasting and consumer behavior
  • Ability to balance design, brand intent, manufacturability, and cost realities
  • Portfolio demonstrating both conceptual thinking and real-world product execution
  • Strong communicator who can influence cross-functional stakeholders
  • Highly organized, able to manage multiple brands, categories, and timelines

About Us
Staples is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

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