Position Filled: 3D Product Designer needed at Makielab
3D Product Designer
Full Time Permanent Position
Salary on Application
The Role
A creative and technically-minded 3D Product Designer with great modelling and design skills, who will work with our rapid iteration Things Team to design and develop new product lines which support the Makies brand. You will bring creative inspiration, ideas and a passion for creating great toys.
Key responsibilities and tasks:
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Conceptualise and develop new products and product ranges that support the Makies brand
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Design to meet toy safety requirements and assist with testing
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Create presentation materials for user testing and other research
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Contribute to the smooth running of in-house 3D printing facilities
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Design and produce Makies packaging
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Develop an understanding of the Makies target audience and competitors
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Keep up-to-date with new technologies that could be relevant to Makies
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Contribute to team planning and stay focused on the agreed objectives
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Prepare and present your work to the team
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Support colleagues in other areas of the business, particularly the workshop and Comms Director
Experience & Personal Skills Required:
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Excellent 3DS Max skills
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Good Adobe Creative Suite skills
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Degree in Product Design or other relevant subject
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Relevant industry experience, ideally with toys or other children’s products
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Experience of taking 3D designs from concept to real object
- Creative flair to develop all kinds of toys: from shoes and bags, to vehicles and home environments
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High creative standards with exceptional visualisation, 3D modelling, crafting and sketching abilities
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Understanding of 3D printing and other on-demand production methods
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Ability to manage your time efficiently while working on multiple projects at once
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Strong communication and presentation skills
Desirable Skills
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Knowledge of toy safety legislation
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Knowledge of the kids/teens market
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Experience in Mudbox (or Z-Brush) and Solidworks
To apply, please send CV and a link to your portfolio/examples of your work to [email protected] and mark the subject ‘Product Designer’.
Position Filled: We’re hiring a Productor!
JOB POSTING: Productor
Start date: Immediate
About MakieLab
MakieLab is a London-based toys company founded in 2011. We are a small and exciting startup breaking new ground in the toys and games space. We use 3D printing and local manufacture where possible, and we have global ambitions to be the most creative toy company since LEGO.
The Role
Are you as comfortable working with your hands as on a computer? Our productors assemble Makie dolls in our workshop carefully attaching tiny arms and legs, creating smiles and styling hair before sending Makies to their new homes. We are searching for someone who is creative, self-motivated and enthusiastic to ship perfect dolls every time.
Key areas of work
- Assembly and shipping of Makie dolls
- Handling support requests from customers which relate to order fulfilment
- QA of incoming stock
- Using internal systems to manage stock in and out
- Keeping the workshop and office space in good order
Role development
There is potential to expand this role taking on e-commerce, supplier management and other associated duties.
Required skills
- Detail oriented. You pride yourself on getting it right every time
- Good computer skills
- Able to multitask - all of the things, all of the time
- Managing inventory - knowing where things are and keeping the workshop and office stocked with everything Makielab needs to run day to day.
- Ability to work calmly and methodically when under pressure, and as part of a kick-ass team
Bonus Qualifications
- Model making, painting experience
- Familiarity with e-commerce systems
A self-starter, you should be comfortable asking the questions you need to ask in order to get on with the job and be able to identify problem areas and propose solutions to the wider team. An interest in toys is required, an interest and knowledge of the doll world, even better!
Apply to [email protected], subject line ‘Productor’.
Makies Commended in ITA
Makies has earned a Commendation in the Independent Toy Awards 2013!
Of the 422 independent retailers who voted, over 10% voted for us in the Dolls category. It’s SO wonderful to be honoured like this by folks who run independent toy shops, and we’re incredibly pleased. Thank you, ITA judges and Toy Shop UK!
Makies in Selfridges!
We’re indescribably happy to confirm that, as of today, the new Toy Shop at Selfridges features our very own Makies mini-shop, with brand new Makies goodies on shelves! When we showed them off at Selfridges’ Christmas press event, they went over a storm, so we’re really hopeful that Makies will find their way into many more homes across the world this holiday season.
Here’s our press release:
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Makies take over Selfridges Toy Shop
World’s first 3D printed toys tipped for Christmas Top Ten at leading retailer
LONDON — 5 AUGUST 2013 – Makies™, the world’s first and only 3D printed toys, hit retail shelves today for the very first time, after captivating press and buyers at Selfridges’ ‘Destination Christmas’ launch event last month.
Makies are 3D printed, poseable dolls designed by you! This cute and compact new Makies Gift Box (£99) allows the recipient to create their very own Makie doll at home on the web, or on an iPad. Choose hair, eyes and clothes, and shape all the facial features to make unique toys with character and personality — creative fun that becomes a truly one-of-a-kind, real-life plaything!
