Key Details:
- Direct Hire/Perm
- Hybrid work schedule. 2 days onsite weekly. Office location in Southlake, TX.
- Requirements: Industrial Design experience is a must. Ideally within major retailers; accustomed to juggling multiple projects at once with tight deadlines.
- Project portfolio must accompany resume to apply.
- Pay: $70-90k
- Work Authorization: Must be eligible to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future.
Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced and innovative Design Manager to oversee and coordinate our freelance industrial and graphic designers. The ideal candidate will collaborate with our product development team and customers to ensure our design direction aligns with market trends and the brand's vision. This role combines creative leadership, project management, and strategic planning to deliver exceptional designs across our home and stationery product divisions. The Design Manager will be motivated, creative, organized and driven.
Key Responsibilities:
- Freelance Designer Management and Resource Identification:
- Manage a network of freelance industrial and graphic designers, ensuring they meet project goals and timelines.
- Identify and onboard new design resources to support the home and stationery product development teams.
- Lay the groundwork for the potential future development of an in-house graphic design team.
- Project Coordination and Management:
- Oversee multiple design projects from concept through completion, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery.
- Collaborate with product managers to create clear, actionable design briefs for freelance designers for both the home and stationery divisions.
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including product development, marketing, and sales, to align design initiatives with business objectives.
- Maintain adherence to quality standards and brand guidelines across all projects.
- Creative Strategy and Direction:
- Partner with product development teams to integrate consumer insights and design trends into innovative product designs.
- Work closely with customers to understand their needs, ensuring they are met with creative and forward-thinking design solutions.
- Stay current with industry trends and competitors, incorporating relevant insights into the design process to maintain a competitive edge.
- Market Alignment and Trend Analysis:
- Conduct market research to identify emerging trends and consumer preferences within the home and stationery categories.
- Translate these insights into actionable strategies that drive fresh, competitive designs.
- Provide regular updates and presentations to senior management on design trends, project progress, and market analysis.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Serve as the liaison between the design function and other departments to ensure cohesive branding and design consistency.
- Foster effective communication and collaboration across all stakeholders to support a unified vision.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Fine Arts, or a related field.
- Proven experience in a design management or creative leadership role.
- A strong portfolio demonstrating a range of design projects and creative solutions.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
- Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, or similar tools.
- Strategic and creative problem-solving abilities.
- Strong understanding of market trends and consumer behavior.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with product development teams and a solid understanding of the product lifecycle.
- Familiarity with both graphic and industrial design principles.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- 2-3 years of supervisory experience.
- 4+ years of professional design experience.
- Industrial design experience in home, storage or stationery categories preferred
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance. For unincorporated Los Angeles county, to the extent our customers require a background check for certain positions, the Company faces a significant risk to its business operations and business reputation unless a review of criminal history is conducted for those specific job positions.
