At a Glance
- Tasks: Design innovative home accessories and fragrances, collaborating with top brands.
- Company: Join a leading retailer known for its creative and trend-setting home collections.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, creative environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced role with excellent career progression and a chance to showcase your portfolio.
- Why this job: Be the creative force behind exciting home brands and shape future trends.
- Qualifications: Experience in design, strong 2D/3D skills, and a passion for home accessories.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office to start with, moving to 3 days once embedded into the role. Core hours flexible between 8am to 6pm.
The Role
As a Hard Accessories Designer within our Label Home Brands team, you will be the creative force driving the future of our licensed home collections. Based at our Leicestershire Head Office, you will collaborate with prestigious, world-renowned licensed brands like Laura Ashley, Nina Campbell, and Rockett St George, as well as helping us shape the identity of exciting new brands joining our portfolio. Your mission is to look forward, spot the next big trend, and push the boundaries of what we offer our customers. By transforming brand heritage into contemporary, commercial successes, you will directly impact Next’s market-leading home range. Our Designers here at Next are always looking forward, focusing on trend and pushing the boundaries of what we can offer our fantastic customer base. Working as a key part of the critical path; creating new and innovative designs for our Licensed Hard Accessories range!
What You’ll Take On
- Design and innovate elevated hard accessories and home fragrance collections across multiple categories, ensuring all work aligns perfectly with each brand’s unique aesthetic and market needs.
- Collaborate closely with licensors to manage the approval process, deeply understanding and respecting their heritage while creatively contemporising the designs.
- Create detailed, accurate launch brief sheets and technical CAD work for our global supply base to ensure a seamless production process.
- Manage the design critical path in a fast-paced environment, partnering closely with buyers, merchandisers, and external stakeholders to deliver commercial triumphs.
- Nurture strong relationships with international suppliers, communicating design briefs clearly to maintain high-quality outcomes.
What You’ll Bring
- Proven designer-level experience gained within a similar brand, supplier, or high-street retailer, specifically focusing on hard goods or Home accessories.
- Strong 2D and 3D design expertise, with the ability to create commercial designs that resonate with a diverse customer base.
- A sharp eye for trends and an innate sense of taste, with a genuine passion for the Next brand portfolio.
- Outstanding communication and collaboration skills, making you highly effective when managing external licensors and internal teams.
- Resilience and organisation, allowing you to thrive under pressure, manage multiple tasks, and hit critical deadlines without losing your creative spark.
Portfolios
To help us get a feel for your style, please attach a digital portfolio to your application. Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.
Sponsorship & Application Details
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.
Designer - Home Brands in Leicester employer: Next Careers
At Victoria’s Secret, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture where teamwork and passion for customer service thrive. Our Sales Associates enjoy flexible shifts, comprehensive training, and opportunities for personal growth in a supportive environment, all while being part of a globally recognised brand that values creativity and innovation. Located in Exeter, our store provides a unique chance to engage with customers in a dynamic setting, making every day rewarding and enjoyable.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Designer - Home Brands in Leicester
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
As a graphic designer, your portfolio is your secret weapon! Make sure it's not just a collection of your work but showcases your creative process too. Use platforms like Behance or Dribbble to share your designs and gain visibility within the design community.
✨Get Involved in Design Meetups
Networking is key in the design world! Check out local design meetups or workshops where you can connect with other creatives and potential employers. This is a goldmine for finding unadvertised job openings at companies like Next Careers.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Next Careers, don’t go for a one-size-fits-all approach. Ensure your application highlights specific projects or styles that align with their brand image, showing that you’re a perfect fit for their team.
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in landing your dream design job! Share your work on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest, and engage with accounts from your desired companies—this could put you on their radar before they start hiring.
We think you need these skills to ace Designer - Home Brands in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio:Your portfolio is your visual CV! Make sure to include a link to your best design projects that showcase your creativity and versatility. Tailor it to include works that relate to the kind of design work Next Careers does, so they can see you in action.
Tailor Your CV for Design:When crafting your CV, highlight your design skills and software proficiencies, like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch. Mention any relevant experience you have with branding, UI/UX design, or typography, as we want to see how you fit in with the creative team at Next Careers.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Next Careers. Let us know how you approach your design projects and any specific campaigns or themes that resonate with you, showing we’re not just a good fit but a perfect match!
Highlight Collaboration Skills:As a graphic designer, you often work with various teams and stakeholders. In your application, mention experiences where you've collaborated with others to bring a project to life, whether it's with clients, writers, or developers. This shows you can thrive in a team environment, which is key at Next Careers.
How to prepare for a job interview at Next Careers
✨Get Your Portfolio Ready
Your portfolio is your secret weapon in graphic design interviews! Make sure it's showing off your best work, with a variety of styles and projects that highlight different skills — from branding to digital illustration. Be prepared to talk through each piece, focusing on your creative process and the tools you used.
✨Know Your Design Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with software like Adobe Creative Suite is a must! Brush up on your skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as interviewers might dive into specific technical questions or ask for your workflow. If you’ve worked with any innovative tools or techniques, don't hesitate to showcase that expertise!
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Some companies may throw a design challenge your way during the interview! This might involve sketching out ideas or solving a branding issue on the spot. Practising these quick thinking exercises beforehand can help us show off our creativity and adaptability.
✨Passion Counts
For a full-time position, showing genuine enthusiasm for design is key! Talk about your inspirations, the projects you're excited about, and why you're drawn to Next Careers. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.