Senior Designer

Aspinal of London are looking for a Senior Designer to lead the leather goods and accessories category, including bag styles, hardware, leather sourcing, and seasonal colour development, as well as soft accessories, hard accessories, jewellery, new categories as planned and agreed, belts, hats etc. You will take leadership of designing and developing new styles and collections within this category. The role involves close day-to-day design collaboration directly with the Chairman and the Product & Supply Director.

You will drive design and work with our head of product development through to the manufacturing stage, contributing where you can to sourcing and manufacturing at which point responsibility will be handed over to the wider team.

This is an amazing opportunity to join a small team based in West Sussex. We have a Designer Manager who is currently on maternity leave. This role will lead the team in her absence and work together upon her return.

This role will require attendance in the office at least 4 days per week (one of those days must be Friday).

• Supporting the creation of seasonal concept and colour
• Creation of new ideas and raw materials
• Creation of designs and CADs to enable ideas to be delivered as a physical prototype
• Reviewing range plan and ensuring that all options are required to margin
• Creating Design Packs and specs for new ideas as briefed in pipeline
• Supporting Product Development in critique, construction and problem solving
• Managing the Design critical path ensuring that all key dates are delivered

• Support and deliver the seasonal story theme as provided by Chairman and Creative team.
• Colour, trend and product research. Be able to present a focused overview of relevant trend information from online, catwalks, social media, street trends etc.
• Ensuring the creative theme is issued to key Stakeholders and collated on electronic format.
• Manage the creation of the concept boards for theme, colour, and product.
• Constantly evolve method of craftsmanship on all Aspinal of London product to ensure AOL is a leader in all areas of craftsmanship construction and raw materials.
• Question and review all continuity concepts for Aspinal of London heritage products and deliver new ideas and concepts.

• Present and receive direction at the pipeline meetings for new designs, ensuring price point and raw materials are considered.
• Approve all Design Teams CADs and design packs.
• Research and understand new raw materials in the marketplace ensuring new leathers and hardware are researched.
• Research all new trends in the marketplace and present ideas relevant to the brand.
• Work closely with the Chairman on scarf designs and handover to PD to action.
• Visit the Flagship store monthly to understand customer need and gain retail feedback.

• Support the Product Director in researching new raw materials, colours, treatments and hardware.
• Support the Product Development Team in the development of new hardware and ensure it is fit for purpose.
• Ensure wearer trials are actioned and reviewed of any new raw material.

• Initiate a smooth handover of the technical drawings to PD, ensuring all information is accurate and design is clearly explained.
• Cover off all new areas in hard and soft accessories – Hats, Support of Jewellery and hard gifts, Scarves, belts, hats, socks, Hard keyrings, Homeware.
• Produce high quality, accurate design specifications and technical information on Adobe Ai, including to Scale CADs for 1st prototypes, 2nd prototypes and confirmed styles.
• Have prior experience and knowledge of the technical aspects and construction of product.
• Knowledgeable on all aspects of leather, fabric and metalware.
• Lead the Design to PD…