Handbags & Accessories Design Director

DEPARTMENT: Design

REPORTS TO: CEO

POSITION SUMMARY: The Design Director for Accessories & Handbags is responsible for leading a team of skilled designers to create and deliver innovative, brand centric products aligned with strategic initiatives. This leader will define and own the creative direction for seasonal product accessories. The Design Director will use excellent design skills and knowledge of the current market to create innovative commercially viable products, from concept to production.

This position will work closely with the CEO in the concept and development of new product.

Key Results Area

Time Allocation

• Lead Design and Development Process for Accessories - 50%
• Design and Concept Development - 25%
• Partner with Production, Sales and Merchandising - 15%
• Develop and Lead Design Team - 10%
• Total - 100%

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead in research and analysis of upcoming fashion, market trends and competitive product offerings to understand the market and identify opportunities relevant to our brand.
• Provide key solutions in all stages of the creative, design and development process.
• Lead in the development and design concepts to achieve Cult Gaia’s overall product strategy in addition to quality and financial objectives.
• Maintain thorough knowledge of the line (silhouettes, materials, and design details) and is responsible for tracking changes/additions.
• Responsible for brand and product vision by leading the development of creative concepting and product strategy and tying that to business results and profitability.
• Works cross functionally with other categories to ensure brand cohesiveness
• Maintains product integrity through new developments in hardware and material
• Owning all seasonal hardware development for the Accessories team
• Review development samples for corrections, including aesthetics, dimensions, hand feel, functionality, and workmanship.
• Ultimately, the goal is to increase sales in the categories she oversees.

• Design from concept to creation full range of accessory items.
• Design according to brand aesthetic, new and inspiring concepts, emerging trends, seasonal story, sku plan and sales needs; ensure timely execution of product development calendar.
• Lead in concept presentation and line building recaps, in addition to line presentation.
• Create and present design boards for each season showcasing handbags and accessories inspiration, silhouettes, materials, colors, and sketches; ensure accuracy of boards & line sheets throughout development process.
• Responsible for managing the design process from concept to completion
• Lead in identifying seasonal fashion direction, assortment opportunities and merchandise trends for all accessory categories.
• Select and review raw materials and trims. Work closely with PD team to make requests for new articles & trims.
• Approve lab dips with product development team and ensure consistency with color standards.
• Tag all development samples and organize for archive and sample sales.

• Communicate technical information regarding achieving design aesthetic intent and clarity of tech pack information with factories.
• Create full-scale technical specs using the latest Adobe Illustrator and CAD tools Illustrator plugin version to clarify proportions and shape; ensure accuracy of tech packs in Dropbox/WFX throughout development process.
• Provide technical callouts while reviewing line in its entirety to ensure consistency.
• Identify, clearly define, and resolve technical issues and partner with the PD team to ensure comments are communicated.
• Identify opportunities for cost engineering improvement and raw material optimization (seaming, material placement, etc.)
• Email all specs to vendors throughout development process & ensure timely communication via Wechat, Whatsapp, & email to all vendors on a daily basis.
• Keep all Ai and pdf files organized and labeled properly in Dropbox.
• Create and maintain Illustrator component libraries (to scale hardware components, brush strokes, material swatch libraries.)

• Build strong and synergistic relationships…