Associate Designer, Functional Accessories - Pottery Barn

About the Team

You will be a part of a collaborative team responsible for driving and managing sample development from concept through to production, working together with Design, Technical Design, Merchants, and Sourcing team members. As part of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., a leader in home lifestyle and retail, our Product Development and Design team brings customer-centered, trend-forward products to life through seasonal collaboration, innovation, and cross-brand alignment.

About The Role

As an Associate Designer, you will support new product lines and product development processes for each season for specific departments that reflect mood, market trends and business needs. You assist product development meetings and participate as one of the communicators for agents, merchants, sourcing, and color teams. You will work with Senior Management to ensure all deadlines and key calendar dates are met.

Responsibilities

• Seasonal Engagement:
  • Aid category Designers to prepare for the weekly Product Development meetings and Work Sessions.
  • Understand business results and support changes that arise from weekly Monday Business Review meetings.
  • Assist and support seasonal product presentations to the team and senior management.
  • Design and develop specs and concept boards while helping Senior Designers manage concepts all the way through product approval.
• Product Development Strategy:
  • Provide insights that align with team objectives.
  • Contribute effective processes and procedures to improve workflow and results.
  • Proactively support the calendar to recognize milestones and key dates.
  • Develop strong business acumen to support each season; understand brand and financial goals, support business and seasonal strategy.
  • Recognize key fashion trends and analyze what competition is doing to bring new business opportunities or trends to the team.
• Team Collaboration:
  • Utilize Product Lifecycle Management shared with cross-functional teams to review status of development process.
  • Collaborate with Williams Sonoma Global Operations country partners, merchants, sourcing, engineering, and color team.
  • Support department business needs and bring new ideas for specs and concept boards.
  • Identify and solve existing product issues that may arise.
  • Maintain and organize development samples both physically and digitally.

Criteria

• Design Experience:
  • Must provide a portfolio or website of current and past experience.
  • Minimum 2 years retail product design experience.
  • Experience designing (category specific product); keeping materials and pricing in mind.
  • Experience in identifying and contributing trends and inspiration based on the given concept direction.
  • (A plus): Domestic and overseas experience collaborating with factories, understanding price adjustment to reflect brand aesthetic.
  • (A plus): Mass manufacturing experience in retail environment.
  • Knowledge of constructions and technical design.
  • (A plus): Understanding and enthusiasm for the brand.
• Personal Leadership:
  • Aspirational taste-level with the willingness to learn and passion for interiors, home furnishings, color, designer aesthetic, and industry trends.
  • Willingness to work independently as well as with a team in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to prioritize, multi-task and adapt to change.
  • Extremely organized, efficient and detail-oriented – excellent calendar adherence and ownership.
  • Excellent time management and communication skills.
  • Excellent cross functional skills and partnership with merchandisers and product development team.
• Technical Proficiency:
  • Design Skills, creative and inspirational thinker, deadline driven.
  • Full proficiency in Mac operating systems with skill excellence in Adobe Creator Suite, Illustrator (plus for Studio), Photoshop, Computer-aided design, and work management system, 3D modeling skills (rhino, key shot) are required.

Benefits

A generous discount on all WSI brands, a 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities, paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer, health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits, tax-free commuter benefits, a wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health, continued learning opportunities through WSI University, cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities, resources for self-development, advisor (mentor) program, career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series.

About Us

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Rejuvenation, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Outward, and GreenRow. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.