Product Design Manager

Little Words Project•Mountainside, NJ

About The Position

We’re looking for a thoughtful, creative Product Design Manager to support the concepting, design, and development of new products that bring our brand to life. This role blends trend research, physical product design, prototyping, and cross-functional collaboration to help create products that feel fresh, intentional, and deeply on-brand. In this role, you’ll work closely with the Lead Designer, supporting assigned projects from concept through production while collaborating with Product, Creative, Merchandising, and Operations to help deliver best-in-class product experiences.

Requirements

2-3 years of direct industry experience
Strong understanding of physical product development from concept through production
Proficiency in design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), with experience creating sketches, renderings, and presentation-ready design decks
Experience creating detailed spec sheets, tech packs, and production-ready files
Knowledge of materials, finishes, color, and components, with an eye for quality and cost considerations
Strong visual, conceptual, and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
Self-motivated, curious, and eager to bring new ideas and perspectives to the product line
Desire to grow with our brand and be a part of the team that scales it to the next level!

Nice To Haves

Ability to commute to Mountainside, NJ (preferred)

Responsibilities

Support the design and development of new products and seasonal launches from concept through production.
Support Lead Designer on all project management needs
Translate brand vision, trend insights, and customer needs into compelling physical product designs as briefed.
Create sketches, renderings, and prototypes to communicate design intent clearly.
Support material, color, and component selection to ensure quality, cost, and brand alignment.
Create detailed spec sheets, tech packs, and design files for factory and vendor partners.
Traffic all necessary information to relevant parties to ensure timely product development and finished product completion
Brief in all packaging design needs to external packaging designer for the Product design team.
Review samples, manage revisions, and provide clear, actionable feedback throughout development cycles.
Partner with Product Development to ensure designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, and scalable.
Partner with Merchandising and Planning to align designs with pricing, margin, and assortment strategies.
Work with Operations to support timelines, testing, and production readiness.
Support ongoing trend, material, and competitive research to inform innovation.
Bring forward new ideas, formats, and product concepts proactively.
Act as a steward of brand design standards across product categories.