Associate Design Director, Luggage

Away • New York, NY

1d • $150,000 - $160,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are hiring an Associate Design Director, Luggage, to join our Design team. This position reports to the Senior Director, Design and takes Away further by defining the future of our core luggage category through innovative industrial design, material R&D, and forward-thinking product strategy. In this role, you will lead the end-to-end execution of luggage design, ensuring every product delivers on Away’s commitment to elevated travel experiences, functional performance, and our iconic brand aesthetic. You will drive category innovation by exploring new construction methods and sustainable materials, while modernizing our internal processes by integrating AI-enabled design tools and workflow automation.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of industrial design experience (luggage, technical soft goods, or hard goods) with a proven track record of supervising/mentoring design talent and supporting successful product launches
• Advanced understanding of complex product construction, material R&D, and manufacturing processes, with an interest or experience in leveraging emerging technologies (like AI tools) to optimize team workflows
• Highly proficient in Fusion 360, KeyShot, and Adobe Creative Suite, with the ability to guide and upskill direct reports in these tools
• Exceptional sketching and 3D visualization skills, with the ability to clearly translate complex design concepts to cross-functional partners and present project directions to senior leadership
• Strong ability to balance creative ambition with commercial viability and engineering constraints, ensuring your team’s outputs align with category health and business metrics
• Direct experience working closely with overseas factories and suppliers, ensuring design intent and quality standards are maintained from prototyping through production
• Genuinely motivated by mentoring designers and transforming the travel experience through thoughtful, functional, and innovative design
• Comfortable working in a design studio setting, which includes extended periods of stationary work at a computer and hands-on interaction with physical prototypes, material samples, and luggage hardware
• Creative and innovative; love to build great new things that are fresh and unique while staying on brand
• Agile, and motivated by a fast-paced and ever changing environment
• Passionate about transforming travel for all

Nice To Haves

• Interest or experience in leveraging emerging technologies (like AI tools) to optimize team workflows

Responsibilities

• Execute and contribute to the design and innovation strategy for core luggage product lines, evolving existing platforms while identifying whitespace opportunities for future growth
• Manage the luggage design strategy in executing seasonal creative direction and long-term category goals, in close alignment with the VP and Senior Design leadership
• Translate consumer insights, travel behaviors, and market trends into scalable, production-ready design systems
• Champion elevated product concepts, new functionalities, and disruptive design thinking within the team to push forward product innovation
• Build, manage, and mentor a high-performing design team, providing tactical creative direction and cultivating a culture of technical excellence
• Deliver against a multi-year innovation roadmap through focused industrial design exploration, material R&D, construction innovation, and manufacturing collaboration
• Evaluate and implement new materials, finishes, and component systems that support performance, durability, sustainability, and brand differentiation
• Partner closely with Product Development and Engineering teams to bridge the gap between design intent, technical feasibility, and manufacturing execution
• Manage and continuously improve material libraries, innovation references, prototyping systems, and AI-assisted design workflows to support rapid concept iteration
• Identify and execute opportunities to improve weight optimization, repairability, and sustainability, enhancing the overall customer experience
• Manage the end-to-end luggage design process from concept development and CAD execution through prototyping, sampling, approvals, and commercialization
• Operationalize scalable workflows, documentation standards, and communication protocols that improve clarity and speed-to-market across Design, PD, and overseas manufacturing partners
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Brand, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure design integrity and category health throughout production
• Participate in global travel and supplier engagement to drive innovation, sourcing, manufacturing alignment, and competitive research

Benefits

• Health insurance offerings
• 401(k) (with a company match!)
• Paid time off programs (vacation, wellbeing, holidays, summer Fridays, and compassion leave)
• Discount codes, product stipends, and giveaways
• Company-sponsored volunteer and charitable opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed