Product Development Designer

Position Overview The Product Development Designer translates creative concepts into production-ready apparel in partnership with the Creative Director, Product Development Manager, Technical Designer, and Department SVP. Bridging creative vision and technical execution, this role ensures products reflect the brand’s aesthetic and design intent, meet quality standards and customer expectations, and achieve target margins. From initial concept through final approval, the designer plays a pivotal role ensuring that materials, trims, and product specifications. Through clear communication, attention to detail, and cross-functional collaboration, the role maintains accuracy and consistency while balancing creative integrity, product quality, cost efficiency, and production requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Product Design & Development

• Translate creative direction, seasonal concepts, and design briefs into production-ready apparel products that align with the brand’s aesthetic, customer expectations, and quality standards.
• Collaborate with the Creative Director and Product Development Manager to execute design concepts while maintaining the integrity of the original creative vision.
• Ensure all design assets, product details, and development documentation are accurate, complete, and aligned with approved design direction.
• Review samples, prototypes, and product revisions to ensure design intent, construction details, and overall product execution meet expectations.
• Identify design or development challenges and recommend creative, technical, and cost-effective solutions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with the Creative Director, Product Development Manager, Technical Designer, and Department SVP to align on design execution, product priorities, timelines, and approval milestones.
• Work closely with technical design, sourcing, merchandising, and production teams, as applicable, to ensure design concepts are feasible for manufacturing and meet product requirements.
• Communicate design updates, revisions, and approvals clearly to internal teams and external vendors to maintain consistency throughout the development lifecycle.
• Incorporate cross-functional feedback and leadership direction into product revisions while balancing creative intent, technical feasibility, cost, and delivery expectations.
• Proactively communicate development risks, delays, and outstanding decisions to the appropriate stakeholders.
• Support the handoff from concept development through the pre-production sample stage.

Technical Execution & Production Readiness

• Ensure artwork, color specifications, materials, trims, and design details are accurately executed and communicated to support product development and production.
• Review product samples and development submissions for accuracy, consistency, quality, and adherence to approved design standards.
• Collaborate with the Technical Designer and Product Development Manager to resolve discrepancies between design intent, technical specifications, and sample execution.
• Maintain organized and up-to-date design files, artwork packages, product documentation, and approval records.
• Partner with the Product Development Manager to complete sample reviews, revisions, and final approvals on time and keep development milestones on schedule.
• Ensure approved design information is clearly communicated and documented before products move into production.

Cost, Margin & Quality Management

• Maintain awareness of target costs and margin goals throughout the design and product development process.
• Partner with product development, sourcing, and the Creative Director to optimize costs without compromising design integrity, quality, or customer expectations.
• Evaluate alternative materials, trims, artwork techniques, and construction details when needed to support cost targets and production feasibility.
• Identify potential quality concerns or design inconsistencies early and collaborate with relevant teams to resolve them before production.
• Balance creative objectives with commercial requirements, ensuring products meet brand standards, customer needs, and business goals.

Organization & Process Management

• Manage multiple styles and development projects simultaneously while prioritizing deadlines, approvals, and seasonal milestones.
• Maintain visibility into product development status, outstanding comments, sample revisions, and required approvals.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail and follow-through to ensure accuracy across all stages of product development.
• Contribute to process improvements that enhance communication, workflow efficiency, product consistency, and on-time execution.
• Stay informed on relevant apparel trends, materials, finishes, graphic applications, and product development practices to support innovation and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Product Development, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• 3–5 years of experience in apparel design, product development, or a related role within the fashion, lifestyle, or consumer products industry preferred.
• Experience translating creative concepts into commercially viable, production-ready apparel products.
• Experience working cross-functionally with creative, technical design, product development, sourcing, and production teams.
• Familiarity with apparel product development workflows, sample reviews, material selection, artwork execution, and production approvals.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop; experience with additional design or product development tools is a plus.
• Strong understanding of apparel construction, fabrics, trims, color application, graphic techniques, and production methods.
• Ability to prepare accurate artwork files, design specifications, and development materials for internal teams and external vendors.
• Understanding of garment costing, target costs, margin considerations, and the relationship between design decisions and product profitability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace; experience with PLM systems or other product lifecycle management tools is a plus.

Core Competencies

• Creative judgment: Ability to interpret creative direction and translate it into products that reflect the brand’s aesthetic and design intent.
• Technical accuracy: Strong attention to detail when reviewing artwork, materials, trims, specifications, samples, and product approvals.
• Cross-functional communication: Ability to collaborate effectively with creative leadership, product development, technical design, and business partners.
• Problem-solving: Ability to identify development challenges and recommend practical solutions that balance design, quality, cost, and production feasibility.
• Commercial awareness: Understanding of how design decisions influence target margins, product costs, quality, and customer expectations.
• Organization and prioritization: Ability to manage multiple projects, shifting priorities, and seasonal deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Adaptability: Ability to incorporate feedback, respond to changing business needs, and maintain product quality under tight timelines.
• Ownership and accountability: Demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, follow-through, and responsibility for the accuracy and timely completion of assigned work.