Makie dolls are heirloom toys, CE certified and produced in London: an ideal gift from parents who care about the environment, and moving away from a culture of throwaway, mass-produced goods.
And, fresh from MakieLab’s workshop in Shoreditch, a brand new First Limited Edition series of Makie dolls is also available now at Selfridges. The series consists of four super stylish, jointed character dolls: Curie (shown), Ada, Tesla and Hopper, priced at £199. Each doll is lovingly hand-finished, including faces applied by hand and bespoke fashion, and comes with a numbered Certificate of Creation.
Additional hairstyles, clothes and accessories for Makies are sold separately.
The Makies Gift Box and First Limited Edition series can be purchased from Selfridges Oxford Street store, and online at Selfridges.com.
For more information about Makies and MakieLab, please visit www.makie.me or www.makieworld.com.
[edit 13 August: Selfridges shop links added]
Makies in the Design Museum
Come see Makies ‘in the flesh’ at the Design Museum’s new exhibition The Future is Here: The New Industrial Revolution! The exhibition opens to the public today, 24th July, and runs through the 29th of October. Plenty of time to visit and explore!
The exhibition looks at what exactly drives innovation and how it can lead to increased productivity and economic growth. A visit will reveal how the new industrial revolution has the potential to affect everyone, radically altering our attitudes to the pace of change driven by new technology.
Mass customisation is a central story: from trainer manufacturers offering personalised shoes on a global scale, to 3D printed dolls with features that consumers can design and order online. A carbon loom invented by Lexus to weave car parts such as steering wheels and dashboards from strong carbon fibre is represented, and other exhibits include an open-source approach to architecture, the WikiHouse.
Find out more about The Future is Here right here.
We are recruiting
We have a couple of open roles, for two superbly talented and motivated people. Come and join us in our mission to change the world of play.
Open Positions:
Senior Developer
Front End Developer
About MakieLab
MakieLab is a London-based smart toys company. Founded in 2011, we are a small and exciting startup, breaking new ground in toys and games. We use 3D printing and local manufacture where possible, and we aim to be the most creative toy company since LEGO.
To Apply
Email [email protected] and mark the subject either Senior Developer or Front End Developer, depending on the role you’re interested in. Thanks.
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JOB POSTING: Senior Developer
Start date: Immediate
Position: Full time, permanent
Role & Responsibilities
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Developing and maintaining MakieLab products across multiple platforms
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Responsible for leading development in some key areas, and providing solutions to technical problems as part of a team
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Working with Python / Django / PostgreSQL / Redis / E-Commerce & Third Party applications to create, scale, and maintain services
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Developing and co-designing systems to support fulfillment of physical products
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Maintaining and developing cloud-based web applications and services
Skills Required
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A senior developer with 5+ years of experience in developing and scaling web-based products
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Professional experience using python web-frameworks, cloud technologies, relational and nonrelational databases.
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Desired: 6+ months of experience with Django, PostgreSQL, and Redis
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You can apply development best practices with respect to scalability, security, usability, automated testing, load-time, performance, and basic search engine optimization techniques
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Ability to adequately document and track development and working processes
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Experience of working within a growing team and taking a product to mass market is desirable
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An understanding of the importance of revision control, solid documentation, automated testing, and continuous integration
Personal Skills Required
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Excellent problem-solving skills
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Great communication skills
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A positive approach when faced with complex problems (we have lots)
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A confident self-starter, you will be comfortable proposing solutions within the team. An interest in toys is required, an interest and knowledge of the doll world, even better!
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JOB POSTING: Creative Front End Developer
Start date: Immediate
Position: Full time, permanent
Summary
We’re searching for a creative problem-solver, a tinkerer and someone who wants to explore with new technologies, do things first and get excited about new ways of making play. You’ll be working with our CTO on our web and mobile products. You’ll have ideas, good humour, enthusiasm and be keen to join a small and passionate start up.
We’re looking for someone who:
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is very experienced in HTML and CSS web development
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can demonstrate excellent JavaScript development skills - both at a core level and also working with frameworks like jQuery and Backbone
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has worked in a split front end / back end team
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has written code that works with social networks; for example, Facebook Open Graph API and Twitter
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has worked with third party APIs, data services, etc.
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can get to prototypes quickly and creatively
We’d be even happier if you:
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are coming from an e-commerce background
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enjoy working in an agile team
When it comes to personal skills we’re looking for:
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creative problem solvers
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tinkerers who love playing with new technology
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people who respond to difficult briefs with a can-do attitude
- excellent self-management skills
ENDS
VVIP Makies in GREAT Showcase
Such a GREAT honour to be showcased at ‘Innovation is GREAT’ in NYC yesterday!
