Design Director: Lead Creative & Product Development

American Exchange Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Jonathan Adler seeks a highly creative Design Director to lead the product design team and oversee the development of our portfolio, translating the creative vision into compelling collections across furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles, and more.

Reporting to the President and collaborating with the Founder and Creative Director, the role establishes priorities, drives the product calendar, and ensures timely progression from concept to production while maintaining brand standards and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Industrial Design, Furniture Design, or related field.
• 5–10 years of product/industrial design experience, including leadership or managing designers.
• Experience designing and bringing furniture, lighting, home accessories, or premium consumer products to market.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design team to translate the creative vision into compelling product collections across furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles, and other categories.
• Establish a disciplined product design and development calendar with clear priorities and milestones.
• Create briefs, reviews, and approvals with internal teams and manufacturing partners.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Merchandising, Sourcing, and Production to balance design intent with cost and timing.
• Review prototypes and materials to improve product execution and quality.
• Build strong relationships with domestic and international manufacturing partners.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Portfolio

Product thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Design

5–10 years design experience including leadership

Tools

Factories & suppliers

Job description

Jonathan Adler seeks a highly creative Design Director to lead the product design team and oversee the development of our portfolio, translating the creative vision into compelling collections across furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles, and more.

Reporting to the President and collaborating with the Founder and Creative Director, the role establishes priorities, drives the product calendar, and ensures timely progression from concept to production while maintaining brand standards and