Color and Material Designer

Ford Motor Company

Color & Material Designer for Ford Motor Company tasked with innovative CMF solutions in automotive design. Collaborating with cross-functional teams and influencing future vehicle design and user experience.

Posted 6/24/2026full-timeDearborn • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $74,300 - $166,200 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

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.

Requirements

What you’ll need

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 work

Benefits

Comp & perks

Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
Tuition assistance
Established and active employee resource groups
Paid time off for individual and team community service
A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Color and Material Design3D visualizationcolor theorymaterials innovationcolor developmenttrend-based researchgenerative AI toolsdesign strategy creationCMF design process

Soft Skills

interpersonal skillscommunication skillscollaborationproactivityadaptabilityflexibilitymulti-taskingsynthesis of insights

Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial DesignMaster’s Degree in related discipline