Our press release is below, and you can find photos of the VVIP Makies in this flickr set and our press area.
The Makies doll creator can be found at www.makie.me, and our iPad app, Makies Doll Factory, is in the App Store now.
For immediate release
HRH Prince Harry and David Cameron meet the Makies
MakieLab invited to NYC to showcase Makies, the world’s first 3D printed toy, to HRH Prince Harry and the British Prime Minister David Cameron
LONDON — 15 MAY 2013 – As part of the GREAT Britain / Innovation is GREAT campaign, London-based MakieLab presented its cutting-edge Makies™ toys to attendees at yesterday’s GREAT showcase in NYC, including HRH Prince Harry and PM David Cameron.
MakieLab was delighted to be the only UK tech company hand-picked to represent Business is GREAT in the GREAT showcase, which featured the best of British tech innovation. Presenting both Makies™ dolls and Makies Doll Factory, the iPad version of the Makies creator (www.makie.me), MakieLab demonstrated how anyone can design, customise and order a completely one-of-a-kind 3D printed doll directly from the Makies website or app.
Unlike mass-manufactured dolls, Makies’ facial features and expressions are shaped by the customer, so each Makie doll is a unique (and numbered) creation. Real-life Makies are jointed and poseable dolls with styleable hair, and everything in their digital wardrobe also exists as neatly handmade clothes for purchase in the real world. Makies are heirloom toys, CE certified and made in Europe: an ideal gift from parents who care about the environment and today’s culture of throwaway goods.
Build-a-Makie pricing starts at £59.99, with hair, clothes and accessories available as add-ons at various price points, from basic to ultra premium.
The Makies Doll Factory app is downloadable for free from the App Store. MakieLab’s future expansion for Makies includes a game scheduled for release in Summer 2013 that will introduce design-your-own clothes, and further app releases in the autumn featuring specialised clothing collections.
MakieLab is a Shoreditch-based startup with a live operation of just one year. Makies have already delighted children and adults alike, across the world, and MakieLab’s automated, fully software-driven manufacturing platform means virtual goods can become physical goods at the click of a button or the swipe of a finger: the platform can handle any 3D shape, and MakieLab designs its starter shapes to be toy safety compliant. MakieLab is interested in talking to companies who would like to develop toy-game IP partnerships.
For more information about MakieLab and Makies, please visit www.makie.me or www.makielab.com.
About MakieLab
MakieLab makes game-connected customisable toys. Formed in 2011, MakieLab has created technology to create physical toys from digital game objects, starting with avatars. Its first product, Makies™, is a world-first: a customisable 3D-printed action figure, CE-marked and EU-certified safe for kids aged 3+.
Future Makies products include a full mobile game, tracking for early summer 2013, and further expansion of Makies toys, customisation options, and accessories throughout the year. MakieLab’s second toy-game product, targeted at the boys 8+ market, is currently in development.
Martha Lane Fox is the Chair of MakieLab.
@makielab
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Press contact
Press site
Makies in Company Magazine
Company has a ‘BIG kid crush’ on Makies! And we blush.
They’re featured in the #trending section (p.59) of the May issue. Here’s the clip.
Make Makies comics on iPhone!
We’ve just kicked off a little collaboration with our Shoreditch neighbours SlickFlick on something a bit different and makery: SlickFlick produces a free iPhone app for making photo-stories, and we’ve provided them with a Makies theme, complete with backgrounds, captions and a bunch of super cute stickers - all free to use on the SlickFlick app, starting today.
Makie comics and how-tos are (always) dancing in my head, and I’d love to see this help Makie-makers who want to share what they’ve done, but aren’t sure where to start.
Onward to the press release!
Makies comic toolkit now live in SlickFlick
New maker-friendly iPhone photostory theme released today
London – 28th March 2013 – MakieLab and SlickFlick are delighted to announce today’s launch of a brand new Makies theme for the SlickFlick iPhone app, which enables users to create sharable animated comics and photostories with a dash of Makie panache.
Inspired by MakieLab’s user-designed 3D-printed dolls, and matching the design style of the Makies website at www.makie.me, the Makies theme includes versatile backgrounds, colourful stickers and customisable captions that reflect the creative spirit shared by makers of all kinds.
Coupled with the free SlickFlick app, the Makies theme offers a complete and easy to use toolkit for creating a wide range of stories to share online with friends: how-tos, before & afters, vignettes featuring uniquely customised Makie dolls (naturally!) and much more. Made something awesome? Makie it up, share it in SlickFlick and show everyone how it’s done!
Starting today, the MakieLab elves will be on the lookout for SlickFlick stories that use the Makies theme, and reposting them to the Makie Stories tumblr. On Monday 15th April, the top three most popular Makies-themed stories will win a super-elite 3D-printed prize! More information, along with story highlights and all the latest news about Makies, can be found on the Makies blog.
