About This Role
This Associate Designer role is for a creative and passionate individual who understands categories, trends, and customer preferences. The role involves collaborating with senior design professionals to contribute to product presentations, strategically deciding on styles, materials, and colors, and utilizing Adobe and CLO programs for design development. It emphasizes cross-functional alignment, active participation in meetings, and responsiveness to customer feedback, while inspiring a one-team mindset and encouraging creative thinking.
Responsibilities
- Develop robust skills in researching categories, trends, and customer preferences, with the ability to effectively communicate findings
- Create original designs as a motivated and passionate designer
- Collaborate with people leaders to produce cohesive product presentations, including boards, tear sheets, CADS, and samples to sell the collection to counterparts
- Work closely with the Senior Designer/Design Director on the development and execution of product designs that align with overall product strategy and merchandise objectives
- Select and approve styles, materials, trims, and colors that fit into the program and style plans, with support from people leaders
- Develop flat mechanical sketches for design development packages and provide feedback to assistant designers on sketches and development packages (where applicable)
- Review and provide feedback on development samples in partnership with people leaders
- Take responsibility for approving strike-offs, samples, and other development materials
- Utilize Adobe and CLO programs for style, color, and pattern development
- Adhere to and contribute to prioritizing the seasonal time and action calendar for the area of responsibility
- Maintain industry knowledge, representing and supporting the Macy’s brand while building and maintaining relationships
- Actively participate in meetings with cross-functional partners
- Foster relationships and communicate regularly with cross-functional partners and vendors to gather input and expand knowledge
- Collaborate with the Tech team to ensure correct specifications are used for sample development and attend all fit sessions with Technical Design and Design Teams
- Review customer feedback and adjust designs based on reviews
- Grow assistant designers (where applicable), lead peers, manage up, and gain influence across the organization
- Inspire, motivate, and engage with a one-team mindset
- Engage the team by evaluating current practices and encouraging creative thinking about how things could be more effective and efficient
- Participate in and contribute ideas in a clear, confident, and composed manner
- Take risks and celebrate risk-taking regardless of the outcome
