Design Manager - Accessories

Kurt Geiger; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading footwear and accessories brand in London is seeking a highly creative Design Manager to develop customer-centric accessories collections in line with the company's strategic vision. You will collaborate closely with the VP of Design to ensure collections align with brand strategy, while also mentoring other team members. The role demands extensive experience in accessories design and a strong creative flair.

Benefits

Competitive basic salary

Pension and life assurance

Enviable discounts

Gym Discounts

Summer Hours - 3pm Friday Finish

Half Day, Payday Friday (once per month)

RetailTrust support

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in accessories and bag design.
• Strong understanding of colour, texture, and materials.
• Solid practical knowledge of production techniques.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop customer-centric accessories each season.
• Identify and respond to emerging trends.
• Produce clear technical drawings for suppliers.

Skills

Accessories design

Trend analysis

Technical drawing

Collaboration

Innovation

Job description

Footwear Designer

Kurt Geiger | About Us

We are an inclusive, creative footwear and accessories brand powered by kindness. We want to empower our talent to be confident and true to themselves, the London way. London is our home, our heartbeat, and we draw inspiration from the energy and spirit of the city; its diversity and creativity. For over fifty years our team of in-house shoe and accessory designers have been creating authentic, distinctive designs from our London headquarters. The rainbow is our signature. It represents the good energy and love we have for our community and the many ways we collectively express our individual style.

We Are One: For Love | For Diversity | For Change | For Equality | For Kindness | For Freedom | For Unity | Against Racism

We're seeking a highly creative and commercially minded Design Manager to collaborate closely with the VP of Design across seasonal, market-focused bag collections. You'll help translate the overarching creative vision into refined, commercially relevant designs, ensuring collections align with brand strategy and evolving trends. Alongside developing your own original design concepts, you'll help guide and support other members of the design team, contributing to a collaborative, high-performing creative environment.

Requirements

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop customer-centric accessories collections each season in line with the company's strategic vision
• Proactively identify and respond to emerging trends and translate them into commercially viable bag concepts
• Focus on developing innovative, trend-relevant bag shapes with a strong sense of brand identity
• Conduct thorough research on materials, trims, and techniques to inform design development
• Create original designs and concepts that balance creativity with commerciality
• Collaborate with the VP of Design to build collection plans and ensure all critical path deadlines are met
• Produce clear technical drawings and specifications for suppliers
• Liaise closely with Buying and Production teams to ensure all design details are finalized and production-ready
• Deliver consistently high-quality work, meeting design targets and tight deadlines
  
  

About You:

• Extensive experience in accessories and bag design, with a strong portfolio demonstrating commercial and creative success
• A strong understanding of colour, texture, materials, and evolving fashion trends
• Confident presenting ideas and concepts in both formal and informal settings
• Solid practical knowledge of production techniques and manufacturing processes
• A flair for design, with exceptional creativity and a strong eye for detail
• Capable of generating original ideas inspired by trends, with a focus on brand growth and relevance
• Highly self-motivated and able to work independently, while also thriving within a collaborative team environment
• A genuine passion for the Kurt Geiger brand, our collections, and the evolving world of fashion accessories
  
  

Benefits

• Competitive basic salary
• Pension and life assurance
• Enviable discounts
• Gym Discounts
• Summer Hours - 3pm Friday Finish
• Half Day, Payday Friday (once per month)
• RetailTrust support
• & so much more!
  
  

Our Culture

We're an energic fast-paced brand that embraces progress and strives for innovation. Hard work is rewarded with new opportunities at every level and kindness is celebrated in everything we do. Our summer working hours accommodate a healthy work life balance. Wellbeing is important to our working culture, which is why we nurture a friendly environment for talent to thrive in, alongside a vibrant social community.

Our Stores

The first Kurt Geiger store opened on London Bond street in 1963. Today, our brand has global appeal and is distributed in hundreds of cities around the world. We operate over 70 stand-alone stores nationwide, including our new flagship store on London Oxford street, and in over 400 stores globally. Beyond stand-alone stores and retail pop ups, our retail partners include some of the world's most famous department stores.