Junior Designer (Textiles & Bedding) - North Carolina, Near Greensboro)
Job Description
The Junior Designer is responsible for creating art and designing commercially creative knits and/or wovens. An important member of the Design Team, the Junior Designer collaborates with and often supports the design efforts of the GTA Design team as needed. He/she will work cross-functionally with the assigned sales agent and R&D Knit and Woven Managers to ensure product quality and cost targets are met. This individual must be meticulous, creative, and work well in a team environment. This role requires occasional travel within the US (customer meetings + Trade Shows), or internationally (Trade Shows or Training)
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Respond to design briefs, creating new patterns based on the customer vision and direction from the Creative Director
Contribute to the Open Line quarterly collections, National lines and Bi-Yearly ISPA Collection Artistically
Create new and original artwork.
Clean and manipulate design elements to create new patterns.
Interpret purchased art into new designs with multiple iterations.
Revise designs or develop new in response to customer feedback.
Complete pattern drawings in repeat and in required layouts.
Design intentionally by choosing textures and yarns appropriate for established knit qualities.
Choose and scale artwork to the correct size for specific fabric construction.
Embrace a growth mindset by integrating constructive input from the R&D and Design teams, ever evolving her/his expertise.
Embrace curiosity by evaluating color, home, and fashion trend forecasts regularly.
Maintain a digital resource of innovative trends and inspiration ideas targeting specific customer profiles and and/or specific brand DNA.
Stay organized by maintaining customer presentation files, detailed meeting notes and design development wall.
Track fabric samples as they go through knitting, finishing, and sampling.
Collaborate with the Creative Director to self-manage individual timelines ensuring deadlines are met.
Support the Sales Team as needed with customer presentations and specific fabric requests.
Qualification Requirements:
Solid understanding of circular knits, jacquards, and weave constructions
Strong artistic background, ability to create original art or adapt existing art including skills in hand-drawing and illustration.
Ability to translate art into repeats.
Solid working knowledge of EAT or NedGraphics
Skilled in Adobe Suites (Illustrator, Photoshop and 3D Rendering)
Must be able to present and defend a strong portfolio.
Education/Experience:
A BA or BS degree in Textiles is ideal.
Related work or internship experience with a textile manufacturer or fashion brand
Skills and Abilities:
Self-confident; ability to work well both individually and as part of a team.
Excellent communication, presentation, and selling skills.
Ability to foster and develop positive client relationships.
Initiative-taker with the ability to drive for results.
Ability to prioritize and plan work activities.
Uses time efficiently, and develops realistic action plans.
Good judgment with the ability to make timely and sound decisions.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and utilize a phone and computer. The employee is required to walk between the office and the factory. The employee may be required to lift thirty pounds.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Compensation: $50,000+ USD