Digital Design Consultant - Charcoalblue Experience (UK, Hybrid)
Thank you for your interest in Charcoalblue! We are looking for an enthusiastic Digital Design Consultant to join our growing Charcoalblue Experience (CBX) team! This position is based in the United Kingdom.
Full details of the role can be found below.
To apply, please complete the online application form and submit a short resume and cover letter addressing the below prompts:
Which of your previous experiences would you highlight as being particularly relevant to this role?
What interests you about working for Charcoalblue Experience?
In your experience as a designer or developer, how has your creative vision come through to have a positive impact on a project?
How will your approach to collaborative working ensure success in this role?
Your salary expectations in line with your experience.
We look forward to receiving your application! Initial interviews will likely be held virtually in late November, early December. Time and date will be confirmed for short-listed candidates. A task may be set for those invited to 2nd round interview.
About The Company:
We imagine, design, and deliver captivating spaces that entertain, educate. and transform individuals through collective experiences. Guided by listening, collaboration, and a passion for innovation, excellence, emotion, and theatricality, we strive to create extraordinary moments.
Charcoalblue was established in the heart of the UK theatre industry in 2004. Since then, we have carved out a reputation as the world's leading integrated Theatre, Acoustic and Experience Consultancy service. We now operate as a cohesive and collaborative team across six international studios in the UK, USA, and Australia, delivering projects to every corner of the globe. Theatre, acoustic, project management and digital design runs in our blood and each one of us has at some point worked within the industry we now design for. We provide a full spectrum of consultancy services from strategic analysis and creative concept generation through to detailed design and full project leadership. Simultaneously, we have the expertise to integrate world-class acoustic, technical, and digital design solutions from the outset.
Charcoalblue Experience is a dedicated team within Charcoalblue that provides project management, design management, experience design and owner representation to businesses and organizations that want to create an unforgettable guest experience and make an impact for their teams, visitors and industry worldwide. A trusted advisor, we have built our reputation by employing a strategic and collaborative approach, leveraging the depth of our experienced, in-house technical expertise to support our clients. Our work starts right from the outset of project inception, continues through planning and design, construction, and all the way through to delivering the final spectacle within projects, leaving a lasting impression on all those who experience it.
To view this job and apply, click here.
Brief Description of Role
A fast-growing part of our work is delivering software based digital tools and solutions to clients, as well as developing tools to improve our own design workflows. Examples include custom VR and AR development, building interactive applications in Unity, web-based applications, renders and visualisations and custom plug-ins for design software and digital prototyping environments. The team at Charcoalblue is called Digital Studio, and this exciting area provides an opportunity for connection between our expertise in the built environment and emerging technologies, as well as interfacing with Research and Development initiatives and opportunities. With innovation at the core of our company values, we are always looking for new ideas and initiatives to push the boundaries of design in our industry.
You are an ideal candidate if you are an innovative problem solver with a good foundational knowledge of programming. You will use object-oriented scripting languages, such as C#, primarily for real-time 3D development platforms, such as Unity. You will work with a variety of other designers and team members, and you will bring a more holistic approach to developing solutions and digital projects. You will have ownership on whole projects and some creative directive of development efforts on a small, nimble and dynamic team. You are innovative in developing concepts and ideas for internal design tools and assets and, as you develop your skills and experience, you may have the opportunity to become a project lead for a specific product. You must be a clear communicator, action-oriented, self-motivated, and comfortable with ambiguity.
Key Responsibilities
Hands on coding and development using real-time 3D development tools, such as Unity.
Contribute to digital design projects from conception to completion based on our existing tools and product base.
Create new prototype tools and products, which may sometimes include working on early design proof of concepts for research studies.
Create and edit 3D CAD models, including rendering and preparation for interactive modelling and visualization.
Input on design projects where digital design services are required, such as VR visualizations, interactive modeling, or bespoke digital solutions.
Interface with all design disciplines in Charcoalblue Experience and other teams within Charcoalblue on aspects of digital projects and initiatives.
Maintain and improve our existing internal digital design tools and products.
Work with external companies and subcontractors, such as programmers, developers, and graphic designers on larger collaborative projects.
Research and develop the use of technology across all sectors and discover ways of applying it to our work, especially where technology and theatricality intersect.
Be self-motivated in your own research, expanding your knowledge of digital technology, theatre, and the construction industry.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive and may be subject to alteration over time as we develop the service.
Qualifications and Key Skills
We are open to receiving applications from candidates with a varied range of experience and education. If you meet most of the qualifications below, we encourage you to apply:
Essential
Minimum 3 years of demonstrable experience working in computer programming, computational architecture, game development, design research, technical design, or related field.
