Freelance Design Assistant, Color Specialist

Dreamwear • New York, NY

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Dreamwear is seeking a Freelance Assistant Designer with an exceptional eye for color to support seasonal color research, palette development, and color execution across its brand portfolio. The role translates emerging trends into commercially relevant color stories and may provide additional design support for junior brands and accounts as workload allows. The opportunity may evolve into a full-time role. The work requires attendance at Dreamwear’s Midtown Manhattan office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This role offers hands-on exposure to color, trend, and fashion across multiple brands in an intimate apparel company. Applicants should submit a resume and a portfolio demonstrating color and design work, such as color palettes or stories, mood or trend boards, CADs, and colorways.

Requirements

• Exceptional eye for color and foundational understanding of color theory, including the ability to distinguish subtle variations in shades and undertones.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to accurately maintain physical and digital color and design resources.
• Strong communication skills and consistent follow-through.
• Ability to take direction, incorporate feedback, and manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive, collaborative, eager to learn, and genuinely passionate about fashion, color, and trend.
• Must be able to work in the Midtown Manhattan office.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Color, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Previous internship or 1–2 years of relevant experience in apparel design, textiles, color, or a related fashion environment.
• Demonstrated experience creating CADs, colorways, palettes, and presentation materials.
• Familiarity with Pantone and Coloro systems.

Responsibilities

• Research current and emerging color, fashion, lifestyle, beauty, runway, and retail trends to identify relevant seasonal direction and inspiration for brands and customers.
• Assist in developing physical and digital color palettes, color stories, mood boards, trend boards, and presentation materials for concept development, internal reviews, and customer meetings.
• Create and update color presentations, palettes, and supporting materials based on team feedback, maintaining accuracy, consistency, and alignment with each brand.
• Support color matching and selection across teams, ensuring consistency with established brand standards.
• Maintain organized physical and digital color resources, including color racks, the sample room, swatches, standards, color libraries, and reference files; assist with Pantone and Coloro standards as needed.
• Provide additional design support for junior brands and accounts as workload allows, including CAD updates, technical flat sketches, colorway development, and preparation of presentation-ready design materials.
• Partner with Designers and cross-functional teams to organize color and design projects, communicate updates, and meet key deadlines.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed