Country: Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Closing date: 15 Jul 2015
Background
Founded in March 2006 by HRH The Prince of Wales in partnership with former President of Afghanistan HE Hamid Karzai, Turquoise Mountain is a non-profit, non- governmental organization regenerating the old city of Kabul, and spurring the sustainable development of the Afghan crafts industry.
Since 2006 Turquoise Mountain has trained over 450 artisans in traditional arts, restored or rebuilt 112 historic buildings in the old city of Kabul, organized major international exhibitions from the Venice Biennale to the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, worked with prestigious international retailers from Bloomingdales and Kate Spade in New York, to Pippa Small and Monsoon-Accessorize in London, and developed products based in crafts traditions for contemporary international markets that provide viable incomes for artisans.
Turquoise Mountain Trust builds project partnerships that provide opportunities for artisans and develop international profile and markets for crafts production. As part of these on-going activities, Turquoise Mountain has begun a collaborative project in Saudi Arabia to support product development opportunities crafts masters from Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and the wider Islamic world – with a particular focus on the interior design and fit-out of important heritage hotels in Saudi Arabia.
Turquoise Mountain is now seeking a Senior Designer to design and develop products rooted in crafts traditions for interior design and fit-out of heritage hotels in Saudi Arabia and the wider Islamic world.
Job Description
• Work within the scope of historic crafts traditions and visual language to develop a series of products and interior design features for the fit-out of heritage hotels in Saudi Arabia
• Build a strong familiarity with Saudi, Afghan and wider Islamic craft traditions and skills based on existing TMT research, collaboration with crafts people, and examination of historic and contemporary pieces
• Spend significant time in Saudi Arabia working with men and women master artisans and makers to design and develop products rooted in crafts traditions with significant reference to traditional technologies, production methods, materials and designs
• Build familiarity with Afghan capacity with short visits to Kabul to review current capacity, skills, designs and product development – to support with development of Saudi heritage hotel fit-out and products
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and co-produced product lines between TMT and SHP master artisans • Work within allocated budget and existing resources to oversee and ensure high quality production of a range of product samples for the heritage hotel brief and markets
• Ensure awareness and build knowledge of Saudi crafts markets and tastes to create diffusion lines of products based on heritage hotel range
• Liaise with wider TMT and Saudi team members to ensure coherent strategic development, marketing and context for products
• Work with team partners to develop a strong ‘narrative’ and visual language for traditional crafts products
• Oversee product testing and make amendments to products according to feedback
• Create marketing summaries for product samples for print, digital and in-person presentation to heritage hotel clients
Full project delivery and completion is required between 1 August 2015 and 28 February 2016.
The Senior Product Designer reports to the KSA Project Director and will also work with Turquoise Mountain colleagues in UK and Afghanistan, and external partners.
Travel expenses, visa arrangements and accommodation outside the UK are covered within the terms of the TMT partnership.
Project activities are based in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh and provinces), the UK and with some limited travel to Afghanistan (Kabul).
Contract terms and remuneration is negotiable based on experience and Turquoise Mountain’s existing fee structures as a charitable organization.
Candidate Requirements
Degree qualification in area relevant to product design and development; Demonstrable and extensive experience of product design and development with sustainable success in taking products to market; Versatile approach with strong artistic feeling for crafts traditions, hand production, and the use of natural materials within a cotemporary context and market; Strong administrative, research and communications skills; Energetic and adaptable to the requirements of a developing project
How to apply:
For more information about Turquoise Mountain, visit www.turquoisemountain.org
To apply for this role, please send your CV with covering letter to thalia@turquoisemountain.org by 15 July 2015.
