Associate Industrial Designer

Gemline; Lawrence (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Gemline is seeking a hands-on Industrial Designer to shape soft goods like bags, backpacks, totes, and duffels within our in‑house Design team in Lawrence, MA. You’ll translate consumer insights into practical, durable designs while collaborating with cross-functional partners to drive product innovation and storytelling.

The ideal candidate has 0–2 years of experience, a portfolio demonstrating CMF sensibility and sketching, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; SolidWorks is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design and 0–2 years of relevant product design experience (internships, co-ops, freelance work, or strong academic projects).
• Portfolio demonstrating soft goods, cut-and-sew construction, CMF sensibility, sketching, technical drawing, product development, and consumer-focused design thinking.
• Strong ability to design and develop products that function well, have marketable features, and meet production requirements.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign; basic knowledge of SolidWorks is a plus; proficient in Microsoft Office, especially PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Design new soft-sided bags and accessories for cross-category collections.
• Conduct in-depth cultural, product, and consumer trend research to identify opportunities.
• Explore CMF direction (color, materials, finishes, fabrics, trims, hardware) to support storytelling and cohesion.
• Apply Circular Design Principles as a decision-making filter.
• Create concept sketches, renderings, 3D prototypes, and samples to develop concepts.
• Produce accurate technical drawings and three-quarter views for the China-based technical center.
• Manage multiple projects from concept to prototype within launch timelines.
• Refine concepts to meet business objectives and production requirements.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration and communicate design direction effectively.

Skills

Industrial design

CMF sensibility

Sketching

Presentation

Product development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

SolidWorks

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

THE COMPANY

Founded in 1958, Gemline is a multi-award-winning consumer products supplier servicing the $27B promotional products industry and is recognized as one of the largest and most respected companies in its industry. Ranked as the 12th largest supplier in revenues industrywide by the Advertising Specialty Institute, Gemline offers a diverse product portfolio that includes bags, backpacks, headwear, umbrellas, luggage, drinkware, electronics, stationery, writing instruments, gourmet foods, lifestyle gifts, and more. In addition to its 12 in-house developed brands, Gemline partners with 34 renowned global consumer brands, including Ahead™, American Tourister®, Anker®, Cool Gear®, CORKCICLE®, Cuisinart®, Hartmann®, High Sierra®, Igloo®, iLive®, MiiR®, Moleskine®, New Balance®, Osprey®, Paper Mate®, Samsonite®, Sharpie®, Timbuk2®, Yankee Candle® and more.

Gemline is widely recognized for its high-quality products, innovative design, retail brand portfolio, responsible business practices and exceptional customer service. The company has deep expertise in design, product engineering & development, CI/Lean, factory oversight, compliance and global sourcing diversification, and is an industry leader in sustainably made products. Its business model makes the process seamless and efficient for distributor partners, creating a strong B2B2B experience.

At Gemline, community is at the core of the company’s purpose, "We Promote Community," which shapes the company’s culture, influences product design, and drives its commitment to creating a positive global impact. Guided by its betterwayTM corporate social responsibility efforts, Gemline focuses on bettering people and the environment. In 2024, the company became both a globally certified B Corporation and registered Massachusetts B Corporation, reinforcing its dedication to balancing purpose and profit.

Gemline has been recognized as one of the Greatest Companies to Work For on multiple occasions, and most recently in 2025 by PPAI, a leading industry association. "Pride in People, Pride in Product" is more than a motto at Gemline, it is a way of life. The company’s associates play a crucial role in delivering an exceptional customer experience, guided by strong foundational values of trust, integrity, humility, diversity, community, and truth. Gemline's success reflects its associates' success, and its culture thrives on collaboration, initiative, continuous problem-solving, safety, and respect for people.

Headquartered in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Gemline operates an integrated light manufacturing facility and distribution center, along with a secondary overflow warehouse, also in Lawrence. Additionally, the company operates a global technical center in Southern China that manages supply chain functions across Asia, including product development, sourcing, quality assurance, compliance, and logistics. It also has two sourcing offices in Vietnam and India. With approximately $140 million in annual revenue and 500 employees worldwide, Gemline is poised for continued growth.

THE ROLE

We’re seeking a hands-on, product-obsessed Industrial Designer who is passionate about soft goods, consumer insight, sustainability, and creating products people use every day. You’ll design bags, accessories, and lifestyle products such as backpacks, coolers, totes, and duffels as part of Gemline’s collaborative in-house Design team.

In this role, you’ll work closely with Gemline’s Design team and cross-functional partners to help shape future product assortments through research, CMF exploration, product innovation, and storytelling. You’ll receive mentorship from your manager and learn through day-to-day collaboration with other designers on the team. As a B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation, Gemline’s Circular Design Principles guide how we think about durability, material impact, resource efficiency, and responsible product decisions.

The ideal candidate will be a curious and creative problem solver who enjoys translating consumer insights into practical, thoughtful product solutions. This role supports both Gemline’s in-line assortment and custom business, including products for a wide range of businesses, and retail brand partners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design new soft-sided bags and accessories that contribute to cross-category collections.
• Innovate through in-depth cultural, product, and consumer trend research, synthesizing insights into relevant product opportunities.
• Explore CMF direction, including color, materials, finishes, fabrics, trims, and hardware that support product storytelling, function, and collection cohesion.
• Apply Gemline's Circular Design Principles as a decision-making filter throughout the design process.
• Champion hands-on exploration to create innovative design concepts and collections through concept sketches, virtual renderings, 3D prototyping, and sampling.
• Build accurate technical drawings and three-quarter views to communicate visually with our technical center team in China.
• Manage the design and development of multiple projects simultaneously, partnering with the Product Development team from concept through final prototype in accordance with the launch calendar.
• Obsess over the details to deliver functional items with features that the consumer will value.
• Refine product concepts to meet business objectives and production requirements.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships by sharing information, valuing different perspectives, solving problems, and working toward consensus.
• Confidently present trend forecasts, product direction, and supporting narrative stories to internal and external audiences.
• Embrace a lean work environment and look for ways to continuously evolve standard processes and implement improvements.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design.
• Recent graduate or early-career Industrial Designer with 0-2 years of relevant product design experience, including internships, co-ops, freelance work, or strong academic studio projects.
• Portfolio demonstrating soft goods, cut-and-sew construction, CMF sensibility, sketching, technical drawing, product development, and/or consumer-focused design thinking.
• Strong ability to design and develop products that function well, have marketable features, and meet production requirements.
• Passion for research and synthesis of cultural, product, and consumer trends.
• Strong visual, verbal, and presentation communication skills for varied audiences.
• Enthusiasm for domestic and international travel, up to 5%.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Basic knowledge of SolidWorks is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially PowerPoint.
• Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovates to achieve great results.
• Establishes and maintains trusting relationships through collaboration, clear, honest communication, and humility. Creates a space for others to do the same.
• Holds a high standard for personal performance, accuracy, and follow-through.
• Exceptional organization skills required as well as the ability to prioritize workflow based on deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactively identifies potential challenges, asks thoughtful questions, and takes action to solve problems before they impact project timelines.
• Integrates curiosity and imagination into their creative process to inspire fresh solutions and new ideas.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Our Company takes the security and privacy of job applicants very seriously. We will never ask for payment, bank details, or personal financial information as part of the application process. All our legitimate job postings can be found on our official website under the careers section (https://www.gemline.com/s/careers).