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Color Material Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As a Senior Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) Designer, you will be a creative leader driving CMF strategy across Newell's diverse portfolio of global brands. This role blends trend forecasting ...

Senior Designer, Field Sports , Color Design

Beaverton, OR ยท On-site

$106K - $113K/yr

Layering in Product Marketing, Merchandising, Color/Material/Trim Development, as well as Tech Development. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR We're looking for a Senior Footwear Color Designer, to work with the ...

Overview We are seeking a full-time Color, Material, Finish (CMF) Designer 2 at Garmin's U.S. headquarters in the Greater Kansas City area. In this role, you will be responsible for creating superior ...

Senior CMF Designer

Olathe, KS ยท On-site

$98K - $105K/yr

Overview We are seeking a full-time Senior Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) Designer at Garmin's U.S. headquarters in the Greater Kansas City area. In this role, you will be responsible for driving ...

Materials Designer

Beaverton, OR ยท On-site

$38 - $43/hr

We are seeking a Material Designer who will directly influence the aesthetic and functional ... We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation ...

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Color Material Designer information

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$14

$23

$43

How much do color material designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for color material designer in the United States is $23.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.71 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Color Material Designers?

Color Material Designers are professionals who specialize in selecting and developing the colors, materials, and finishes used in products, such as automobiles, electronics, apparel, or footwear. They combine an understanding of design trends, material science, and brand identity to create visually appealing and functional surfaces. Their work often involves researching new materials, forecasting trends, collaborating with engineers and designers, and ensuring that products meet aesthetic, functional, and sustainability requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Color Material Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Color Material Designer, you need expertise in color theory, material selection, trend analysis, and a relevant design degree such as industrial or textile design. Familiarity with design software like Adobe Creative Suite, CAD tools, and knowledge of manufacturing processes are typically required. Strong creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you collaborate across teams and convey design concepts clearly. These skills ensure the creation of innovative, visually appealing, and manufacturable products that align with brand identity and market demands.

What are some common challenges Color Material Designers face when collaborating with cross-functional teams?

Color Material Designers often work closely with engineers, product managers, and marketing teams to ensure that color and material selections align with both design vision and manufacturing constraints. A common challenge is balancing aesthetic choices with technical feasibility and cost efficiency, as some materials or finishes may not be readily available or may impact production timelines. Effective communication and early involvement in the development process are key to overcoming these challenges, enabling smoother collaboration and successful product outcomes.

What is the difference between Color Material Designer vs Product Designer?

AspectColor Material DesignerProduct Designer
Primary FocusDeveloping color palettes and material finishes for productsDesigning entire product experiences, including form, function, and aesthetics
Required SkillsColor theory, material science, visual designUser experience, interface design, prototyping
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, manufacturing settingsDesign agencies, tech companies, startups
Common Industry UsageFashion, automotive, consumer electronicsConsumer products, digital platforms, industrial design

While both roles involve visual and aesthetic considerations, a Color Material Designer specializes in selecting and developing colors and materials to enhance product appeal. In contrast, a Product Designer takes a broader approach, focusing on the overall user experience and functionality of a product. Understanding these differences helps employers and professionals align skills with job expectations.

More about Color Material Designer jobs
Infographic showing various Color Material Designer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $49,320 per year, or $23.7 per hour.
Color & Material Designer

Color & Material Designer

Ford Motor Company

Dearborn, MI โ€ข Hybrid

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

We made history and now we work to transform the future - for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.


Join us in shaping the future of Ford Motor Company, as part of a global organization with exceptional colleagues in world-class facilities. As part ofFord Design, you'll be at the cutting edge of Ford's most strategically critical work, designing people and society's needs into the heart of our next generation of products, services, and experiences.ย 
Join our Color & Material team to lead design for current and future customers of the Ford brands product line up, including Battery Electric Vehicle, Commercial vehicles, Trucks, Compact trucks, Icons, Passenger vehicle/utilities, Luxury, and Emerging Markets.


In this position...ย 
Our Color & Material Designer creates, curates, and delivers Color, Material and Finish (CMF) solutions that influence and enhance the current automotive landscape. This role is responsible in specifying all CMF applications on the exterior and interior of the vehicles that bring a distinct look and experience to the automobile.

This position will be located in Dearborn, MI and will be in office 4 days/week.

What you'll do...

  • Creates, curates, and delivers Color, Material and Finish (CMF) solutions and specifies all CMF applications on the exterior and interior of the vehicles.
  • Ideate and create overall CMF design using concepts that embody a creative narrative, advanced functionality, and innovative user experience.
  • Ensure integration of complex CMF into the overall vehicle design and alignment with cross-functional teams across all stages of design.
  • Collaborate with external vendors and internal teams to translate new designs into visual samples to validate feasibility and functionality.
  • Partner with teammates in analysis of future consumer trends to identify brand relevant CMF narratives that inform cutting-edge CMF design solutions.
  • Develop digital and physical CMF presentations that embody the creative narrative and accurately depict design intent.
  • Supports all program timing, ensuring program and project deliverables are met within the program targets. ย 


You'll have... ย 

  • Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Color and Material Design or any other related discipline.
  • Minimum 2 year of related work experience with a Master's degree or 5 years of related work experience with a Bachelor's degree.
  • Automotive CMF Design experience preferred
  • 3D visualization skills
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with diverse disciplines.
  • Highly collaborative and proactive both internally and externally.
  • Ability to effectively communicate in a wide range of formats for presenting future design strategies.
  • Knowledge of the Colors and Materials design process.
  • Must be self-motivated, adaptable, flexible, and able to multi-task.
  • Demonstrated understanding of color theory (hue, value, chroma, etc.).
  • Proficient in Adobe Suit tools (i.e. Photoshop, Illustrator, VRED) and Microsoft Suit tools (i.e. PowerPoint, Excel)
  • Experience leveraging generative AI tools to accelerate early-stage design ideation.
  • Demonstrated capability in strategy creation and stewarding, with the ability to guide long-term design visions from initial concept through to successful implementation.
  • Knowledge of materials innovation and emerging technologies.
  • Proven experience in color development.
  • Strong capability in trend-based research and forecasting, with the ability to synthesize insights from into actionable CMF strategies.
  • Portfolio of your workย 
    ย 

Even better, you may have...

  • Master's Degree (preferred) in Industrial Design, Color and Material Design or any other related discipline
  • Expertise and knowledge of 3D prototyping, property builds, etc.
  • Working level knowledge of fabrics and trims associated with the development process.ย 

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!ย 
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:ย 
Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverageย 
Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and moreย 
Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and moreย 
Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leasesย 
Tuition assistanceย 
Established and active employee resource groupsย 
Paid time off for individual and team community serviceย 
A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Dayย 
Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a salary grade 6-8 and ranges from $74,300-$166,200.ย 
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.ย 
For more information on salary and benefits, click here:https://fordcareers.co/GSR

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. ย 
#LI-Hybrid ย #DesignTeam ย #LI-LS1ย 


Ford logo

About Ford

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow's transportation.

Industry

Civil engineering construction

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

Doral, FL, US

Year founded

1982