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6-10 years of experience
Responsible for designing, directing and managing the development of boys apparel for multiple licensed brands in infant, toddler, 4-7 and 8-20 size ranges for all major product categories.
- Directed, collaborated and managed assistant designers, graphic designers and product development teams.
- Coordinated with sales, merchandising and production to maximize the profitability of the product through value engineering and to develop special programs for key retailers like Cititrends and Burlington.
- Increased annual volume from $4 million wholesale to over $13 million in Enyce, and grew the Akademiks business to over $20
0-5 years of experience
Directed, inspired, and motivated team of three designers (and three CAD artists) to elevate product aesthetic and quality. Worked closely with other accessory directors and designers to build cohesive seasonal collections reflective of unified brand image. Traveled yearly to Paris, London and Milan to shop the market for best trend direction and retail inspiration. Researched and developed seasonal trend and color direction for headwear and neckwear collections.
- Elevated product quality and aesthetic of neckwear and belts, resulting in increased wholesale and retail sales.
- Upgraded print and neckwear design to CAD, producing improved color visuals of designs which were cost effective and time efficient.
- Devised solution to quickly respond to quota limitations, providing alternatives for production including machine crochet and knits in place of hand-made items.
0-5 years of experience
Responsible for managing a 4,000 square foot upscale showroom of exotic flooring and surfaces located on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale.
- Led a staff of inside and outside sales and design professionals.
- Increased sales from 850K to over 1 million in 2010 by creating a strong sense of teamwork and exhibiting excellent product knowledge, customer service and design skills.
- Participated in and monitored all design projects and client meetings with sales and design team.
- Established all new vendor accounts.
- Responsible for the selection of all product lines and design layout of the showroom.
- Developed and fostered working relationships with Designers, Architects and Builders in the South
6-10 years of experience
Direct design staff as well as design and present product for many retail and catalog accounts, including Neiman Marcus, Sundance, Lord and Taylor, Coldwater Creek, Chico’s, Norm Thompson, Soft Surroundings.
- Interface directly with accounts to cycle product from design to bulk. Extensive China factory travel and as well as Europe/Domestic retail trend shopping.
- Increased annual volume of sales from $20 to $34 million by developing exclusive updated product.
- Develop customized garments, seasonal trend and fabric boards to generate customer enthusiasm.
0-5 years of experience
Directed and developed an activewear and casual sportswear line for upper-tier specialty stores.
- Designed and merchandised 150 styles, five seasons per year, using knits, linens, wovens & washes.
- Created and designed two brand expansions – City Tech and City Tee’s using high-end fabrications.
- Managed and developed departmental procedures for product design, fit and technical specs.
- Developed, pitched and directed all private label projects with Target, Mervin’s and Ross.
0-5 years of experience
Directed entire knitwear division.
- Increased volume from $2 million to $10 million.
- Shopped Europe, determined color direction, developed product overseas, ensured timely deliveries, and conducted sales presentations.
- Created a full merchandised collection, strengthening sell-throughs for better specialty stores.
- Initiated and developed a new sweaters line for the contemporary market, incorporating a broad range of classifications including dresses, blouses, vests, and skirts. Sold in Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, and other luxury retailers.
- Created private label for Victoria Secret, Saks Folio, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Coldwater Creek, J Jill, and Steinmart.
0-5 years of experience
Created the overall aesthetic direction for the [company name] Handbag Line.
- Launched Macy’s for Fall 2012 with a 300% increase in sales that secured an ongoing foothold in Macy’s Herald Square.
- Collaborated on the [company name] Specialty Retail Line. A higher priced line created for [company name] Concept Stores.
- Provided conceptual direction for the Company Store and Tier 2 lines.
0-5 years of experience
Directed design department of contract furniture dealership, creating value added services exceeding year-end goals, sales created through design department exceeded 2M dollars
- Developed creative design solutions, developed open office space plans for corporate sector, delivered design presentations to corporate end-users
- Began at entry-level designer, promoted to Director of Design Department through proven excellence in work product.
- Incorporated CAD into design department and built design department to quality level
- Responsible for all design projects from design concept to installation including punch list completion
6-10 years of experience
Collaborate with V.P. of the design to establish the vision, direction and execution of the lines.
- Involved in the marketing and promotion for increased brand and products recognition.
- Traveled to Far East manufactories to correct prototypes and ensured all prototypes were follow by technical instruction.
- Directed the development with Mills, Tannery and Hardware supplier to custom design print and hardware.
- Responsible for timeline adherence; ensured all design items were completed accurately and delivered on time.
- Supervision of corrections from samples through production to ensured merchandise quality.
- Monitored and mentor designers and assistant.
- Worked with merchandising to finalize seasonal trends, themes, concepts, colors, materials
0-5 years of experience
Designed and launched Fishville, a F2P Social game
- Created game, social and payments features, UI wireframes and gameflow metric events
- Hired and managed design staff
- Product manager of multiple F2P MMO/RPG Facebook games – live ops fixes, new content and new features – released 2 times a week
- Monitored key metrics to highlight issues or improvements
- Improved retention and revenue by analyzing user play patterns and AB testing experimental features
6-10 years of experience
Responsible for managing the design process from seasonal concept and trend, color palette, print and fabric development to final prototype through production.
