Role Overview:
Brand is seeking a highly accomplished and visionary Design Director to lead and inspire our entire design team. This strategic leadership role will be responsible for setting the overall creative direction for the brand, ensuring design excellence across all product categories (including woven, knit, outerwear, accessories, etc.), and driving brand consistency and innovation. The Design Director will report to the [mention reporting structure, e.g., Chief Creative Officer or Brand President] and will be a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to the overall brand strategy and business growth.
Responsibilities:
- Overall Creative Vision & Strategy:
- Define and communicate a clear and compelling overall creative vision and design strategy for the brand, aligning with the company's business objectives and market positioning as a listed entity.
- Oversee the creative development process for all product categories, ensuring a cohesive brand aesthetic and consistent design language.
- Identify and interpret key fashion trends, market shifts, and consumer insights to inform the brand's creative direction.
- Develop and present seasonal creative concepts, mood boards, and overarching design themes to senior leadership and relevant stakeholders.
- Design Leadership & Team Management:
- Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of category designers and design support staff, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing creative environment.
- Provide clear direction, guidance, and constructive feedback to the design teams, ensuring design excellence and adherence to brand standards.
- Manage the organizational structure and workflow of the design department to optimize efficiency and creativity.
- Oversee talent development, performance management, and recruitment within the design team.
- Brand Consistency & Innovation:
- Ensure that the brand's aesthetic is consistently reflected across all product categories, marketing materials, and brand communications.
- Drive innovation in design, materials, and product development to maintain the brand's competitive edge and appeal to the target consumer.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (merchandising, production, marketing) to ensure seamless integration of the creative vision throughout the product lifecycle.
- Market Understanding & Strategic Input:
- Maintain a deep understanding of the competitive landscape, target consumer, and market dynamics, providing strategic design input to inform business decisions.
- Analyze sales performance and consumer feedback to identify opportunities for design evolution and product development.
- Participate in strategic planning meetings and contribute a design perspective to the overall brand strategy.
- Presentation & Communication:
- Effectively communicate the brand's creative vision and design concepts to internal teams, buyers, media, and other external stakeholders.
- Present seasonal collections and design narratives in a compelling and engaging manner.
- Represent the brand's design aesthetic at industry events and presentations.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Fashion Design or a related field from a reputable institution.
- Minimum of 12-15 years of progressive experience in women's fashion design, with significant experience (8+ years) in a senior leadership role, ideally within a publicly listed fashion brand or a brand with a strong market presence.
- Proven track record of successfully leading and inspiring design teams to create commercially successful and brand-elevating collections across multiple categories.
- Exceptional creative vision and a strong understanding of contemporary fashion trends and brand building.
- Deep knowledge of garment construction, materials, and manufacturing processes across various product categories (woven, knit, etc.).
- Outstanding sketching, draping, and CAD skills (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop).
- Excellent presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all levels.
- Strong business acumen and a strategic mindset, with the ability to link creative vision to business objectives.
- Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities.
- Fluency in English and Mandarin Chinese is highly preferred.
- Experience working with international design teams and markets is a plus.
