Aspinal of London are looking for a Senior Designer to lead the leather goods and accessories category, including bag styles, hardware, leather sourcing, seasonal colour development, soft accessories, hard accessories, jewellery, new categories, belts, hats and more. The role involves close day‑to‑day design collaboration directly with the Chairman and the Product & Supply Director. You will drive design and work with our head of product development through to the manufacturing stage, contributing where possible, with responsibility handed over to the wider team at the appropriate stage.
This is an amazing opportunity to join a small team based in West Sussex. We have a Designer Manager who is currently on maternity leave; this role will lead the team in her absence and work together upon her return.
Attendance in the office is required at least four days per week, one of those days must be Friday.
Accountable For
* Supporting the creation of seasonal concept and colour
* Creation of new ideas and raw materials
* Creation of designs and CADs to enable ideas to be delivered as a physical prototype
* Reviewing range plan and ensuring that all options are required to margin
* Creating design packs and specs for new ideas as briefed in pipeline
* Supporting product development in critique, construction and problem solving
* Managing the design critical path ensuring that all key dates are delivered
Creative themes and concepts
* Support and deliver the seasonal story theme as provided by Chairman and creative team
* Colour, trend and product research. Present a focused overview of relevant trend information from online, catwalks, social media, street trends, etc.
* Ensure the creative theme is issued to key stakeholders and collated in electronic format
* Manage the creation of the concept boards for theme, colour and product
* Constantly evolve method of craftsmanship on all Aspinal of London products to ensure AOL is a leader in all areas of craftsmanship construction and raw materials
* Question and review all continuity concepts for Aspinal of London heritage products and deliver new ideas and concepts
Design function
* Present and receive direction at pipeline meetings for new designs, ensuring price point and raw materials are considered
* Approve all design team CADs and design packs
* Research and understand new raw materials in the marketplace to ensure new leathers and hardware are researched
* Research all new trends in the marketplace and present relevant ideas to the brand
* Work closely with the Chairman on scarf designs and handover to PD for action
* Visit the flagship store monthly to understand customer need and gain retail feedback
Raw materials
* Support the Product Director in researching new raw materials, colours, treatments and hardware
* Support the Product Development Team in developing new hardware and ensuring it is fit for purpose
* Ensure wearer trials are actioned and reviewed for any new raw material
Product creation
* Initiate a smooth handover of the technical drawings to PD, ensuring all information is accurate and design is clearly explained
* Cover all new areas in hard and soft accessories – hats, support of jewellery and hard gifts, scarves, belts, socks, hard keyrings, homeware
* Produce high‑quality, accurate design specifications and technical information on Adobe AI, including to‑scale CADs for 1st and 2nd prototypes and confirmed styles
* Have prior experience and knowledge of the technical aspects and construction of product
* Know all aspects of leather, fabric and metalware
* Lead the design to PD handover meetings on all non‑product actions, ensuring all action points are passed to PD for action
* Work with the supplier and the PD manager to amend design where necessary, offering solutions to make the bag fit for purpose and meet the brand DNA
* Review and critique new development samples with the PD Manager
* Work product into cost, suggesting alternatives in construction, raw materials and supply base
* Deliver knowledge on construction and manufacturing methods
Chairman creative meeting (Friday)
* Ensure seasonal collection styles selected from pipeline are developed in time for the season drop
* Support and develop design ideas in all areas
* Support design off all collab and special projects
* Manage the meeting notes to all stakeholders
* Manage all samples in the design remit and ensure they don’t leave the building
Prototype management
* Support the PD team in ensuring that calls are completed to review new designs with the supply base
* Manage any new samples handed from PD, ensuring they are organised and locatable
* Check all prototypes for construction with the PD team, ensuring design intention is delivered and costs are presented
Range building
* Support the Product Director in building the collection according to business needs
* Review and analyse sales information to ensure collection meets business needs
* Support in creating seasonal boards for delivery of the collection to key stakeholders
* Ensure pipeline products are ready, according to the business timeline, to be dropped into the seasonal collection
Competencies
* Confident using Excel and design packages
* 3D design capabilities and hand sketching
* Self‑motivated and proactive
* Able to conduct supplier meetings
* Personal time management and prioritisation
* Creative and commercial eye
* Demonstrate in‑depth market knowledge of the current competitive and inspirational marketplace
* Strong communication skills with Aspinal team departments as well as suppliers
* Attention to detail
* Strong work ethic
* Confidentiality
* Excellent presentation skills, both visual and verbal
* Experienced Accessories Designer with a minimum of five years in a similar role
* Fashion or Accessories Design qualification to degree level
* Demonstrate clear understanding of Aspinal of London handwriting, brand DNA and core/target customer
* Highly knowledgeable in colour, leather/fabric direction and innovation
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