Senior Handbag Designer

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

Job summary

Gap Inc. in New York invites a seasoned design leader to set the global design direction for a key product line, balancing customer needs with brand equity. You will steer concept development and ensure design excellence from concept to store and digital touchpoints.

Collaborate with Merchandising, Production, Tech Design, GIS, Visual Merchandising and Marketing to deliver compelling assortments, translating vision into tech packs and margins.

Qualifications

• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, collaborative environment.
• Elevated sense of style, aesthetic, and color; translate trends to customer and brand.
• Thorough knowledge of silhouette, fit, fabrication, construction, color use, sewing techniques.
• Proficient with Illustrator and Excel for design and data tasks.
• Ability to filter, analyze, and validate complex concepts in product development.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for design area and team.
• Provide creative direction and coaching to a high performing team.
• Research global markets to identify seasonal trends, silhouettes, fabrics, and inspiration.
• Develop concepts and sketches for product line and advocate to leadership and cross functional partners.
• Develop strong cross functional relationships to ensure seamless concept to store execution.
• Partner with Production and Tech Design to create tech packs and communicate design vision.
• Collaborate and lead others in key design initiatives and their implementation.

Skills

Creative Direction

Team Leadership

Trend Research

Adobe Illustrator

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About the Role

In this role, you will work in an energizing, inclusive, and creative environment focused on concepting and creating sustainable product that exceeds customers' expectations. Your goal is to partner with cross functional team members who collectively are responsible for ensuring that the product style, fit, and quality are more than worth the price for our customers. You will set the overall global design direction for the conceptual development of a specific product line. Must lean into risk taking and be customer curious!

What You'll Do

• Set strategic direction for product area and team

• Provide creative direction and coaching to develop a motivated, high performing team

• Research global markets in order to identify new seasonal trends, silhouettes, fabrics, techniques, product categories and competitive inspiration

• Develop concepts and sketches for product line and advocate for design ideas by presenting to internal leadership and cross functional partners

• Develop strong internal cross functional relationships with Merchandising, Production, Technical design, Gap Inc Sourcing (GIS), Visual Merchandising and Marketing to ensure product concept to store and site execution is a seamless customer experience

• Partner with Production and Tech Design to create tech packs and communicate vision behind fit and product design, ensuring execution, quality, and desired margin targets are achieved

• Collaborate and lead others in key design and product initiatives and their implementation

Who You Are

• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and highly collaborative environment, with the ability to juggle multiple seasons at one time and track development deadlines

• Possess an elevated sense of style, aesthetic, and color and understand how to translate trends through the lens of the customer and brand filter

• Thorough knowledge of silhouette, fit, fabrication, construction, color use, sewing techniques, and trim; computer knowledge including Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Excel

• Evaluate sometimes complex situations using multiple sources of information (internal and external sources)

• Able to filter, prioritize, analyze, and validate potentially complex in-depth understanding of concepts and procedures throughout the product creation process related to garment construction, hand sketching, and fabric, and understanding of procedures and concepts in other areas, such as merchandising and product development.