- Led, inspired and actively participated in the conceptual development of women’s private label Contemporary, Modern Classic, Leisure, Plus and Maternity product with integration of seasonal trends and business needs.
- Oversaw the design of related separates, dresses, cut & sew knits and woven tops for private label accounts including Target, Avon, NY & Co, and Macy’s.
- Conducted global seasonal shopping and consumer research, analyzed runway shows and trend service information to identify new trends, silhouettes, fabrics, trims and embellishments.
- Created, merchandised and presented seasonal trend presentations that featured current trends, key looks, and color, fabric and print direction.
- Developed, implemented, monitored and adapted annual strategic business plans.
- Traveled to Asia to initiate fabric and trim research, sample development and help to build and train overseas teams.
- Developed and ensured adherence to seasonal time & action calendar.
- Increased department sales by 12% by using smarter design focus given current retail climate.
- Collaborated with Target on execution of Liberty of London, Calypso, and Missoni limited time offered collections.
- Recipient of Target’s “Partner Award of Excellence” from 2007 to 2011.
0-5 years of experience
Led environmental design across all sports categories.
- Drove design and execution of consumer experiences which set brand standards through close collaboration with category (marketing and business) and retail (finance, buying, and visual merchandising) teams.
- Developed concept, in partnership with Footlocker, which provided consumers with access to footwear, apparel and equipment from Nike Basketball, Brand Jordan, and Converse, all presented together for the first time.
- 21 Mercer, NYC: Designed for launch of Nike Sportswear.
- Nike ID Studio at NTNY: Launched digital footwear customization.
- Air Force 1 store concept: Capitalized on iconic status shoe has in youth culture.
- Remodel of NTNY: Focused on making store more accessible and functional in order to increase traffic, conversion, and profitability.
Design Director Duties and Responsibilities
A design director’s daily duties vary depending on the projects they’re working on and the size of their design team. However, there are several core job tasks associated with this career, including:
Develop Design Ideas Design directors conceptualize design projects and come up with creative ideas based on specific client needs. They then develop strategic plans for these projects, determining how long they will take and what they will cost. They also create storyboards and mockups to give clients and design teams an idea of how finished projects will look.
Choose Specific Design Elements Design directors choose specific design elements for various projects, and determine if text or additional elements should be included in designs.
Supervise Design Projects Design directors oversee design projects. This includes managing staff members and monitoring projects to ensure they are moving forward on schedule and within budget.
Establish Design Teams Design directors choose design teams for projects from the existing pool of company employees.
Participate in Client Meetings Design directors meet with clients to determine what they want from their projects and what specific design elements they may wish to incorporate.
Review Feedback Design directors review feedback from clients, then design or alter projects to fit the client’s vision, brand, and business needs.
Analyze Data Design directors analyze market research, customer reviews, and other material to create more effective designs.
Collaborate with Sales and Marketing Design directors collaborate with sales and marketing teams to ensure design projects are profitable.
Design Director Education and Training
When hiring design directors, an associate’s degree in graphic design, fine arts, advertising, or a related field is accepted by some employers, but many prefer a bachelor’s degree in one of these disciplines. However, some employers will accept candidates with past work experience and less formal education. Many design directors keep portfolios showcasing their past projects, which can make candidates stand out against others seeking the same job. Little training is provided to design directors because these professionals must already meet extensive education and experience requirements. Usually, design directors begin performing their work duties immediately, though a short grace period may be provided to allow directors to become familiar with existing projects and clients.
Design Director Salary and Outlook
Data provided by PayScale shows that design directors in the advertising industry earn a median annual salary of $107,426, while those in interior design earn $93,352 per year. Information compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that art directors earn $92,500 in yearly median income. Art directors assume responsibility for visual styling in print materials, creating overall design ideas and managing design teams to create these visuals. The duties and education requirements for art directors and design directors are very similar. The BLS expects employment opportunities to increase 5 percent through 2026, a rate that is as fast as the national average. Design directors receive comprehensive benefit packages from a majority of employers that include health insurance with medical, dental, and vision benefits. Life insurance and retirement benefits are typically provided as well. Paid vacation days, holidays, and personal days are included in most packages. In addition to salary and benefits, design directors may receive additional monetary bonuses for meeting or exceeding certain design goals.
Helpful Resources
Browse these books and websites to find job listings, explore career resources, search upcoming training events, and learn helpful work strategies:
Association of National Advertisers – visit this website to find training programs, webinars, upcoming networking events, and resources for design directors and other advertising professionals
Art Directors’ Handbook of Professional Magazine Design: Classic Techniques and Inspirational Approaches – find ways to incorporate classic design elements into modern projects with this book that provides tips, techniques, and useful solutions for art and design directors in all industries
AIGA: The Professional Association for Design – search for jobs, find professional development resources, and explore lots of content for designers at the AIGA website
Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills – this book helps anyone hone their creative skills with various exercises and challenges that make even the most difficult design problems easier to solve. The text includes brainstorming techniques used by top designers
Global Association for Creative Advertising and Design Awards – explore upcoming design events, find learning resources, and read blog content at this website for professional designers in all career fields
Graphic Web Design Cover Letter Examples
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Design Director
Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CONTENT STRATEGIST -
Gabriela Barcenas
CONTENT STRATEGISTGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design and career advice.
