Junior Strategic Designer

Are you a practical design thinker with a genuine passion for sustainability and circularity in the high-tech industry? At ImpactX, you'll shape the future of circular innovation in an AI-first team, alongside the most ambitious industrial players in the Brainport region. This could be your next role.

ImpactX

ImpactX is on a mission to make the Brainport region the high-tech circular capital of the world. We work with a coalition of 30+ OEMs, suppliers, knowledge institutes, and government bodies to drive circular innovation in this ecosystem to industrial scale. Our work is hands-on, fast-paced, and deeply rooted in the conviction that design - strategic, visual, and systemic - is one of the most powerful tools to make complex change tangible. We are a small, AI-first team operating at the intersection of strategy, design, and ecosystem innovation.

The Role

This is not a typical design role. As a Strategic Designer at ImpactX, you sit at the intersection of research, strategy, and visual storytelling - translating complex innovation challenges into clear thinking, compelling narratives, and actionable frameworks for both internal teams and external partners.

Your work spans the full design cycle: from research and synthesis, through co-creation and facilitation, to polished visual outputs that land with decision-makers. You work across ImpactX programs, embedded with clients and partners in the Brainport ecosystem, contributing to real industrial change.

Because we are a compact team, we have a unique advantage: we can fully shape our way of working around AI - and we are actively doing exactly that. As a Strategic Designer at ImpactX, AI tools are part of your daily workflow - for research, synthesis, prototyping, and production. We expect you to bring genuine curiosity for what AI makes possible and to grow with us as we build an AI-first way of working.

From day one, you work directly alongside ImpactX's Product Architect, Business Developers and Strategic Designers. It is a hands-on role where real responsibility comes early - your work feeds directly into programs and outputs that matter.

What We Expect From You

• A completed Master's engineering degree in strategic design, service design, industrial design, or a related technical discipline
• 0-3 years of experience in service design, strategic design, or a closely related field
• Good understanding of design concepts and methodologies
• Ability to work both strategically (framing problems, facilitating co-creation) and hands-on (visual outputs, presentations, deliverables)
• Genuine passion for sustainability, circular economy, and/or high-tech industry: this is non-negotiable
• Affinity with Figma, PowerPoint / MS 365, Notion, and Miro
• Genuine interest in AI tools (chat assistants, agents, image and synthesis tools) and a drive to integrate them into your work from day one
• Ability to operate in a fast-moving, self-directed startup environment
• Fluent in English; other languages are a welcome addition

Your Responsibilities

• Translate research findings and strategic insights into clear visual narratives and frameworks
• Design workshops with clients, partners, and internal teams
• Create compelling presentations, program materials, and visual communication across ImpactX programs
• Conduct and synthesize design research to surface user and stakeholder needs
• Support the development and consistency of ImpactX's visual and strategic communication identity
• Deliver high-quality design output across all active programs
• Actively integrate AI tools into your design workflow and contribute to ImpactX's AI-first way of working

What You Can Expect From ImpactX

We are frontrunners - not just talking but doing. At ImpactX, you work at the forefront of circular innovation in one of Europe's most dynamic high-tech ecosystems. Your work is visible, used, and matters - directly contributing to programs that move industrial players towards a more circular future.

You get real ownership from day one. Your work goes straight from your hands into programs and client conversations. You will be challenged, trusted, and expected to grow fast. We are a small team with big ambitions, and AI is central to how we operate - you join an environment that builds real AI capability, not just talks about it.

What you can expect:

• A competitive salary
• Direct collaboration with a focused, high-trust team driven by ownership, growth mindset, and collaboration
• Real responsibility and visible impact from the start
• An AI-first culture where your toolset and skills evolve with the company

Additional Details

• Type: Employment contract, 36 hours/week
• Location: Hybrid or fully remote - no relocation required
• Start: As soon as possible