Associate Design Director, Luggage

Away; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel opportunities

Innovative workplace culture

Job summary

Away, based in New York, is looking for an Associate Design Director to join their Design team. This role will involve leading the entire luggage design process, ensuring products meet Away’s high standards for elevated travel experiences and innovative design.

You will collaborate with various teams to explore new materials and construction methods while mentoring a design team. This position is key to defining the future of luggage at Away and enhancing customer experiences.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of industrial design experience with a focus on luggage or soft/hard goods.
• Strong ability to balance creative ambition with commercial viability.
• Experienced in leading and managing design teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of luggage design from concept to production.
• Drive product innovation and strategy for core luggage lines.
• Mentor and cultivate a high-performing design team.

Skills

Industrial design experience

Fusion 360 proficiency

KeyShot proficiency

Adobe Creative Suite proficiency

Mentoring capability

3D visualization skills

Sketching skills

Communication with overseas factories

Education

Bachelor's degree in Design or related field

Tools

CAD software

AI design tools

Job description

Requirements

• You have at least 7 years of industrial design experience (luggage, technical soft goods, or hard goods) with a proven track record of supervising/mentoring design talent and supporting successful product launches
• You possess an advanced understanding of complex product construction, material R&D, and manufacturing processes, with an interest or experience in leveraging emerging technologies (like AI tools) to optimize team workflows
• You’re highly proficient in Fusion 360, KeyShot, and Adobe Creative Suite, with the ability to guide and upskill direct reports in these tools
• You’re exceptional sketching and 3D visualization skills, with the ability to clearly translate complex design concepts to cross-functional partners and present project directions to senior leadership
• You have a strong ability to balance creative ambition with commercial viability and engineering constraints, ensuring your team’s outputs align with category health and business metrics
• You have direct experience working closely with overseas factories and suppliers, ensuring design intent and quality standards are maintained from prototyping through production
• You are genuinely motivated by mentoring designers and transforming the travel experience through thoughtful, functional, and innovative design
• You can to travel domestically and internationally (up to 20%) to collaborate with global manufacturing partners and attend industry events
• You’re comfortable working in a design studio setting, which includes extended periods of stationary work at a computer and hands-on interaction with physical prototypes, material samples, and luggage hardware
• You’re creative and innovative; you love to build great new things that are fresh and unique while staying on brand
• You’re agile, and motivated by a fast-paced and ever changing environment
• You’re passionate about transforming travel for all (but that’s a given!)
• Excited to join the team, but not sure you meet all of the qualifications? Please apply, we’d still love to hear from you

What the job involves

• We are hiring an Associate Design Director, Luggage, to join our Design team
• This position reports to the Senior Director, Design and takes Away further by defining the future of our core luggage category through innovative industrial design, material R&D, and forward-thinking product strategy
• In this role, you will lead the end-to-end execution of luggage design, ensuring every product delivers on Away’s commitment to elevated travel experiences, functional performance, and our iconic brand aesthetic
• You will drive category innovation by exploring new construction methods and sustainable materials, while modernizing our internal processes by integrating AI-enabled design tools and workflow automation
• You’ll execute and contribute to the design and innovation strategy for core luggage product lines, evolving existing platforms while identifying whitespace opportunities for future growth
• You’ll manage the luggage design strategy in executing seasonal creative direction and long-term category goals, in close alignment with the VP and Senior Design leadership
• You’ll translate consumer insights, travel behaviors, and market trends into scalable, production-ready design systems
• You’ll champion elevated product concepts, new functionalities, and disruptive design thinking within the team to push forward product innovation
• You’ll build, manage, and mentor a high-performing design team, providing tactical creative direction and cultivating a culture of technical excellence
• You’ll deliver against a multi-year innovation roadmap through focused industrial design exploration, material R&D, construction innovation, and manufacturing collaboration
• You’ll evaluate and implement new materials, finishes, and component systems that support performance, durability, sustainability, and brand differentiation
• You’ll partner closely with Product Development and Engineering teams to bridge the gap between design intent, technical feasibility, and manufacturing execution
• You’ll manage and continuously improve material libraries, innovation references, prototyping systems, and AI-assisted design workflows to support rapid concept iteration
• You’ll identify and execute opportunities to improve weight optimization, repairability, and sustainability, enhancing the overall customer experience
• You’ll manage the end-to-end luggage design process from concept development and CAD execution through prototyping, sampling, approvals, and commercialization
• You’ll operationalize scalable workflows, documentation standards, and communication protocols that improve clarity and speed-to-market across Design, PD, and overseas manufacturing partners
• You’ll collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Brand, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure design integrity and category health throughout production
• You’ll participate in global travel and supplier engagement to drive innovation, sourcing, manufacturing alignment, and competitive research