Lead Senior Designer, Product Brand & Vision

SanMar • Issaquah, WA

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Lead Senior Designer, Product Brand & Vision owns product and brand clarity across a portfolio of private-label and licensed retail brands. The role is accountable for creating and managing differentiated product solutions, strategies, and seasonal narratives that deliver consistent brand expression, customer and consumer relevance, and alignment with business goals.

The designer leads product direction from inspiration and concept through execution, translating creative vision into cohesive seasonal product direction that strengthens brand equity and business performance. The role develops brand-right product narratives, seasonal frameworks, creative strategies, and concepts across apparel, bags, accessories, and headwear. It establishes creative direction for color, materials, graphics, silhouettes, construction, and product architecture, and partners with category designers and cross-functional stakeholders to guide product creation and execution.

The position interprets trends, consumer behavior, cultural movements, and competitive insights to shape product opportunities and brand evolution. It balances creative ambition with commercial viability, influences senior stakeholders and cross-functional partners, and raises design quality through review, coaching, and creative oversight. The designer mentors junior and associate designers and contributes to a culture of accountability, creative excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

This is a hybrid position based at SanMar’s Eastpointe office in Issaquah, Washington. Employees are required to work in the office Tuesday through Thursday each week; additional office days may be added based on business needs. Standard working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST, and periodic travel may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Apparel Design, Product Design, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least 5 years of progressive design experience across apparel, accessories, bags, headwear, or related categories.
• Strong ability to connect brand strategy, consumer insight, and product design.
• Experience with product storytelling, seasonal concept development, and brand differentiation.
• Experience mentoring or providing direction to junior design talent.
• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Experience with AI and 3D rendering software, including NewArc, Viscom, and Clo.
• Portfolio demonstrating concept-led design and brand-right execution.
• Strong understanding of color, materials, graphics, silhouettes, and construction.
• Ability to design across multiple brands while maintaining distinct identities.
• Strong communication, presentation, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to sit for extended periods, use a computer and standard office equipment, and perform close visual work for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, reach, and lift or move up to 10–15 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Define and own product direction from inspiration and concept through execution, ensuring alignment with brand vision, customer and consumer relevance, and commercial goals.
• Create design concepts, seasonal presentations, and strategic storytelling tools to build alignment and support executive decision-making.
• Collaborate with merchandising and cross-functional team members to agree on product direction and execution throughout the product creation process.
• Own product-brand clarity across assigned brands, maintaining distinct, consistent, and compelling market positions.
• Translate creative vision into cohesive seasonal product direction that strengthens brand equity and business performance.
• Develop brand-right product narratives, seasonal frameworks, and creative strategies aligned with consumer needs, market opportunities, and business objectives.
• Design and champion seasonal concepts, material platforms, and product visions across apparel, bags, accessories, and headwear.
• Establish and communicate creative direction for color, materials, graphics, silhouettes, construction, and product architecture.
• Partner with category designers to guide product creation, influence design decisions, and ensure consistent brand strategy across product categories.
• Interpret macro trends, consumer behaviors, cultural movements, and competitive insights to shape future product opportunities and brand evolution.
• Identify ways to strengthen differentiation, eliminate duplication, and improve cohesion across the brand portfolio.
• Balance creative ambition with market realities so concepts are innovative, scalable, and commercially viable.
• Influence cross-functional partners and senior stakeholders to align product vision, development priorities, merchandising strategies, and go-to-market execution.
• Review work, coach designers, and provide creative oversight to raise the quality and consistency of design output across apparel, bags, and headwear.
• Mentor, develop, and inspire junior and associate designers through feedback, skill development, and career guidance.
• Foster accountability, creative excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the design organization.
• Use Adobe Creative Suite and current digital design tools to create product illustrations, renderings, technical artwork, and presentation assets.
• Communicate product vision, design rationale, and strategic recommendations across all levels of the organization.
• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all policies and standards.

Benefits

• Annual discretionary bonus of up to 10% of base salary.
• Paid time off accrued bi-weekly based on hours worked, up to 112 hours per year to start.
• Eight paid holidays and one paid family day off.
• Comprehensive medical insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with a dollar-for-dollar match up to 4% of earnings, matched and vested at every pay cycle.
• Life insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid maternity and paternity leave.
• Pet insurance.
• Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior