Jr Concept Designer Trend

Kellwood Company; California, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending

401(k)

Employee Assistance

Employee Discount

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

and more!

Job summary

Kellwood Company is seeking a fashion/trend/concept designer to support seasonal concepts and creative direction. You will build mood boards, create concept decks, and synthesize runways and market insights for internal review.

The role requires strong layout skills in InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop, familiarity with AI image tools, and the ability to collaborate across design, sales, and concept teams. Internship count is acceptable for early experience.

Qualifications

• 1-6 years experience in fashion/trend/concept design or related role.
• Degree or coursework in Fashion Design or Graphic Design preferred.
• Strong layout and presentation skills in InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop.
• Familiarity with AI image tools and workflow integration.
• Experience with trend research and concise market intel reports.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and time-management.

Responsibilities

• Assist with seasonal concept development and creative direction for product categories.
• Build mood boards and visual storyboards for internal review.
• Create layouts for concept decks using InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop.
• Conduct trend analysis and synthesize insights into reports.
• Monitor trend platforms and market activity; produce intel summaries.
• Use AI tools to generate imagery and refine outputs in Adobe.
• Provide data-backed recommendations linking trends to opportunities.
• Maintain trend libraries and seasonal concept documentation.
• Collaborate with design, sales, and concept teams for feasibility.
• Support ad-hoc presentations; manage project timelines.
• Coordinate with photographers, stylists, models, and vendors.

Skills

Strong visual sensibility

Organization & time-management

Excellent communication & teamwork

Detail-oriented

Proactive learner

Education

Fashion Design

Graphic Design

Tools

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Midjourney

DALL·E

Adobe Firefly

Job description

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist with seasonal concept development and creative direction for product categories
• Build cohesive physical and digital mood boards and visual storyboards for internal review
• Create clean, presentation-ready layouts for concept decks (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Conduct runway, retail and street-style analysis and synthesize insights into concise trend reports
• Monitor trend forecasting platforms and competitive market activity; produce weekly/monthly market intel summaries
• Use AI-assisted tools to generate concept imagery, iterate design ideas, and speed visual research; refine outputs in Adobe
• Prepare clear, data-backed recommendations linking trends to product and commercial opportunities
• Maintain trend libraries, image archives, and seasonal concept documentation
• Collaborate with design, sales, and concept teams to ensure concept integrity and feasibility
• Support ad-hoc presentations; manage project timelines
• Liaise with photographers, stylists, models, and production vendors to ensure creative intent and timelines are met

Position Specifications / Qualifications

• 1-6 years experience in fashion/trend/concept design, visual merchandising, marketing or related role (internships count)
• Degree or coursework in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Creative Production, or related field preferred
• Strong layout and presentation skills. InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop a must
• Familiarity with AI image tools and workflow integration (e.g., Midjourney, DALL·E, Adobe Firefly or equivalent)
• Experience with trend research tools and platforms and comfortable writing concise market intel reports
• Strong visual sensibility, organization, and time-management skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; ability to take direction and iterate quickly
• Eager to learn, proactive, and detail oriented

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience with photo editing and retouching
• Exposure to merchandising/assortment planning or retail analytics
• Experience creating or managing digital asset libraries
• Photoshoot coordination / art direction experience

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending
• 401(k)
• Employee Assistance
• Employee Discount
• Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave
• and more!

Kellwood is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.