Experience working with coding languages with an understanding of C#, Python, JavaScript or similar languages.
Experience working with 3D CAD software and producing basic renders or animations, software packages such as AutoCAD, 3DS studio max, blender or similar software.
Experience working with the cross-platform game engine – Unity.
Desirable
An imaginative approach to problem-solving.
Some experience of project work relating to the built environment, i.e. Architecture, events or placemaking projects.
A basic ability to interpret design drawings or architectural plans.
Experience working with collaborative working tools, such as Miro, Mural, and G-suite.
Experience working with agile working methodologies, with openness to other typical construction and design project workflows.
Experience working with other real-time 3D development platforms, such as Unreal Engine.
An imaginative approach to problem-solving.
A keen design eye for user interface design and presentation, with a basic ability to convey UX design ideas visually.
A collaborative and personal approach to project work.
Experience working with version control, such as GitHub or UVCS.
Web application experience is desirable.
Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related field, such as Computer Programming, Game Design, Game Development, Architectural Technology, Audiovisual design, Engineering or Computer science, or Computational Architecture would be advantageous.
Interpersonal Skills
A collaborative and personal approach to project work.
Highly organized, excellent time management skills, reliable.
Self-starting and ability to manage own time.
Attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
Able to work successfully on own initiative, as well as part of a local and global team.
Friendly, professional manner.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
Able to work calmly under pressure.
Ability to manage and prioritise a diverse workload and meet deadlines, while maintaining both perspective and a sense of humour.
An interest in architectural design, live events, theatre, or experiential spaces.
Employment Details
Our standard full-time working week is 40 hours (flexible between 8am and 8pm Monday-Friday), plus an hour per day (unpaid) for lunch, with an understanding that flexible working hours will apply to meet our clients’ needs and to accommodate the company’s global time zones. Charcoalblue does not provide for the payment of overtime. The nature of the job and the Partnership’s business could occasionally entail some work outside normal working hours.
There is a three-month probationary period for permanent roles.
We are currently working in a hybrid working model, meaning you will work from your home (or other place of your choosing) anywhere in the United Kingdom. You will have the option to work from one of our UK studios (London or Bristol) , should you desire. Additionally, some site visits and project meetings may be in person, as required. We will provide you with the necessary IT hardware and software to enable you to carry out your role successfully in line with your duties.
Please note, the successful applicant must be based in the UK to effectively meet the current needs of our work and local team, and you should be able and willing to travel to external meetings and our UK studios as required, with notice.
Annual leave entitlement: 20 days minimum per annum, plus statutory public holidays. We traditionally close our studios between Christmas and New Year's Day, resulting in an additional average 4-5 holiday days per annum.
Employee Benefits
Charcoalblue operates a bonus scheme which you will benefit from following successful completion of a three-month probationary period. Please note that this is subject to the Partnership’s performance year on year and is not guaranteed.
Following successful completion of your probationary period, you will be eligible to participate in our company benefits package, including our pension auto-enrolment scheme, our annual bonus scheme and allocation of theatre or other live event tickets per month. We offer this benefit to encourage you to immerse yourself in the theatre and arts industry as far as possible. We will also contribute to your home broadband and give you a monthly contribution towards your home utilities to enable you to work from home effectively in line with our distributed working model. Other benefits are accumulative as you progress with the company.
Following successful completion of your second year, you will be eligible to join our Private Health Insurance plan, in line with our company policy.
Salary
The salary range for this role is £27,500 - £40,000 per annum.
Please state your salary expectations in your covering letter in line with your experience.
Charcoalblue intends to offer the selected candidate base pay within this range, dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience. Base pay is one part of the total rewards that Charcoalblue provides to compensate and recognize employees for their work. Charcoalblue provides a robust benefits package to help support you physically, financially, and emotionally through the big milestones and in your everyday life. Please visit our careers page for more details.
Start Date
Projected January 2024 but earlier start date is of interest.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Overview
Charcoalblue is an equal opportunities employer, actively working towards becoming an inclusive organization. We work consistently to ensure elimination of unfair and discriminatory practices within the company and encourage full contribution from its diverse community.
Our mission is to manifest an inclusive ethos by creating a diverse and inclusive working environment across our practice. Recruitment opportunities are open to all, but we are particularly keen to hear from ethnically diverse and disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented within our teams.
If you require this application in a different format or need support during the application process, please contact Euna Pae via email euna.pae@charcoalblue.com. Equally, please contact Euna if you have any questions in relation to access, or how the role might need to respond to your personal circumstances.
Charcoalblue aims to provide a service that does not discriminate against its clients and customers and works to ensure all can access the services and goods supplied by the company. We believe that all employees and clients are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity.
