Product Design & Developer - Surf & Swim

Brand Collective; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pet-friendly workspace

Product allowance & generous discounts

Exclusive LK Group discounts

Access to sample sales

Leave when it matters

Novated leasing

Loyalty rewards

Well-being matters

Job summary

Brand Collective’s Designworks division seeks a Product Designer & Developer to shape surf-inspired apparel from concept to production. You’ll translate trends and customer insights into commercially compelling product, managing design, fabrics, trims, sampling and offshore production.

You’ll collaborate with Buying, Planning, Technical, Production and Sourcing teams to balance innovation with commercial targets and quality, with opportunities to leverage AI-assisted tools for trend research and

Qualifications

• 3–4+ years’ experience in fashion design and development, ideally surf/swim apparel
• Tertiary qualification in Fashion Design or related discipline
• Strong Adobe Illustrator skills and eye for colour, texture, scale and visuals
• Solid knowledge of fabrics, textile construction, trims, garment construction, fit and manufacturing
• Comfortable working with offshore suppliers, critical paths and multiple priorities
• Curious about AI and emerging design technologies, with strong communication and collaboration skills

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal surf and swim ranges informed by customer insights and trends
• Research trends, competitors, fabrics and market opportunities to shape range direction
• Design and develop product from concept through to production, including tech drawings, fabrics, trims, colour and print
• Manage sampling, critical path timelines and offshore supplier relationships to deliver product on time
• Create costing art sheets, range books, mood boards and presentation materials
• Present concepts and product updates to Buyers, licensors and key stakeholders, incorporating feedback
• Partner with Buying, Planning, Technical, Production and Sourcing to deliver commercially successful ranges

Skills

Fashion design

Product development

Adobe Illustrator

Trend analysis

Fabric knowledge

Offshore supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

AI in design

Education

Fashion Design degree

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

ABOUT DESIGNWORKS

Designworks is Brand Collective’s product design, development and sourcing division, partnering with leading brands and retailers to bring commercially successful products to market.

From concept and creative direction through to development, sourcing and production, our team combines design expertise with strong commercial understanding to create product that connects with customers and delivers against the needs of our brand and retail partners.

ROLE IN A NUTSHELL

Join Designworks as a Product Designer & Developer, helping shape exciting surf-inspired apparel and swimwear ranges from initial concept through to finished product.

You’ll translate emerging trends, customer insights and market opportunities into commercially compelling product, owning the design and development journey across trend research, range planning, fabric and trim selection, sampling and offshore production.

Working closely with Buying, Planning, Technical, Production and Sourcing, you’ll bring your creative ideas to life while balancing product innovation, commercial targets and quality. You’ll also have the opportunity to use AI-assisted tools to support trend research, ideation and visual development.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

• Develop seasonal surf and swim ranges informed by customer insights, previous performance and surf & swim trends
• Research trends, competitors, fabrics and market opportunities to shape range direction
• Design and develop product from concept through to production, including technical drawings, fabrics, trims, colour and print
• Manage sampling, critical path timelines and offshore supplier relationships to deliver product on time
• Create costing art sheets, range books, mood boards and presentation materials
• Present concepts and product updates to Buyers, licensors and key stakeholders, incorporating feedback
• Partner with Buying, Planning, Technical, Production and Sourcing to deliver commercially successful ranges

ABOUT YOU

• 3–4+ years’ experience in fashion design and development, ideally across surf, swim or related apparel categories
• Tertiary qualification in Fashion Design or a related discipline
• Strong Adobe Illustrator skills and a confident eye for colour, texture, scale and visual presentation
• Strong understanding of surf and swim customers, trends and commercially relevant product
• Solid knowledge of fabrics, textile construction, trims, garment construction, fit and manufacturing
• Comfortable working with offshore suppliers, critical paths and multiple competing priorities
• Curious about AI and emerging design technologies, with strong communication, organisation and collaboration skills

JUST SOME PERKS WE OFFER

• Pet-friendly workspace – Yes, your furry friend can join you at work!
• Product allowance & Generous discounts – Up to 50% off top brands like Reebok, Superdry, and Elka Collective!
• Exclusive LK Group discounts – Treat yourself to savings at Daniel’s Donuts, Hommey, Snooze & more!
• Access to sample sales – Exclusive to Brand Collective team members only.
• Leave when it matters – Celebration leave, paid parental leave, volunteer leave.
• Novated leasing – Drive your dream car with ease.
• Loyalty rewards – We celebrate your milestones with generous service awards!
• Well-being matters – Corporate Discount on Health Cover, Free access to Mental Health Professionals through our Employee Assistance Program.

READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?

If you’re passionate about surf-inspired apparel, swimwear or activewear and love turning ideas into commercially successful product, we’d love to hear from you.

ABOUT BRAND COLLECTIVE

Brand Collective is one of Australia's most prominent apparel, footwear & sport groups, operating our omnichannel offer across 300+ stores with over 3,000 team members, a comprehensive online business and an extensive wholesale network. Our portfolio ranges from iconic heritage to timeless contemporary, from street culture to considered craftsmanship, and from private label to international luxury fashion brands. We bring brands to life!

At Brand Collective our customers come from all walks of life, and so do we! We value diversity and inclusion in all forms, thus hire based on capability and performance.

Please note: at this time, Brand Collective are not seeking recruitment agency support for this role, and will not be liable for any unsolicited candidate profiles or associated fees.