Design Manager

This is an opportunity to work directly with Creative Director on implementing creative injections into our current concept as well as work on flagship projects and pop-up opportunities. Material development is a big part of our brand expression in stores and this role will lead and manage this development. This role will work under the guidance of the Director of Store planning to ensure all projects have a clear directive. This role will also partner with the Project Manager to ensure business needs are met and that the designs discussed are feasible. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Material Development: 

This role will expand the existing brand palette through material research and development with vendors globally. While some material development will be specific to a current need, some development will be forward-thinking for future potential projects.  Propose new conceptual materials based on design prompts from Alex as well as your design ideas on the brand’s needs  Research and develop these custom materials with vendors. While we have vendors we do utilize, this role should feel comfortable sourcing new vendors that specialize in the specific finishes being developed  Provide creative direction to vendors on specifically how and what to develop. Review samples and show selected finishes to Alex for review  This role will be responsible for all sourcing and correspondence with the vendors regarding material development  This role should be confident managing a given budget for these material developments 

• Flagship Projects 

While we do have a retail store concept, for special flagship locations we will want to balance implementing the branded elements/themes/codes with newness appropriate for the location.  This role will be responsible for putting forth multiple conceptual ideas to review with Alex on how best to conceptualize the brand.  This role will lead the the architectural design direction for the space.  This role will creative direct the finishes and any fixture development in partnership with the team responsible for executing the project.  This role will work with the Project Manager to ensure the design meets all the business and operational needs.  Rendering skills are a plus but not required.  There is typically ~1 of these types of projects per year/ 

• Standard Projects 

For core concept projects that use our existing store design concept, this role will assist in the design phase proposing a few options to ‘play’ with the concept.   The design suggestions could be in the form of using a new material, modifying a fixture or family of fixtures or playing with another element of the brand expression  This role will be responsible for ensuring some difference between stores while keeping them cohesive in terms of the brand expression. 

• Pop-Up Ideation (Marketing-driven pop-ups) 

When pop-up projects arise, this role will partner with Alex on the creative direction  Prepare renderings in-house or manage an external renderer to present designs to Alex  Partner with Project Manager to ensure the designs meet the business and operational needs  Partner with Project Manager to ensure the design is within budget. 

• Pop-Up Kit-of Parts (Retail-driven pop-ups) 

Partner with Director of Store Planning to prepare a concept that meets the business needs to test markets. This kit-of parts should be developed to be flexible, accommodate all product categories and be quickly assembled/disassembled.  This role will lead the design and development of this store concept from start to finish.  REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to manage multiple design projects at a time  Ability to ideate and iterate on a concept provided  Ability to convey ideas via mod boards and sketches  Ability to research and develop custom materials  Should come with their own vendors, work well with our existing vendors and be comfortable sourcing new vendors  Ability to manage and work within budgets and timelines  Ability to work within and ideate on an existing concept  Rendering skills are a significant a plus, not required  Basic technical understanding to ensure proposed ideas are feasible/achievable  5 years' experience minimum  Prefer a non-architectural background but should have a good understanding of how things fit together and materiality. Ideally this person comes from something architecturally-adjacent: industrial design, furniture design, set design, fashion show design, production etc.