Lead Eyewear Designer

Company Overview:

Zenni Optical, the world's leading online eyewear retailer, pioneered the industry in 2003 with a mission to make prescription eyewear affordable and accessible to everyone. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Zenni offers adults and children the freedom to express their personal style through high-quality prescription and protective eyewear curated with a sense for fashion and incredible selection. With over 55 million frames sold worldwide, the company has brought massive price disruption to the traditional retail model. Zenni is proud to be the Official Eyewear of the San Francisco 49ers, Boston Celtics, Columbus Crew and the Chicago Bulls. Zenni has worked with designers and tastemakers on curations and collections, including Keke Palmer, Iris Apfel, Cynthia Rowley and George and Claire Kittle. Zenni VR Prescription Lenses for Meta Quest 3 launched across the U.S., Canada, UK and Japan in October 2023. 

For more information, please visit zennioptical.com/blog/press/.

Position Overview:

As a Lead Eyewear Designer, you'll be instrumental in shaping Zenni's future. Your creative vision and established following will drive our eyewear designs forward. Collaborating with Zenni's Brand, Marketing, Design, and Production teams, you'll bring fresh concepts to life. Your role includes designing new products, innovating continuously, and ensuring we lead the eyewear industry with cutting-edge ideas and concepts.  Your designs will be sold to millions of Zenni fans across the globe.

What we want you to own in this role

• Join Forces with Zenni: Collaborate with us to seamlessly integrate your eyewear designs into the Zenni product family, leveraging our platform to expand your reach and impact.
• Showcase Your Expertise: Highlight your exceptional talent in eyewear design and your substantial online following as you bring your signature creations to a wider audience through Zenni's extensive online presence.
• Pioneer Innovation: Drive the evolution of eyewear design by continuously introducing groundbreaking products and concepts, supported by Zenni's resources and commitment to innovation.
• Amplify Your Influence: Elevate your influence in the eyewear industry by partnering with Zenni, leveraging our platform to magnify your voice and impact while reaching millions of potential customers worldwide.
• Unleash Creativity: Unleash your creative prowess as you collaborate with Zenni to develop and launch new, cutting-edge eyewear designs, maintaining your position as a trendsetter in the industry.

Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Understanding and respect for diversity and inclusion
• Proven Track Record in Eyewear Design: Demonstrated expertise and success in designing eyewear, with a portfolio showcasing innovative designs and a keen understanding of current fashion trends in the industry.
• Collaborate closely with Product and CAD designer to execute ideas into production
• Understanding of tooling, manufacturing and assembly and impact to design
• Proficiency in understanding market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive landscape within the eyewear industry.
• Ability to translate design concepts into marketable products and effectively communicate their unique value proposition to drive sales and brand awareness.
• Lead technical and aesthetic problem solving discussions
• Produce multiple iterations and rapid prototypes
• Capture intent from product, R&D and others utilizing sketches and scans
• Able to complete project goals with minimal supervision with high attention to details and quality of work

Preferred Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of frame and lens technologies, and a keen eye for emerging market trends
• Commitment to collaborative success across departmental landscapes.
• Demonstrated proficiency in both autonomous and team-oriented project management.
• Unwavering attention to detail and organizational finesse
• Language proficiency in Mandarin and/or Thai is a plus
• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design or related Degree
• Strong 3D/CAD skills to effectively interact with frame factories to optimize designs with a strong eye for style, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Online Presence and Following: Established presence and engagement across relevant social media platforms or recipient of industry awards, with a sizable following. Ability to leverage digital platforms effectively to promote eyewear designs and engage with followers.
• 5+ years of 3D modeling/3D artist experience in consumer product, automotive, toy or CG industries using either Alias, Rhino, MODO, SolidWorks and/or Creo
• Knowledge of plastics engineering and materials for injection molded parts

Benefits

• A highly competitive pay
• A great career trajectory in a stable, successful growing company. 
• Cutting-edge projects with opportunities for growth and professional development
• Annual Zenni Gift Card

As of 01/1/24, the expected compensation range for this position is $60 to $80 /hr USD. Actual pay within this range will be based upon several factors, including without limitation education, work experience, certifications, geographic pay differentials, market conditions, and other business and organizational needs. The Company anticipates that the reasonably expected salary for this position could change in the future and, therefore, the Company retains the right to change, modify, or revisit the salary range for the position for various reasons, including the Company’s business needs.

(U.S. ONLY) Please Note: While Zenni Optical is a remote first company, we are registered in most, but not all states. If you are located in one of the following states full time, we welcome you to apply: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington.