Director, Product Design & Development
On-siteAustin, Texas, United States
Job Summary
Lead trend research and creative brief development to translate brand vision into cohesive seasonal product collections. Build and evolve the seasonal material and finish library across indoor case goods, fabric, leather, outdoor performance materials, and lighting to create a competitive advantage. Partner with Merchandising, Planning, Sourcing, and Marketing teams to align design decisions with commercial goals, margin expectations, and launch timing. Review and approve CAD and render files for final design intent, ensuring specifications are fully resolved for international manufacturing. Own the design language at a systems level, defining material, finish, form, and construction standards while enforcing "brand-right" quality across all categories. Drive the creative roadmap and identify white space in the assortment to address new categories and emerging formats. Maintain deep knowledge of furniture construction and vendor capabilities to apply value engineering discipline from the direction-setting level.
Required Qualifications
- BA or BBA in Industrial Design, Merchandising, International Business, or a related field
- 15+ years of progressive experience in international product development and design leadership within the home furnishings industry
- Demonstrated track record of building and leading creative teams that deliver commercially successful, design-forward products across multiple categories
- Deep, hands-on knowledge of furniture construction across case goods, seating, upholstery, metal, outdoor, and lighting
- Experience developing seasonal material libraries across indoor case goods, fabric and leather, outdoor performance materials, and lighting across multiple price levels and countries of origin
- Experience owning a seasonal design program end to end: creative brief through market delivery, across multiple categories simultaneously
- Strong commercial instincts with the ability to hold a design point of view and make it work within margin, assortment, and calendar constraints
- Established industry relationships with designers, material suppliers, mills, tanneries, trade press, and manufacturing partners
- Demonstrated external presence in the design industry: trade events, editorial, press, or design community leadership
- Clear, confident communicator across all levels of the organization and across cultures, languages, and time zones
- Expected domestic and international travel
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