Design Director

Jobtailor; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jonathan Adler, a premier design house in New York, seeks a Senior Product Design Leader to steer the creative direction across furniture, lighting and home accents. You will mentor the design team, translate creative briefs into actionable plans, and ensure timely delivery that balances brand vision with commercial needs.

The role emphasizes collaboration with Merchandising and Product Development, managing calendars, and driving design excellence from concept through production.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years in product or industrial design leadership for premium consumer products
• Portfolio demonstrating furniture, lighting, home accessories product thinking
• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing, construction techniques
• Experience collaborating with factories and suppliers
• Proven ability to balance creative vision with cost, manufacturing, quality and timing

Responsibilities

• Partner with Founder and Creative Director to execute creative vision
• Lead conceptual development across furniture, lighting, and home categories
• Translate direction into design briefs aligning brand vision with commercial goals
• Guide design team and maintain high design quality aligned with Jonathan Adler POV
• Establish and manage product design calendar and milestones
• Review prototypes and construction throughout development
• Foster an organized, collaborative, high-performing design culture
• Develop and mentor the design team and cross-functional partners

Skills

Leadership

Product Design Leadership

Creative Direction

Team Mentorship

Communication

Project Management

Presentation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Design

Tools

CAD/3D Modeling

Job description

• Partner closely with the Founder and Creative Director to interpret and execute the creative vision for Jonathan Adler's product portfolio
• Lead the conceptual development of new collections and products across furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles, and other categories
• Translate creative direction into clear and actionable design briefs balancing brand vision, customer needs, commercial objectives, budgets, and timelines
• Guide the design team throughout development, maintaining high design quality and alignment with the Jonathan Adler point of view
• Partner with Merchandising and Product Development to identify opportunities and evolve categories and collections
• Establish and manage the product design and development calendar
• Set priorities, milestones, deliverables, and review points; keep projects on track and stakeholders informed
• Create consistent processes for design briefs, creative reviews, presentations, approvals, and communication with internal teams and manufacturing partners
• Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, Sourcing, and Production to balance design intent with cost, manufacturing, quality, and timing
• Review prototypes, samples, materials, and construction throughout development
• Build relationships with domestic and international manufacturing partners and identify new suppliers or production resources where appropriate
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Jonathan Adler product design team
• Create expectations, priorities, and accountability across the department
• Conduct creative and development reviews, providing direction and ensuring appropriate progress
• Foster an organized, collaborative, and high-performing creative culture

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Industrial Design, Furniture Design, or a related discipline
• 5–10 years of relevant product or industrial design experience, including experience leading or managing designers
• Demonstrated experience designing and bringing furniture, lighting, home accessories, or other premium consumer products to market
• A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional design ability, creative judgment, and product thinking
• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, construction techniques, and product development
• Experience working directly with factories and suppliers
• Strong leadership, communication, presentation, and organizational skills
• Ability to balance creative ambition with practical considerations including cost, manufacturing, quality, and timing
• Preferred: Experience working with a premium furniture, interiors, home, or lifestyle brand
• Preferred: Experience across multiple product categories, particularly furniture, lighting, and home accessories
• Preferred: Existing relationships with domestic or international manufacturers and suppliers

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in product design and development, with a strong focus on furniture, lighting, and home accessories. Proven ability to lead design teams, manage projects, and balance creative vision with practical manufacturing considerations.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Product Design Leadership
• Furniture Design Experience
• Materials and Manufacturing Knowledge
• Creative Direction Execution
• Team Mentorship and Development

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Product Design
• Industrial Design
• Furniture Design
• Lighting Design
• Home Accessories Design
• Design Brief Development
• Prototype Review
• Construction Techniques
• Product Development
• Creative Judgment

Soft Skills

• Leadership
• Communication
• Presentation
• Organizational Skills
• Collaboration

Certifications & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Design

Industry Keywords

• Premium Consumer Products
• Manufacturing Processes
• Design Quality
• Creative Culture
• Supplier Relationships