Associate Designer, Concept

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Associate Designer, Concept will support the West Elm Product Development team in translating seasonal design direction, market trends, and business needs into compelling concept presentations and physical concept environments. This role will partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Visual Merchandising, Facilities, Sample Operations, and senior Product Development leadership to gather inspiration, build concept and presentation decks, and create visually merchandised concept and mockstore spaces that bring each season’s design and merchandising direction to life for business reviews.

• Work closely with Design, Merchandising, and Product Development leadership to understand seasonal creative priorities, business needs, and presentation objectives.
• Research and pull relevant inspiration across home, interiors, retail, art, color, material, lifestyle, and competitive trends to support seasonal concept development.
• Translate design direction and trend research into clear, compelling concept decks, mood boards, presentation boards, and visual storytelling materials.
• Create and maintain digital concept decks and presentation materials used in seasonal reviews, business reviews, and cross-functional alignment meetings.
• Partner with category Design teams across Furniture & Lighting, Decorative Accessories, Textiles, Functional Accessories, Tabletop, and other relevant categories to gather input and ensure concept work reflects the full seasonal assortment direction.
• Collaborate with Merchandising partners to understand product priorities, key stories, customer needs, and business objectives that should be represented in concept presentations and physical spaces.
• Set, style, and maintain concept and mockstore spaces to visually communicate seasonal design and merchandising direction for senior leadership and cross-functional business reviews.
• Partner with Visual Merchandising and store/mockstore teams to create displays, room sets, vignettes, and product presentations that are polished, West Elm brand-right, and aligned to seasonal storytelling.
• Coordinate the movement, placement, styling, and readiness of samples needed for concept spaces, presentation boards, mockstore sets, and seasonal reviews.
• Maintain organization of physical and digital inspiration, samples, boards, presentation assets, and concept materials to support efficient workflow and repeatable processes.
• Track timelines and deliverables for concept decks, room sets, mockstore updates, and review readiness to ensure key calendar milestones are met.
• Support senior Product Development leadership with special projects, seasonal presentations, and visual storytelling needs as assigned.

• MUST provide portfolio link, including password if applicable, on resume or submit PDF work samples with application.
• Degree in Interior Design, Product Design, Visual Merchandising, Styling, Fine Arts, or related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant design, styling, visual merchandising, concept development, or home furnishings experience preferred.
• Home furnishings, interiors, retail, or lifestyle brand experience strongly preferred.
• Experience creating concept decks, mood boards, presentation boards, room sets, vignettes, or visually merchandised spaces required.
• Highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator; proficiency in PowerPoint/Keynote or similar presentation tools required.
• Strong visual eye for color, proportion, scale, styling, merchandising, materials, and seasonal storytelling.
• Ability to translate creative direction and business priorities into clear…