Design Assistant - Genesco Brands Group

Job Summary

As a Design Assistant, you will support the design & development teams through preparing detailed spec sheets & CAD requests, sample management & shipping, and through day-to-day administrative support. In working closely with senior designers & design directors, you will gain advanced knowledge of the footwear design and construction process, while contributing innovative ideas to enhance product appeal.

The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in footwear and demonstrate an innovative mindset. The candidate will also exhibit excellent teamwork skills and have a pro-active approach to tasks and problem-solving, all while maintaining adaptability in a fast-paced environment.

Job Responsibilities

Sample & SKU Management:

• Create and maintain seasonal SKU charts for each brand
• Maintain communication with factories/vendors regarding sample status to ensure timelines are being met
• Organize incoming sample inventory and maintain sample room organization
• Support cross-functional communication between product, marketing & sales: Facilitate sample requests from marketing & sales teams, order, track & organize incoming samples, ship/pass all samples to necessary team members.

Design & Product Development Support:

• Prepare detailed spec sheets & technical packages and send to necessary overseas development teams
• Prepare colorways & generate CAD requests
• Assist in preparing CAD deck presentations/line sheets for internal & customer meetings
• Prepare all CADs to send to marketing team for catalog layout
• Assist design team in creating product mockups using AI software
• Support design/development team in creating & maintaining seasonal, brand specific material lists, coordinating with the development team to order sample materials as necessary.

Administrative Support:

• Coordinate international & domestic sample shipping, to include: gathering & packing any samples to overseas factories, showrooms, internal teams or customers, creating shipping labels & commercial invoices, tracking all incoming shipments, communicate/coordinate with imports team and shipping companies in the event any shipment is delayed or held in customs, unpack & organize incoming sample shipments

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion/Apparel Design, Product Design or related field
• 1-2 years of experience in footwear, apparel or accessory design preferred (internships in these fields are acceptable)
• Technical proficiency in design software such as Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
• Proficient in PowerPoint & Excel
• Experience with AI design software is a plus

An ideal candidate will exhibit the following:

• Eagerness to learn the technical process of footwear design & construction
• Excellent ability to collaborate & communicate with cross-functional teams, supporting fellow design/development team members
• Adaptability in a fast-paced environment with the ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks while managing timelines/deliverables
• Pro-Active approach to tasks and problem-solving
• Strong Organizational skills & excellent attention to details
• Creativity & the ability to translate footwear trends & market insights into innovative design concepts for the GBG portfolio of brands
• Innovative & trend-forward mindset

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