Apparel Design Assistant

Overview

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Design Assistant to join our client’s dynamic retail team.

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 apparel 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

• Required Experience:
• 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:

• 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.