Accessories & Footwear Design & Development Junior

Founded in 1970, Jigsaw was the first premium fashion brand on the high street. Since then, the company has expanded worldwide to work with the finest mills, cutting edge photographers, up-and-coming models and renowned architects. But the search for the best in the industry never stops. As our journey continues, we're looking for passionate and talented people to learn about Style & Truth: a set of values that sets us apart from the rest of the high street, a belief that everyone should feel empowered to embrace their own style, be true to themselves, and not slavishly follow the fashion world. This means putting style before trends and truth before hype. 

JOB TITLE: Design/Developer Assistant FOOTWEAR & ACCESSORIES

LOCATION: Kew Gardens, London

JOB PURPOSE:

To support the senior footwear and bag designers to help bring to market, the footwear & accessories collections. These ranges are to reflect the brand, key trends and customer expectations.

With a keen technical eye on how footwear & accessories are designed / developed, & the ability to produce technical design packs and implement direct sourcing, from initial trend research through to confirmed samples and costings and on to production samples.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Design Support

·               To support the senior footwear and bag designer working as key liaison for product development, material development, sample tracking & fitting.

·               Produce detailed design specification packs to be sent to suppliers which includes: detailed rendering in AI, trims, artwork and make and measurement information with enough accuracy to ensure 1^st sample is to a high standard.

·               Works with senior footwear and bag designers, brand heads, stores and VM to produce VM guidelines promoting key looks and making it easier for the customer to shop.

·               To develop an awareness of what is / isn’t selling and to help to build this information into future plans.

·               Develop an awareness of Brand competition providing updates as required.

·               To attend meetings with the Design, PD/Buying, and Merch teams as well as the creative director for final sample reviews.

 

Development

·               To take responsibility for samples, liaising with the supplier to create prototypes and samples at workable prices and within specific deadlines

·               Troubleshoot any challenges regarding cost, MOQ and deliveries and work together with relevant teams to agree a commercial outcome to any unexpected issues; ensure outcome is communicated effectively.

·               Attend all fit meetings from first prototype to shipment samples to ensure styles reflects expectations, quality, construction, correct fit and look.

·               To assist the design team and document sample fitting and correction on design and constructions.

·               Attend relevant supplier visits with product development team to record all developments put into work.

·               To undertake any other reasonable duties identified by the senior designers and creative director.

·               Work closely with the accessories technician to resolve any production QC issues.

 

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will have:

·               High levels of numeracy, literacy and oral communication skills

·               Excellent standards Illustrator & Photoshop and presentation documentation

·               Degree level qualification in a related design field

·               High level of technical understanding across the footwear / accessory’s departments.

·               Has a keen interest in past and future trends, including evolving footwear technologies

·               Excellent work ethic with the ability to work to tight deadlines.

·               Excellent organisational skills.

·               Ability to see a product from design to delivery, following it through the different stages of the critical path

·               Must know how to work as part of a team and manage information across all key stakeholders  (PD/Buying, Merch, QC, Marketing) involved in product decisions