Assistant Handbag Designer - NYC

Steve Madden•New York, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Handbag Designer supports the Design Director and Senior Designers in developing seasonal handbag collections from concept through production. The role provides design and product-development support across Wholesale Handbags accounts, helping ensure accuracy, organization, and timely execution. The position is based in the company’s NYC office and requires working onsite four days per week and from home one day per week.

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 with cross-functional teams and overseas vendors.
Ability to multitask, adapt to changing priorities, and maintain progress on existing projects.
Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Working knowledge of handbag construction, materials, hardware, and trims.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
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 assortments for Wholesale and Off-Price accounts.
Assist across all stages of the design process and help keep work aligned with the seasonal calendar for handbags, gifting, and small leather goods.
Create CAD drawings, technical sketches, and renderings in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for presentations, sample development, and vendor communication.
Create, update, and maintain specification sheets, keeping design details, construction information, and materials accurate throughout development and production.
Track lab dips, organize approval samples, and update seasonal color charts.
Organize and maintain 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 track incoming and outgoing samples and development pieces.
Collaborate with Technical Design and Product Development to communicate design intent and specifications and support accurate execution.
Track sample development 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.
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.