Design Director, Handbags

Confidential; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential seeks a Design Director to lead handbag design for a premium leather brand experiencing rapid growth. You will drive seasonal concepts, translate brand identity into a cohesive product line, and mentor a creative team to execute high-impact collections across materials, hardware, and color palettes.

You will collaborate with overseas factories, manage tech packs and CAD work, and ensure timely delivery in a fast-paced environment while upholding brand DNA and premium aesthetics.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of handbag design experience.
• Expert proficiency in Mac software: Adobe Creative Suite-Photoshop, Illustrator and Microsoft Word, and Excel.
• Strong skills in creating tech packs and color CAD.
• Experience working and communicating with overseas factories on development & production.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and prioritize projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organization skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Drive seasonal concepts and design storytelling to create a cohesive product assortment.
• Translate the brand identity and creative vision into compelling product design and define a distinct aesthetic through brand DNA lens.
• Research and develop inspiration boards to convey seasonal stories and inspire the team; bring new ideas and innovative concepts.
• Partner with team to refine seasonal concepts, materials, hardware, and color palette.
• Think innovatively at all stages of the creative, design, and development process.
• Develop design strategies that support incremental growth to the handbag business.
• Adhere to Product Development Calendar, aligning with the merchandise strategy to bring the right product in at the right time.
• Sound understanding of materials, including leathers, fabrics and hardware development.

Skills

Handbag design

Brand storytelling

Design communication

Project prioritization

Team collaboration

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

Come join our growing team as the new Design Director for our established premium leather brand, retailing for $195-$395 and sold at better retailers nationwide. You'll have full visibility and inclusion into the day to day business and brand-growing activities. The brand is going through a massive growth phase and there's never been a more exciting time to lay the foundation for the future.

Responsibilities:

• Drive seasonal concepts and design storytelling to create a cohesive product assortment
• Translate the brand identity and creative vision into compelling product design, and continue to define a distinct aesthetic through brand DNA lens
• Research and develop inspiration boards to convey the seasonal creative stories and inspire the team; Continuously bring new ideas and innovative concepts that enhance the collection
• Partner with team to refine seasonal concepts, materials, hardware, and color palette
• Think innovatively at all stages of the creative, design, and development process;
• Develop design strategies that support incremental growth to the handbag business
• Adhere to Product Development Calendar, closely aligning with the merchandise strategy to bring the right product in at the right time
• Sound understanding of materials, including leathers, fabrics and hardware development

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of handbag design experience required.
• Expert proficiency in Mac software: Adobe Creative Suite-Photoshop, Illustrator and Microsoft Word, and Excel.
• Strong skills in creating tech packs and color CAD.
• Experience working and communicating with the overseas factories on development & production.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and prioritize projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organization skills and attention to detail.