Senior Designer - Home Products

Li & Fung•New York, NY

11d•$115,000 - $120,000

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced and highly creative Senior Designer – Home to join our LF Markets USA Home Division. This role will be responsible for designing across both soft home and hard home categories, with a key focus on managing the design process for one of our licensed brands for our key customer. The ideal candidate has strong experience designing home products across multiple categories and can translate brand identity, market trends, and customer needs into cohesive and commercially viable product assortments. This individual will manage the design process from initial concept and trend research through product development and final execution, working closely with internal cross-functional teams, licensors, retail partners, and overseas teams.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Home Product Design, Textile Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, or a related field.
5+ years of home product design experience, with Senior Designer-level experience preferred.
Demonstrated experience designing across soft home and/or hard home categories; experience across both is strongly preferred.
Experience working with licensed brands and licensed product development strongly preferred.
Strong understanding of color, print, pattern, materials, finishes, construction, and product development.
Strong trend research and conceptual design capabilities with the ability to translate trends into commercial product.
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; experience with additional CAD/design software is a plus.
Strong presentation skills and ability to clearly communicate design concepts and direction.
Experience partnering with overseas vendors and development teams.
Strong understanding of the product development lifecycle from concept through production.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

experience across both soft home and hard home categories is strongly preferred
Experience working with licensed brands and licensed product development strongly preferred
experience with additional CAD/design software is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of seasonal home collections across both soft goods and hard goods categories.
Develop original concepts, product designs, color palettes, patterns, prints, materials, finishes, and seasonal design direction.
Conduct ongoing research into home, lifestyle, color, material, and consumer trends to identify relevant opportunities for the business.
Create seasonal trend boards, mood boards, color stories, and design presentations that communicate a clear and cohesive product vision.
Translate concepts and inspiration into commercially viable products appropriate for the brand, retailer, target customer, and price point.
Create detailed product designs, CADs, specifications, artwork, and other materials necessary to clearly communicate design intent.
Review and refine designs throughout the development process based on internal, retailer, and licensor feedback.
Manage the design process for one of our licensed brands, ensuring all product is consistent with the brand's identity, aesthetic, and established guidelines.
Develop cohesive product assortments that appropriately translate the licensed brand into home categories.
Partner with the licensor throughout the design and approval process, incorporating feedback and ensuring required approvals are obtained.
Maintain an understanding of applicable brand guidelines and ensure design concepts, artwork, colors, materials, and product execution remain consistent with those requirements.
Manage design timelines and deliverables associated with the licensed business to ensure key development and approval deadlines are met.
Prepare and present concepts, assortments, and design direction for internal, licensor, and customer reviews.
Maintain organized records of design submissions, feedback, revisions, and approvals throughout the licensing process.
Partner closely with Product Development, Merchandising, Sales, Sourcing, and overseas teams throughout the product development lifecycle.
Review samples, prototypes, strike-offs, lab dips, materials, finishes, and other development submissions to ensure they meet design intent.
Provide clear and actionable design comments and revisions to internal teams and overseas vendors.
Balance creative direction with cost, margin, manufacturing capabilities, quality requirements, and production timelines.
Identify design solutions when product, cost, construction, or manufacturing challenges arise.
Manage multiple products and development timelines simultaneously while ensuring accuracy and timely execution.
Develop product with a strong understanding of the target retailer, consumer, competitive landscape, and price architecture.
Partner with Sales and Merchandising to develop assortments that support customer strategies and business opportunities.
Participate in customer meetings and presentations as needed, presenting product concepts and design direction.
Respond to retailer feedback and quickly translate direction into updated designs and product solutions.
Research competitive products, pricing, trends, and whitespace opportunities within the home market.
Serve as a key design partner to Merchandising, Product Development, Sales, Sourcing, and overseas teams.
Take ownership of design projects and drive them from initial concept through final development.
Manage priorities and design timelines across multiple categories and projects.
Provide creative direction and guidance to junior designers or other design resources as needed.
Ensure design deliverables are accurate, organized, and completed according to established development calendars.
Contribute to the continued development of the Home Division's overall design direction and product strategy.