Associate Handbag Designer: CAD, Materials & Collections

stevemaddencareers; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

401K

Paid holidays

Generous PTO

Job summary

Steve Madden in NYC is seeking an Associate Handbag Designer to support the Design Director from concept through production, focusing on wholesale handbags. On-site in the NYC office, you will work with cross-functional teams to develop seasonal assortments and ensure timely delivery across markets.

The role demands 3–5 years in handbag design, strong sketching and CAD skills, and proficiency in Illustrator/Photoshop. A bachelor’s degree and excellent communication are required for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or related field.
• 3–5 years of design experience, preferably handbags or accessories.
• Strong aesthetic sensibility with high creativity and attention to detail.
• Excellent presentation and visual communication skills.
• Strong illustration and sketching abilities (hand and digital).
• Knowledge of handbag construction, materials, hardware, and trims.
• Highly organized with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and able to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative team player with strong follow-through.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Design Director to develop seasonal handbag assortments for Off Price Accounts.
• Create and maintain professional presentation boards including sketches, materials, hardware, and construction details.
• Support the design team through all stages of the design process across Handbag Accounts.
• Produce CAD drawings and renderings in Illustrator and Photoshop for client presentations.
• Create, manage, and maintain spec sheets across development to production.
• Organize and manage materials, color, and hardware libraries; prepare samples for Market.
• Execute and maintain seasonal line lists aligned with product development calendar.
• Collaborate with Technical Design & Design team to ensure specs from concept to production.
• Participate in design reviews and product walkthroughs with Design Director or SVP.
• Work cross-functionally with Production and Sales to maintain design intent.
• Track development progress and follow up on outstanding items to ensure timely execution.
• Build rapport with factories overseas to ensure timely development of Market Samples.
• Manage multiple projects and deadlines with support when needed.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Multitasking

Sketching (hand)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Steve Madden in NYC is seeking an Associate Handbag Designer to support the Design Director from concept through production, focusing on wholesale handbags. On-site in the NYC office, you will work with cross-functional teams to develop seasonal assortments and ensure timely delivery across markets.

The role demands 3–5 years in handbag design, strong sketching and CAD skills, and proficiency in Illustrator/Photoshop. A bachelor’s degree and excellent communication are required for success.