Design Associate, Footwear

kate spade new york•New York, NY

4d•$70,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Work within team and assist senior team to design and develop footwear for women’s casual and dress shoes category that not only meet our customer’s needs but fit within the Coach aesthetic and the brand’s larger design goals. This role may grow to include independently managing areas of design and development or specific categories or relationships within the scope of the design team’s responsibilities.

Requirements

3+ years of equivalent or relative experience in footwear
Ability to sketch both technical drawings and freeform sketches and renderings
Experience in working with cross-functional teams.
Exceptional proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Microsoft Excel
Ability to handle multiple priorities quickly and efficiently and with tight deadlines
Team player with strong communication and organization skills
Understanding of the Coach aesthetic.

Responsibilities

Contribute seasonally appropriate concept development and trend research.
Communicate designs through well executed hand or digital sketches.
Work with team to thoughtfully present concepts and designs to cross functional partners and senior design team.
Collaborate with cross functional partners to ensure footwear concepts and designs sit within the greater seasonal direction for the brand and address our customer’s needs.
Assist senior team in being responsible for timeline adherence; ensure all design documentation are delivered to development partners on time and remain organized throughout the season.
Utilize and develop technical knowledge of footwear construction to communicate specifications for designs and pattern layouts to partners.
Partner with material team to identify trends and consider sustainability while sourcing seasonal materials. This may grow to include travel to leather fairs.
Partner with technician in New York to correct prototypes. This may lead to accompanying senior team members on travel to Asia to review and correct samples.
Efficiently CAD final designs for line opening presentations and specs.
Work within design team and with cross functional partners to detail the line as a design forward but well merchandised collection.
Along with team, responsible for insuring the design integrity is met throughout the entire product development process from concept through manufacturing.
Contribute seasonally appropriate concept research with an understanding of vintage footwear.
In addition to the design development of Runway footwear, assist team in partnering and coordinating with ready to wear at key styling points throughout the season.
Must be available to work for all days during show styling; be on hand while looks are being assigned, keep track of footwear allocation, run errands and make last minute modifications to footwear as needed.