Design Director

Emilia Wickstead; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent fashion house is seeking a Design Director to head the Design Team and work closely with the Creative Director. This role involves managing collections, ensuring timely product delivery, and inspiring creativity within the team while balancing commercial objectives and design integrity.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a Womenswear Senior Designer.
• Strong brand understanding and luxury sensibility.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the entire design process, ensuring alignment with the brand's DNA.
• Ensure critical path deadlines are maintained.
• Lead, motivate, coach, and develop a small design team.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Team Management

Creativity

Problem Solving

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Excel

Office Suite

Job description

Design Director

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced creative team player who enjoys making a difference in a small and entrepreneurial environment and who, alongside the Creative Director, is able to advance our collections.

This candidate will head the Design Team at Emilia Wickstead and step in for the Creative Director whenever required

They will be responsible for 4 main collections per year, capsule collections, as well as all other product development streams. They will therefore work closely with the rest of the Design Team, Product Development, and Commercial on the product strategy, development and design of all Emilia Wickstead lines.

The role will also be responsible for ensuring that each collection is brought to market in a timely and profitable manner. A background in commercial, product-led design is required as well as an ability to create and develop original initial design ideas.

This leader will inspire and develop the design team to enable high performance, both in quality and quantity, of aesthetically relevant creative outputs as well as collaborate and productively partner with cross-functional peers.

Responsibilities:

Creative Design:

• Lead the entire design process, ensuring that designs are in keeping with the brand's DNA and meet the approval of the creative director. This includes managing the creative process from start to finish: defining concepts and inspirations; researching themes, colours, and fabrics; conducting market research; designing and sketching; draping and leading the sample room from first toile to final sample.
• Produce research, sketches, draping and construction pages for all designs, as well as creating presentation boards.
• Create and develop mood boards and original inspiration themes for seasonal collections
• Leading fitting in development, production and show
• Collaborate with Atelier and problem solve where necessary
• Creative advisory on shoots and shows

Business and strategic:

• Ensure critical path deadlines are maintained, working closely with the COO and Leadership Team
• Prepare/manage and present at milestone meetings (internal/external)
• Implement the company's strategic guidelines
• Manage suppliers and budgets

Leadership:

• Lead, motivate, coach and develop a small design team
• Set manage and review daily, weekly and quarterly team objectives to ensure they align to the creative and organisational strategic plan
• Lead bi-weekly meetings with the Design team
• Sourcing and employ freelancers and external support partners where required
• One to one directing and guiding individual designer’s work

Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience as a Womenswear Senior Designer
• Strong communication and leadership skills, able to manage a small team and communicate frequently and accurately with the rest of the business
• A self-starter, able to delegate where appropriate
• Confidence and resilience to work closely with and support the Creative Director in the creative process, standing in for her whenever required
• Strong brand understanding and luxury sensibility
• Ability to work well under pressure, multi task and meet critical deadlines that impact the overall business
• Ability to work cross-functionally, building strong relationships with other departments
• Experience in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Excel and Office Suite

NOTE: Please attach some current examples of your work to this application.

Please specify salary expectations alongside your application and confirm that you have the right to work without restriction in the UK.