About MakieLab and Makies
Makies™ is a world-first: a customisable 3D-printed action figure, CE-marked and EU-certified safe for kids aged 3+. Makies are designed by users at www.makie.me and the Makies Doll Factory app for iPad, and are produced by MakieLab, a London-based company making internet-connected customisable playthings. Formed in 2011, MakieLab has created technology to create physical toys from digital game objects, starting with avatars. Martha Lane Fox is the Chair of MakieLab. For more information about MakieLab and Makies, please visit www.makie.me or www.makielab.com.
About SlickFlick
SlickFlick is an iPhone app and web content platform that allows users to create and view photo comics on the fly. SlickFlick breaks down content to its basic parts and reassembles it in a hybrid medium made of photos, graphics, captions and animations that can be easily put together inside the app. The stories can be shared instantly on the SlickFlick website and via social media channels including Facebook, twitter and tumblr. For more on SlickFlick, download the app at bit.ly/getslickflick, visit the website at www.slickflick.com or follow @Slickflick on twitter or Facebook.
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SXSW Accelerator - we won!
Absolutely thrilled to share this news today: Alice and Jo rounded out their trip to SXSW by delivering the winning pitch in the 2013 SXSW Accelerator‘s Entertainment & Gaming category!
We’re beyond pleased, and so grateful to all the awesome folks at SXSW. A massive THANK YOU too to everyone who cheered us on there or watched the live stream and tweeted happy messages. You guys are so great, and your support means everything to us. <3
We’re added a few pics from the awards ceremony into our SXSW set on flickr.
Roll on press release:
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For immediate release
MakieLab honoured at SXSW 5th Annual Accelerator
Competition
London-based 3D printed toy company takes top prize in the Entertainment and Gaming Technologies category
LONDON – 13 MARCH 2013 – MakieLab, producer of Makies™, the world’s first customisable and poseable 3D-printed doll, was awarded first prize in the Entertainment and Gaming category at the 5th annual SXSW Accelerator competition final, held last night in Austin, TX.
Following a live pitch by MakieLab’s CEO, Alice Taylor, the Shoreditch-based start-up joined the winners’ circle from what judges agreed was an extremely strong field in this year’s competition, which highlights companies with fresh ideas, strong creative vision and exceptional business potential. Over 500 total submissions were received for the 2013 SXSW Accelerator, culminating in awards for seven of the web’s most exciting new innovations across Web, Mobile, Social, Entertainment/Gaming, News, Health and Music categories.
“We are delighted, humbled and grateful to the wonderful people of SXSW for this award,” said Taylor. “We’ve had the most amazing five days here, and this finale is the icing on the cake. It seems to be the year of 3D printing: Bre Pettis keynoting, Bruce Sterling wearing a 3D-printed Bruce Sterling around his neck… it’s fantastic, and we’re very much enjoying being part of this movement!”
Over 20,000 unique digital Makies have been created at www.makie.me. In February, Makies became the world’s first 3D-printed toy to earn the CE mark, certifying them as safe for kids aged 3 and up. Makies Doll Factory, MakieLab’s free build-a-doll app for iPad, was released earlier this month and is available now in the App Store.
A complete list of SXSW Interactive Accelerator finalists and winners can be found at http://sxsw.com/interactive/startupvillage/accelerator. To learn more about MakieLab and Makies, please visit www.makie.me or www.makielab.com.
About MakieLab
MakieLab is a London-based company making internet-connected customisable playthings. Formed in 2011, MakieLab has created technology to create physical toys from digital game objects, starting with avatars. Its first product, Makies™, is a world-first: a customisable 3D-printed action figure, CE-marked and EU-certified safe for kids aged 3+.
Future products include a full mobile game, tracking for early summer, and further expansion of Makies toys, customisation options, and accessories throughout the year. MakieLab’s second toy-game product, targeted at the boys 8+ market, is currently in development with partners.
Martha Lane Fox is the Chair of MakieLab.
www.makielab.com
@makielab
About SXSW Interactive
The 20th annual SXSW Interactive Festival takes place March 8-12, 2013 in Austin, Texas. An incubator of cutting-edge technologies and digital creativity, the event features five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable line-up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer. From hands-on training to big-picture analysis of the future, SXSW Interactive has become the place to experience a preview of what is unfolding in the world of technology.
SXSW Interactive 2013 is sponsored by Miller Lite, Monster Energy, Esurance, IFC, Yahoo!, American Express, PepsiCo, Pepsi, Freecreditscore.com, Chevrolet, American Airlines, Oreo, AT&T and The Austin Chronicle.
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