Senior Designer II-Lifestyle

Kendra Scott•Austin, TX

About The Position

The Senior Lifestyle Product Designer creates on-brand, trend-relevant lifestyle products across Kendra Scott, Yellow Rose, and Target, as well as strategic accounts and wholesale channels. Categories include but are not limited to: watches, jewelry storage, hats, belts, buckles, bags, footwear, tech accessories, and other lifestyle accessories, including product developed with licensed and partner brands. This role owns the lifestyle design process from concept development through technical artwork and material direction. They are consulted in sampling and commercialization, serving as the primary design point of contact to internal commercialization teams and external partner brands. The ideal candidate brings strong creative vision, elevated taste, technical accuracy, and a deep understanding of lifestyle product construction, materials, and manufacturing. This full-time, exempt role reports to the Senior Vice President of Design.

Requirements

Degree, training, or equivalent experience in fashion, accessories, product design, industrial design, or related lifestyle product design and manufacturing.
6+ years of experience as a product designer, accessories designer, or lifestyle product designer, ideally within a high-growth brand or consumer product environment, with exposure to accessories, footwear, or licensed product.
Strong creative vision, refined taste level, and proven ability to translate concepts into commercially viable physical product.
Advanced 2D design, sketching, rendering, and visualization skills with a high level of accuracy and precision.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, along with working knowledge of Centric PLM, Pantone color standards, and project tracking tools such as Asana or Smartsheet.
Strong understanding of physical product development, technical artwork, scale, proportion, construction, and material application.
Knowledge of lifestyle accessory materials and manufacturing processes including fabric, leather, acrylic, resin, plated metals, precious metals, wood, glass, ceramic, gemstones, and other mixed materials, along with hardware, closures, and printed or embellished surface application.
Experience with accessories product development, including cut-and-sew construction, hard goods, soft goods, or mixed-material product categories.
Proven ability to break down larger initiatives into clear, actionable design tasks that support departmental and company goals.
Solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to troubleshoot product, material, construction, and sampling challenges.
Strong communication skills with the ability to build effective cross-functional partnerships and make decisions collaboratively.
Track record of launching products that demonstrate thoughtful design, technical problem solving, and brand-right execution.
Growth mindset with a willingness to learn, share ideas, leverage past learnings, and take smart creative risks.
Adaptability to changing business needs, shifting priorities, and tight timelines.
Experience partnering with licensed or third-party brand partners, translating brand design codes into product manufactured outside the company.
A shared appreciation for our three core values of Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy.

Nice To Haves

Rhino, 3D CAD, or other product visualization experience a plus.

Responsibilities

Concept, design, and develop lifestyle product including, but not limited to, watches, jewelry storage, hats, belts, buckles, bags, footwear, tech accessories, ornaments, and giftable storage across Kendra Scott, Yellow Rose, and Target.
Manage design for licensed and partner-brand product, translating Kendra Scott design codes into categories produced by outside partners, and serve as the design point of contact through artwork approval, sampling, and launch.
Interpret seasonal creative direction, business needs, and merchandising input into compelling, commercially viable product concepts.
Create original sketches, 2D artwork, renderings, technical drawings, and design specifications that clearly communicate product intent.
Develop high-quality 2D artwork prototypes and hands-on design models as needed to express aesthetic intent, scale, construction, and material application.
Design to cost and margin targets, partnering with Merchandising, Sourcing, and Product Development to balance elevation with IMU goals and minimum order quantity considerations.
Recommend materials, finishes, construction methods, and customer-facing design choices that support the creative vision and product strategy.
Partner closely with Product Development, Merchandising, Sourcing, and vendors to ensure design intent is maintained from concept through sample review and commercialization.
Create clear technical documentation including material specifications, component details, construction notes, and artwork handoffs for Product Development and vendor partners.
Review vendor sampling files and physical samples for design accuracy, technical viability, material execution, and overall brand alignment.
Provide clear feedback to cross-functional partners, vendors, and licensed partners, including Product Development, Merchandising, and Sourcing, to help resolve design, construction, material, or production challenges.
Explore traditional and non-traditional materials, techniques, constructions, and competitive product ideas to support innovation within the lifestyle category.
Own lifestyle development records in Centric PLM, maintaining styles, specifications materials for cross-functional visibility.
Maintain organization of design files, 2D artwork, references, samples, swatches, components, and product development materials according to Design department standards.
Support the creation and upkeep of collection and material overview documents that capture lifestyle product renderings, materials, references, and assortment details.
Proactively communicate project status, design updates, risks, and shifting priorities to Design Leadership and cross-functional partners.
Travel domestically and internationally to vendors, factories, and trade shows as needed to support development, sampling, and material sourcing.
Partner with the 3D CAD and technical design teams and provide informal guidance and feedback to junior designers supporting lifestyle projects.
Flex across categories and business priorities as needed to support the broader Design department and company objectives.
Ensure all deliverables are thoughtful, accurate, brand-right, and completed with a high level of quality.
Champion the Kendra Scott design aesthetic, quality expectations, and innovative mindset.
Maintain a high level of communication and collaboration with Design Leadership and members of the design team to support timely, accurate, and cohesive assortment completion.
Contribute ideas, research, and product solutions that strengthen the lifestyle category and overall assortment strategy.
Identify opportunities to improve design process, file organization, reference standards, and day-to-day workflow within the lifestyle product area.
Bring a strong personal design perspective while staying open to feedback and respecting the creative viewpoint of others.
Work independently, take direction well, and shift quickly between multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
Maintain a clean, efficient, and safe working environment.