Assistant Handbag Designer - NYC

Steve Madden•New York, NY

2d•$26 - $28•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Handbag Designer supports the Design Director and Senior Designers in developing seasonal handbag collections from concept through production for the Wholesale Handbags business. The role provides design and product-development support across Wholesale and Off-Price accounts, including handbags, gifting, and small leather goods, and helps ensure accurate, organized, and timely execution throughout the development process. The position is based in the company's New York City office and requires working on-site four days per week and from home one day per week. The assistant creates design and technical materials, maintains specifications and design resources, tracks samples and development milestones, and collaborates with internal teams and overseas vendors to support seasonal collections.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Accessories Design, or a related field.
1–3 years of design experience.
Strong creative eye and understanding of current market trends and consumer preferences.
Excellent illustration, sketching, and visual presentation skills.
Understanding of handbag construction, materials, hardware, and manufacturing processes.
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Strong organizational, time-management, and project-management skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to prioritize workload and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Detail-oriented, proactive, and highly motivated.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and overseas vendors.
Ability to multitask and adapt quickly to changing priorities while keeping projects moving.
Ability to work collaboratively while demonstrating initiative and ownership of assigned responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Design experience in handbags, accessories, or related categories.
Experience working with leather, PVC, and other handbag materials.

Responsibilities

Support the Design Director and Senior Designers in developing seasonal handbag assortments for Wholesale and Off-Price accounts.
Assist the design team throughout the design process and help maintain alignment with seasonal calendars across handbags, gifting, and small leather goods.
Create CAD drawings, technical sketches, and renderings using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for presentations, sample development, and vendor communication.
Create, update, and maintain specification sheets, ensuring design details, construction information, and materials remain accurate throughout development and production.
Track lab dips, organize approval samples, and update seasonal color charts to maintain color standards.
Organize and manage material, color, trim, and hardware libraries.
Prepare presentation boards, sample reviews, and materials for market meetings, client presentations, and internal design reviews.
Maintain and organize the sample closet and accurately track incoming and outgoing samples and development pieces.
Collaborate with Technical Design and Product Development to communicate design intent and specifications clearly and ensure accurate execution.
Track sample development progress and follow up with overseas factories and cross-functional teams to meet milestones and deadlines.
Build and maintain working relationships with overseas vendors and factories to support sample execution and development.
Help maintain seasonal line lists, development trackers, and other design documentation.
Support communication with Production, Technical Design, Merchandising, and Sales throughout the product lifecycle.
Manage multiple projects while maintaining accuracy, organization, and attention to detail.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.