Colour Material Finish Design Manager

Role Overview

Colour Material Finish Design Manager at Etihad Airways. The role defines the colour, material, and finish aesthetic and tactile direction for the Etihad guest experience across ground locations and aircraft cabins.

Company Overview

Etihad Airways is the UAE's national airline, operating from a hub in Abu Dhabi. The airline connects people across continents and cultures and is executing a "Journey 2030" ambition to double its fleet, expand its network, and grow its people for a new era of excellence.

Role Purpose

The Colour Material Finish Design Manager articulates and captures the Etihad brand look and feel through colour, material, pattern, and texture. The role translates Brand Strategy into tangible Colour and Material Design opportunities at every touchpoint of the guest journey by collaborating closely with external consultants, internal stakeholders from Brand, Cabin Interiors, Product & Hospitality, and Cabin Crew & Service.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Establish a big picture strategy and holistic vision for material aesthetic and tactile direction across multiple touchpoints.
• Lead material innovation initiatives through identification of opportunities and strategic development.
• Form a holistic design approach that sees the big picture across all guest journey touchpoints.

Design Direction

• Lead conceptual direction of material-led soft products and hard products.
• Deliver Colour Material Finish design of onboard soft products and amenities.
• Provide Colour Material Finish design support for new aircraft seat and cabin projects.
• Provide Colour Material Finish design support for architectural environments.

Product & Material Development

• Lead material and product development with internal partners and external suppliers for production.
• Manage new soft products or upgrades and replacements of existing materials within aircraft cabins or ground spaces.
• Ground strategies in manufacturing realities and lead to implementable solutions in both short and long-term horizons.

Stakeholder Partnership

• Partner with project leads across multiple development teams.
• Collaborate closely with multiple stakeholders to align strategic direction.
• Drive concepts forward with a highly collaborative and proactive mentality.

Governance & Documentation

• Create Colour Material Finish guidelines for ground, aircraft, product, and service applications.

Material Asset Library

• Create and manage an onsite material library that houses all Etihad in-production Colour Material Finish samples and specifications.
• Create a digital and physical database of industry-relevant materials.
• Establish and maintain supplier relationships and manage their representation in the physical material library.
• Organize supplier visits for new product demonstrations.

Visualization & Communication

• Visualize Colour Material Finish concepts of products and environments in quick 2D sketch and fully developed 3D renderings.
• Craft compelling narratives and visual storytelling with impeccable presentation skills.
• Articulate and capture concepts with expert storytelling ability.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Design (Industrial, Interior, Transportation, Textile, or Graphic) with specialized experience in Colour, Material, Finish design.
• 7 years of experience in Colour Material Finish design in a consultancy or in-house capacity.
• Ideally experience in aviation, automotive, hospitality, or guest-experience-driven industries.
• Aviation material development knowledge.

Skills & Competencies

• Expert in storytelling and articulation of concepts.
• Strong interest in Design and Cultural trends.
• Strong visual, written, and verbal presentation skills.
• Strong design visualization skills.
• Ability to lead and command respect as the subject matter expert.
• Strategic mindset and ability to see the big picture.
• Solution-oriented approach grounded in manufacturing realities.
• Technical ability and understanding of material properties and requirements of soft goods, seats, aircraft cabins, and architectural environments.
• Aesthetic sensitivity and affinity to design trends in product and hospitality design.
• Keen sense of brand language.
• Highly collaborative and proactive mentality.