London, UK
Materials librarian
at Heatherwick Studio
Heatherwick Studio is hiring a materials librarian to join its team in London.
Heatherwick Studio is a global team of 200 problem solvers dedicated to making the physical world around us better for everyone. We are practical inventors with no signature style. Our motivation is to design soulful and interesting places, led by human experience rather than any fixed dogma.
We enjoy pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible. We achieve this by placing collaboration, trust and teamwork at the heart of everything we do. We look for studio members who have the entrepreneurial spirit to make things happen, and who also take delight in sharing their knowledge and experience. We want self-reflective people who are committed to their own growth and who are unafraid to support the growth of others.
We expect all studio members to work together with honesty and integrity, and to have genuine care for each other. The studio is a creative community and it’s fundamental to us that everyone feels they belong, regardless of their culture or background.
Job purpose
History is being made with each project the studio undertakes. The collection should be the story of projects imagined and realised, capturing their organic and gradual development, from conceptual and sometimes unexpected origins, through the process of experimentation and design, breakthroughs and dead-ends, to their extraordinary conclusion. It should provide an insight into key moments that have shaped the project’s journey.
The Materials Librarian will support the project teams in cataloguing and organising existing samples and sourcing new ones, working together with the archive team and the interior design team in maintaining and updating the current library by sourcing relevant materials, samples and technical information as required. A great emphasis will be asked on developing a strategy that focuses on creating a suitable process for sample reuse or disposal, in line with the studio’s 100% commitment to operate in a sustainable way.
This role provides the chance to develop a new concept for the studio materials library, be the main point of contact for all-things materials, and develop relationships with local and international vendors to seek out new products to be used in studio designs.
Materials library samples and records management:
- supporting the design and development of and being responsible for the maintenance of the physical materials library within the studio, including researching new appropriate storage solutions
- rationalising and cataloguing existing samples, organising their storage in the materials library to ensure samples can be effectively reviewed by project teams
- managing loans of the library’s material samples and ensuring effective records management
- data entry into the studio collection management system, to ensure all relevant information about each sample is clearly recorded and continually up to date
Support to studio design teams:
- being the first point of contact for all studio members on materials samples queries and requests
- enhancing the profile of the materials library within the studio, including presenting at studio meetings, attending project team meetings, and organising studio events to share new product findings
- providing assistance to the design team with the sourcing material selections for specific applications and updating finish schedules
- assisting design teams with design presentations
- oversee the styling of the samples and materials for client reviews and photography to a high standard
Vendor relationship management:
- maintaining and developing vendor relationships with sample suppliers, including regular proactive communication
- enhancing the profile of the materials library outside the studio, including attending showroom openings, design trade shows and conferences to seek out new products
Qualifications, skills and experience:
- previous experience working in a similar position in the design industry, with experience in interior design, procurement, or archiving
- a background in archives and cataloguing procedures and using cataloguing databases
- experience with handling delicate objects
- experience in designing and writing manuals
- a practical and creative approach, with an inquisitive mind to help research through a variety of methods
- great people, organisational, and problem-solving skills
- excellent verbal and written communication skills
- good presentation and public speaking skills, including compiling and presenting design presentations
- proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Photoshop, and InDesign
Key relationships:
- collection and archive manager and team
- interior design team
- project teams, including project leaders, designers and project support staff
- external stakeholders
- head of making and workshop team
- finance and operations director
- property and workplace team
- studio experience team
Training and continuing professional development
Our studio understands the importance of training and professional development for all studio members. As a studio, we encourage you to drive your own development within the studio in conversation with your line manager who will support you on your development journey.
How to apply
Please fill apply through the link on our job page. Please fill out the job application form carefully and submit your CV. We will consider the job application form as an essential part of the application.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications, we cannot provide detailed feedback to candidates on their applications. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.