CMF Designer

tangerine • London, United Kingdom Employment Type: Full-time Salary: Competitive, based on experience

Job Summary

Tangerine, a globally recognized, award-winning design consultancy, is seeking a talented CMF (Colour, Material, and Finish) Designer to join their London-based team. With over 30 years of experience in design-led strategy, Tangerine works with a prestige client list ranging from tech start-ups to world-leading multinationals. In this role, you will be a pivotal creative force, translating bold strategic ideas into tactile and visual realities across diverse sectors including aviation, automotive, rail, and retail. This is a collaborative position for a designer who understands how sensory details transform customer experiences on a global scale.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Conceptualization: Develop sophisticated CMF strategies that align with design-led business goals and brand identities.
Material Research & Sourcing: Maintain and leverage a deep knowledge of global CMF suppliers and emerging material trends to ensure innovative product differentiation.
Manufacturing Integration: Apply a strong understanding of manufacturing processes to ensure that material selections are not only aesthetic but also feasible, durable, and cost-effective.
Cross-Sector Design: Work across a varied portfolio, specifically influencing high-stakes environments like airline cabins, train interiors, and automotive spaces.
Visual Communication: Utilize a wide range of creative software to produce high-fidelity presentations and mood boards that clearly articulate complex CMF concepts to clients and internal stakeholders.
Collaborative Development: Partner with industrial designers and strategists to ensure CMF is integrated into the product development lifecycle from the outset.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Portfolio Excellence: A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional creative skills, with a specific focus on the nuanced application of color, texture, and finish.
Technical Knowledge: A secure understanding of manufacturing techniques (e.g., injection molding, textile weaving, surface treatments) and their impact on material performance.
Communication Proficiency: Excellent organizational and presentation skills; the ability to “sell” a creative vision through clear, compelling storytelling.
Supply Chain Awareness: Established knowledge of key CMF market suppliers and the ability to navigate complex sourcing requirements.
Software Fluency: Mastery of creative tools (such as Adobe Creative Suite, Keyshot, V-Ray, or similar rendering/visualization software).
Industry Context (Desirable): Prior experience or a keen interest in the aviation or rail industries is highly valued.

About the Company

Tangerine is an international consultancy with a reputation for “creative leaps.” Based in London, they have a footprint on every continent, helping brands innovate through customer-centric design. The CMF team at Tangerine is regarded as a vital business unit, not just a decorative one—CMF is treated as a strategic tool to differentiate products in crowded global markets.

Market & Industry Context

CMF Design is currently undergoing a massive shift toward Sustainability and Circularity. Designers are now expected to source bio-based materials and consider the “end-of-life” of a finish as much as its initial impact. In sectors like aviation and rail, CMF is also heavily regulated by safety standards (Fire, Smoke, and Toxicity – FST), meaning the designer must balance extreme technical constraints with high-end luxury aesthetics.

Career Growth & Progression Path

At a consultancy like Tangerine, the career trajectory is fast-paced and varied:

Lead CMF Designer: Taking ownership of major global accounts and managing project timelines.
CMF Strategist: Moving into a role that defines the “Why” behind the “What,” analyzing future trends and consumer behavior years in advance.
Creative Director: Overseeing the entire creative output for a sector (e.g., Head of Aviation Design).
Specialist Consultant: Becoming a globally recognized expert in a specific niche, such as sustainable automotive textiles or advanced haptics.

Interview Preparation Insights

The “Manufacturing” Angle: Be prepared to discuss a project where you had to change a material choice due to manufacturing constraints. How did you maintain the design intent?
Sensory Storytelling: Tangerine values the “customer experience.” When presenting your portfolio, don’t just show a finish—explain the emotion or function that finish was intended to evoke in the user.
Technical Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio includes “office drawings” or technical specifications, not just beautiful renders. They want to see how you communicate with engineers and suppliers.
Market Trends: Come prepared with a point of view on a current CMF trend in the transportation industry. How is the “home-to-cabin” aesthetic evolving?

Work Environment & Location Insights

The London office offers a high-energy, collaborative environment in one of the world’s primary design hubs. Working at Tangerine means being at the intersection of diverse cultures and industries. The CMF lab is a tactile, hands-on space where designers are encouraged to experiment with physical samples and prototypes.

Compliance & Application Note

Tangerine receives a high volume of applications. Ensure your covering letter explicitly mentions your notice period and highlights your specific interest in their sectors (aviation, rail, etc.). Given the global nature of their clients, a portfolio that shows sensitivity to international markets and cultural color connotations will be highly regarded.

This summary table outlines the core parameters and unique operational structure of the SEN teaching position at Upton Grange School, managed by Acorn Care and Education.

Core Role Summary: SEN Teacher

Category	Details & Specifications
Institution	Upton Grange School (Acorn Care and Education)
Location	Slough, United Kingdom
Salary	£40,000 – £60,000 per annum
Employment Type	Full-time (4-Day Working Week framework)
Specialism	Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Core Mission	Delivering creative, high-impact lessons for diverse learner needs
Wellbeing Model	Structured to prioritize work-life balance through condensed hours

Key Instructional & Operational Priorities

Creative Pedagogy: The role emphasizes a “creative approach” to teaching, requiring the ability to adapt standard curricula to better suit students with diverse learning requirements.
4-Day Work Week: This is a distinct feature of the role, designed to allow educators to maximize their classroom impact while ensuring sufficient time for planning, reflection, and personal wellbeing.
Pupil Development: You will be responsible for creating personalized learning pathways that prioritize emotional, social, and academic growth for students with complex needs.

Professional Environment

Working within the Acorn Care and Education network implies a commitment to safeguarding and specialized care. This position is particularly well-suited for a practitioner who:

Values Autonomy: The structure of a 4-day week allows for more intensive deep-work sessions for lesson design.
Is Impact-Driven: The focus on “impactful learning” suggests a school culture that prioritizes measurable outcomes for SEN pupils over rigid adherence to traditional administrative workflows.

To apply for this job please visit careers.tangerineholdings.co.uk.