Industrial Designer: Rendering & Visual Design Support

HOLOS Lighting | Contract / Part-Time (As-Needed)

HOLOS fabricates architecturally integrated custom lighting fixtures. Our work sits at the intersection of design intent, manufacturing reality, and lighting performance.

We are looking for an industrial designer to support our team on a contract basis, with a focus on fast, high-quality visualizations used in client-facing proposal packages and internal design-for-manufacturing processes.

This role is not limited to product rendering. A significant portion of the work involves illustrating how light interacts with materials, surfaces, and architectural environments. The ideal candidate is comfortable working between 3D rendering and 2D image manipulation to clearly communicate design intent, including illustrating evolving concepts through hand sketching and rapid iteration.

This is a collaborative role. You will participate in design conversations, contribute ideas, and help shape how our concepts are presented visually.

About the Role

This role exists to help HOLOS and our clients understand what we are proposing before it exists.

Hourly contractor position (approx. 5–10 hours/week on average)
Workload will fluctuate: Some weeks may require 15–20 hours, other weeks may have little to no work
This is best suited for someone comfortable operating in an on-call, flexible capacity

You will create renderings and visual studies that show:

What a custom fixture will look like
How light will interact with space, materials, and architecture
How proposed conditions differ from existing or revised conditions

Your work will support:

Proposal development
Design alignment
Change approvals
Internal decision-making

You will not be asked to “make things pretty” without context. You will be asked to think visually about light, space, and intent.

What You’ll Be Doing

Producing fast, compelling renderings/sketches for use in proposals and presentations
Creating visualizations that communicate both product design intent and lighting behavior within a space
Manipulating photography to illustrate lighting effects and design concepts
Iterating quickly based on internal feedback and evolving project scope
Applying materials, lighting, and context to existing CAD models (primarily SolidWorks exports such as STEP or IGS files)
Occasionally creating quick models independently when speed is required
Participating in design meetings and contributing to creative direction
Collaborating with our CAD designer (manufacturing-focused) to translate technical drawings into compelling visuals

Key Responsibilities

Visualization & Rendering

Produce and collaborate design concepts including sketches and renders
Produce high-quality renderings of custom lighting fixtures as standalone objects
Render fixtures in architectural context, showing interaction with: Walls, ceilings, floors, Architectural details and finishes, Surrounding materials and surfaces
Accurately convey light behavior, not just fixture form

Design Translation

Translate CAD geometry and technical drawings into:

Design-legible visuals
Proposal-ready imagery
Concept and revision studies

Help distinguish between:

Existing conditions
Proposed conditions
Revised or alternate options

Proposal & Sales Support

Support sales efforts indirectly by elevating the clarity and professionalism of proposal visuals
Convert manufacturing-oriented drawings into design-oriented presentation materials
Create visuals that enhance verbal/written explanation

Revisions & Change Support

Update visuals based on: Design changes, Change orders, Scope revisions
Provide clear visual references that support approvals and reduce misinterpretation

How This Role Fits Into Our Team

You will work closely with our Design Team, Engineer, and CAD designer, who owns manufacturing geometry and fabrication logic
You may work from CAD exports (e.g., STEP, IGES) and use your own preferred visualization tools to create renderings from
We prioritize speed and clarity over hyper-polished realism
Our renderings are tools for communication and sales—not portfolio pieces
Iteration is constant, and scope can shift quickly
We value designers who can: Make strong visual decisions quickly, Communicate ideas efficiently, Avoid overworking details that don’t materially improve understanding

What We’re Looking For

Industrial design background (or similar)
Strong rendering capability using software of your choice
High proficiency in Adobe Photoshop (required)
Ability to work from SolidWorks models or exported STEP/IGS files
Strong sense of materiality, lighting, and visual composition
Comfort working in a fast-paced, iterative environment
Willingness to contribute ideas—not just execute instructions

Nice to Have:

Experience or interest in lighting design
Experience with architectural or environmental rendering
Understanding of how lighting is often “represented” (and sometimes misrepresented) in visualizations—and the ability to strike a more intentional balance

Engagement Model

Contract, as-needed engagement
No guarantee of consistent or ongoing hours
Estimated early workload: Approximately 10–15 hours per week, variable
Initial annual budget target: Approximately $12-15,000, subject to scope and fit
Reliability, responsiveness, and continuity are critical
This role may evolve over time, but growth is based on demonstrated value, not assumptions.

How to Apply

Applicants would be asked to share:

A portfolio of relevant visualization or design work
Examples that show light interacting with space or surfaces
A brief explanation of how they approach translating technical inputs into visuals

HOLOS Lighting

New Jobs

Freelance Industrial Designer