Associate Designer - Women's & Kids Concept & Color

J.Crew gets you dressed every day, for every occasion. Since 1983, we’ve been creating classics that feel familiar and refreshingly new, crafted with unbeatable quality and distinctive point of view—it’s no wonder we’ve been in your closet for four decades and counting. Today, we continue to do the classics our way, inspiring not only how you shop but how you define your personal style.

Our commitment runs deeper than just making great clothes—we’re proud of our role in getting you dressed with confidence, character, and celebrating a distinctly American sensibility that makes us who we are. Our dedication to Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Sustainability has been celebrated with industry recognition, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable workplace.

The Associate Designer – Concept & Color supports the J.Crew Women’s and Kids design teams in shaping each season’s color story and creative direction. Reporting to the Concept & Color Designer, you will help support each season’s creative direction through research, storyboarding, palette development, and deck building that bring the design team’s vision to life. You will translate research and inspiration into polished visual presentations that guide the design process and maintain color inspiration and accuracy from initial concept through to final product.

We welcome candidates from a variety of design, fashion, and creative backgrounds who are curious, detail-driven, and eager to grow within a collaborative team.

This role will support the Concept & Color Designer with the following:
Seasonal inspiration and research, including trend, market, and competitive analysis, to shape Women’s and Kid’s seasonal concepts. Assist in the building and pitching of concepts and color stories, bringing each season’s ideas to life for design, merchandising, and production partners. Build and refine concept decks and creative visuals in Miro and Adobe Creative Suite Build and evolve concept boards, decks, and color palettes throughout the season as the collection develops.

Conduct comp shopping and color+material sourcing to support the building of concepts, palettes and report on trends. Manage and maintain color palettes, color library and color systems across all seasons and divisions - keeping color names, numbers, and standards consistent and the color library and standards managed in PLM Match and evaluate color against standards and vendor submissions using color systems such as Pantone and CSI Partner with internal teams and suppliers to support all color requests and meet approval timelines.

Guide and delegate work to the Color Librarian Assistant, helping prioritize day-to-day color library maintenance, administrative needs, seasonal deadlines and color requests.

Required:

1–3 years of experience in color, concept, graphic, or design support within fashion, apparel, or a related creative field (internships and freelance work count). Proficiency in Miro and Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign). Understanding of PLM system Working knowledge of color theory and color systems, such as Pantone, and of color matching. Strong visual eye, with the ability to translate research and trends into clear, polished presentations.

Highly detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and seasonal deadlines. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative approach and openness to feedback. Ability to accurately distinguish and match color.

Experience creating digital renderings or CAD for apparel or accessories. Experience in women’s or kids’ apparel design. Experience guiding or mentoring interns or junior…