Design Director – Baby

Solomon Page; Fairfield (CT); Hybrid; USD 153,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

Solomon Page is seeking an accomplished design leader with experience in the baby/toddler category to shape the product vision for a growing lifestyle brand serving babies, children, and families.

This individual will oversee the creative direction of apparel, sleepwear, and related product categories while ensuring collections deliver a strong combination of brand relevance, innovation, quality, and commercial success.

Qualifications

• Strong product knowledge across apparel categories, including fabrications, prints, color, fit and garment construction.
• Experience translating market trends and consumer insights into commercially successful product assortments.
• Creative leadership with ability to balance brand identity and business objectives.
• Excellent communication, presentation and influencing skills.
• Proven ability to lead and develop creative teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal product strategies that align with brand objectives and market opportunities.
• Direct the creation of color palettes, prints, graphics, fabric concepts, silhouettes, and assortment architecture.
• Interpret consumer behavior, cultural influences, lifestyle trends, and competitive insights to inform product direction.
• Champion innovation while maintaining consistency with the brand’s established identity and values.
• Lead the design process from creative inception through final approval and market launch.
• Present concepts, seasonal strategies, and product direction to executive stakeholders and key external partners.
• Partner closely with Merchandising, Sales, Product Development, Sourcing, Marketing, and Digital teams to build compelling assortments.
• Ensure product offerings align with customer expectations, pricing strategies, channel needs, and overall business objectives.
• Collaborate on fabric development, garment construction, fit, quality standards, costing, and production feasibility.
• Utilize sales performance, customer insights, and market intelligence to drive informed product decisions.
• Contribute to long-range planning and category growth initiatives.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing design organization.
• Foster a culture of creativity, ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Manage seasonal calendars, team priorities, and workflow efficiency to ensure timely execution.
• Establish strong partnerships across all functional areas to support successful product commercialization.
• Occasional domestic and international travel for inspiration, market research, vendor collaboration, and product development.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Product Design

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

We are seeking an accomplished design leader with experience in the baby/toddler category to shape and drive the product vision for a growing lifestyle brand serving babies, children, and families. This individual will be responsible for overseeing the creative direction of apparel, sleepwear, and related product categories while ensuring collections deliver a strong combination of brand relevance, innovation, quality, and commercial success. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with exceptional creative instincts, deep product expertise, and the ability to balance trend-right design with the realities of the marketplace. This leader will work cross-functionally with executive leadership and key business partners to bring compelling product assortments to life from concept through execution.

• This role is 3 days in-office in Connecticut with convenient access from the Metro North Train Station. The salary range is approximately $170,000 based on experience.

Responsibilities:

Product Vision & Brand Evolution

• Develop seasonal product strategies that align with brand objectives and market opportunities.
• Direct the creation of color palettes, prints, graphics, fabric concepts, silhouettes, and assortment architecture.
• Interpret consumer behavior, cultural influences, lifestyle trends, and competitive insights to inform product direction.
• Champion innovation while maintaining consistency with the brand’s established identity and values.
• Lead the design process from creative inception through final approval and market launch.
• Present concepts, seasonal strategies, and product direction to executive stakeholders and key external partners.

Business & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Merchandising, Sales, Product Development, Sourcing, Marketing, and Digital teams to build compelling assortments.
• Ensure product offerings align with customer expectations, pricing strategies, channel needs, and overall business objectives.
• Collaborate on fabric development, garment construction, fit, quality standards, costing, and production feasibility.
• Utilize sales performance, customer insights, and market intelligence to drive informed product decisions.
• Contribute to long-range planning and category growth initiatives.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing design organization.
• Foster a culture of creativity, ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Manage seasonal calendars, team priorities, and workflow efficiency to ensure timely execution.
• Establish strong partnerships across all functional areas to support successful product commercialization.

Travel

• Occasional domestic and international travel required for inspiration, market research, vendor collaboration, and product development activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Product Design, or a related field preferred.
• 10 years of progressive apparel design experience, within the Children’s category.
• Previous experience managing and developing creative teams.
• Strong product knowledge across apparel categories, including fabrications, print development, color, fit, and garment construction.
• Experience translating market trends and consumer insights into commercially successful product assortments.
• Demonstrated ability to balance creative aspirations with business objectives.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Strong project management and operational planning capabilities.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and modern design platforms.
• Experience within children’s, baby, or family-focused brands is highly desirable.
• Strategic & Consumer-Oriented: Understands evolving customer preferences and market dynamics.
• Creative Problem Solver: Brings fresh thinking and innovative product ideas while respecting brand integrity.
• Business Savvy: Appreciates the balance between design excellence, profitability, and growth objectives.
• Operationally Strong: Establishes effective processes, manages priorities, and drives accountability across teams.
• Collaborative Influencer: Builds productive partnerships and gains alignment across multiple stakeholders.
• Agile & Growth Minded: Thrives in fast-moving environments and embraces change as an opportunity.
• People Leader: Coaches talent, develops future leaders, and creates a positive team culture.