Junior Designer - Menswear

Overview

As Junior Designer – Menswear at French Connection your focus will develop and work to produce designs in CAD format that delivers the key trends with FC handwriting. You will constantly liaise with the wider team and suppliers to ensure inspiration and design direction is followed through to the product. With your finger on the pulse, you will constantly source inspiration, developing these sources appropriately into designs for the perfect French Connection shapes and styles., Fittings and Samples

Responsibilities

• Attend sample fit sessions: Reviewing fit samples with senior management and Technologist as they come back from suppliers, to ensure they meet the design spec, proactively resolving any issues
• Work alongside Head Merchandiser and flag any issues that could affect price or delivery
• Sample management and approvals for all protos, SMS, pre-production, shipping and photo samples
• Researching and Developing Trends
• Review the Critical Path on a regular basis to priorities work correctly
• Building and sharing inspiration boards with country offices to source new ideas
• Product development and quality control in partnership with suppliers to ensuring products (prototypes) meet quality standards during product development
• Trend forecasting and sample shop – have a strong appetite & ability to anticipate the latest trends, fabric, print & imagery
• Product Responsibility
• Generate CADs, create and update tech pack with Illustrator and Excel
• Ensure specific style information on the PLM system and tech packs is up to date at all times
• Create and update the seasonal collection overview
• With the support from senior management, develop each season ensuring that we deliver key trends within a balanced range in order to exceed customer expectations
• Colour research and Pantone matching
• Data input for product details and lead times for all styles and maintaining records on SharePoint.
• Style code allocation
• Sourcing and developing new fabric/yarn/wash/trims etc. to collate information for sourcing packs
• Interpreting trends and developing product without infringing copyright, design rights or trademarks
• Set up season by data inputting all information into AS400 across all divisions.

Knowledge, Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum of 2-4 years\’ experience in the fashion industry
• Experience with CAD
• Have Computer experience with Excel, Outlook, Illustrator and InDesign
• An understanding of the design product development life cycle
• Someone who works well in a team environment with good people skills
• Works quickly & well in a pressured and fast-paced environment
• Manage own workload and able to priorities.
• Resilient Thriving through change and inspiring your team to do the same. Open to feedback, having the ability to see the bigger picture. Tenacious problem solving, creative and logical thinker under pressure
• Positive: Contagious passion and positivity, showing care for others and the brand
• Brave: Having the courage to say what you think and challenge where needed
• Professional: Having an open approach and being able to hold your hands up if you make a mistake and help others to feel safe to do the same
• Strong communicator: Clear, concise and compelling communication. Sharing and listening openly
• Collaborative: Supporting collaborative activity, contributing beyond your own department. Have the ability to build strong and productive relationships.
• Great multitasker: Having a strong ability balancing long term and short-term priorities.