Apparel Design Assistant

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Design Assistant to join our client's dynamic retail team. This entry-level position is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate or an emerging design professional to gain hands-on experience in a corporate design environment. The Design Assistant will play a crucial role in the end-to-end product development process, supporting the Sr. Art Director and Assistant Designer by focusing on the review and approval of all product samples. The ideal candidate has a keen eye for color, art, and quality, and is eager to learn and grow within the home goods industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Sr. Art Director and Assistant Designer to review all Home product samples during the pre-production stage, ensuring accuracy in color and art execution.
• Manage, track, and enter all sample submission comments for vendors accurately and efficiently within the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system.
• Assist in the creation and ongoing maintenance of seasonal Home product line sheets.
• Create and update product sketches for design, development, and line sheet purposes using Adobe Creative Suite.
• Contribute to the maintenance of seasonal color palettes by assisting with building presentation boards and ordering Pantone materials.
• Support the Assistant Designer in building and organizing seasonal artboard libraries to streamline pre-production sample reviews.

Scope of Sample Review

The core focus of this role involves the end-to-end review of design samples, including:

• Color lab dip submissions and approvals.
• Artwork strike-off execution, placement, and application.
• Fabric quality, hand-feel, and construction reviews.
• Verification of design details and trims across all sample stages (from initial submits to pre-production and TOP samples).

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelor's (BA/BS) or Associate's (AA) degree in Apparel Design, Home Furnishings, Interior Design, Product Design, or a related field is required.
• Experience: This is an entry-level position. 0-3 years of experience in an assistant design, merchandise coordinator, or a similar role is preferred but not required. Relevant internship experience will be strongly considered.
• Required Experience:
  
  
  
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    A portfolio demonstrating prior hands-on design work and a strong aesthetic sensibility.

  • Proven proficiency and understanding of the process for reviewing product submits and samples for color, artwork, design details, and trims.
  
  
  
  
• Skills:
  
  
  
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    Strong eye for color and design detail.

  • Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) is highly desirable.
  • Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems is a plus.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.