Design Assistant

Design Assistant

Full-Time 30000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Oner Active

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Assist in creating mood boards, sketches, and technical packs for exciting fashion collections.
  • Company: Join a vibrant activewear brand with a start-up culture and a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, private healthcare, and generous employee discounts.
  • Other info: Dynamic, dog-friendly office with regular team events and a focus on wellness.
  • Why this job: Be part of a creative team that shapes trends in lifestyle and performance sportswear.
  • Qualifications: 1-2 years design experience, proficiency in Illustrator, and a passion for activewear.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.

Role: Design Assistant

Reports into: Senior Designer

Contract Type: Full Time, 7.5 hours per day, 5 days per week

Location: Hybrid, 3 days a week in offices based in Old Street, London

Responsibilities

  • Assisting mood boards, sketches, CAD drawings, and technical packs
  • Assisting across entire collection development; contributing ideas and concepts for seasonal collections including general research, colour palettes, themes, and product direction across both performance and lifestyle categories.
  • Researching fabrics, trims, colours, and construction techniques to bring new ideas to the table, with guidance of a senior designer
  • Selecting fabrics and components suitable for product collections and relevant for the market with guidance of a senior designer
  • Creating design presentations and supporting the preparation of product presentations and reviews
  • Researching and identifying trends in fashion, fitness, and culture to inform design decisions and inspire innovative product solutions with guidance of a senior designer
  • Supporting comp shopping, trade fair visits, and market analysis
  • Gathering inspiration to support the creative vision of upcoming collections
  • Creating compelling trend research and acting as the design voice when working with Buying, Merchandising, and Commercial leadership
  • Anticipating the needs of the Oner Active customer to deliver product ranges that reflect customer demand
  • Assisting and owning creation of technical specifications including Tech Packs and Bill of Materials (BOMs) with knowledge of relevant fabrics and compositions, trim details, construction methods and design details, with guidance of a senior designer
  • Participating in garment fittings, taking notes and assisting with any necessary adjustments to ensure all garments meet high quality design and fit expectations, with guidance of a senior designer
  • Collaborating closely with design, garment tech and sourcing to ensure accurate execution of product across all collections
  • Continuous learning and development to stay abreast of industry developments and emerging technologies across lifestyle and performance sportswear design, with guidance of a senior designer
  • Maintaining organised records of all design work, including overviews and accurately updated design files and technical packs
  • Maintaining archiving and filing of key design attributes including trim samples, graphic ideas, strike offs, and branding approvals
  • Collaborating with buying on lab dips and actioning all strike offs including graphics, trims, branding and design trials, with guidance of a senior designer

Qualifications

  • A minimum of 1-2 years experience in a design assistant/assistant designer role preferably within an activewear brand
  • High proficiency in Illustrator
  • Competency in CAD design and technical drawing is essential
  • Good knowledge of technical processes including garment construction and pattern making
  • Good awareness of colour, fabrication, trim and design details
  • Strong understanding of the lifestyle and activewear market, with a creative desire to contribute to developing products that set trends rather than follow
  • Strong interest and awareness of contemporary culture; someone with their finger firmly on the pulse is essential
  • Good commercial awareness, with the ability to identify key target consumers and an understanding of their tastes, lifestyles and needs
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams
  • Passionate, enthusiastic, shows initiative
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills, attention to detail
  • Ability to work under pressure and able to prioritise and manage deadlines
  • Passion for the Oner Active brand and a desire to be part of its ongoing growth and success

Benefits

  • 25 days annual leave + bank holidays and work from anywhere up to 4 weeks a year
  • 5% employer match salary sacrifice pension scheme
  • Generous Oner Active discount plus regular office sample sales
  • Free Evolve You subscription
  • Private Healthcare with Vitality including optical and dental
  • Monthly wellness allowance and team workout classes
  • Start-up culture - the chance to learn and make a real impact
  • Great employee events like our Summer party, Christmas party and team away days
  • Healthy office snacks and fruit (plus a chocolate cupboard for a sweet treat for the balance)
  • Dog friendly office

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities during the recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments or additional support, we encourage you to reach out to our Recruitment team — we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Design Assistant employer: Oner Active

Oner Active is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, offering a unique blend of creativity and collaboration in the heart of London. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide continuous learning opportunities, generous benefits including private healthcare and wellness allowances, and a supportive environment where your ideas can truly make an impact. Join us to be part of a dynamic team that values innovation and celebrates diversity while working on exciting activewear collections.

Oner Active

Contact Details:

Oner Active Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Design Assistant

Get Down to the Fashion Events

Dive headfirst into local fashion shows, trade fairs, and networking events. These are golden opportunities to meet industry pros and showcase your passion for the industry in person. Plus, it gives you the chance to chat about potential roles at places like Oner Active!

Join Fashion-Focused Communities

Become a part of online fashion communities on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest. Participate in discussions and share your insights on trends or your personal style journey. It’s a great way to get noticed by brands looking to fill positions, including Oner Active.

Craft a Rock-Solid Portfolio

Since you're aiming for a full-time gig, your portfolio should reflect not just your best work but also your personality. Whether it’s lookbooks, design sketches, or styling projects, make sure it screams 'you' and includes a bit about why you’d be a perfect fit for Oner Active.

Leverage Your University Connections

If you’re fresh out of university, don’t underestimate your career services. They often have partnerships with fashion companies for internships and entry-level roles. Use this to your advantage and connect with them to find any openings at Oner Active!

We think you need these skills to ace Design Assistant

Mood Board Creation
Sketching
CAD Drawings
Technical Packs
Fabric Research
Trend Analysis
Design Presentation Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Style:In the fashion-apparel industry, your personal style and understanding of current trends are crucial. Make sure your CV and cover letter reflect your unique fashion sense – use visuals if you can and highlight any fashion-related experiences or projects that show off your flair!

Highlight Relevant Experience:When you're applying for a full-time role, be sure to focus on any past roles or internships in fashion that’ve honed your skills. Whether that's working in retail, fashion design, or marketing, quantify your achievements and show how they relate to the role at Oner Active.

Include a Strong Portfolio:An impressive portfolio is key in fashion! Make sure to include a link to your online portfolio in your CV, showcasing your best work, be it designs, campaigns, or styling projects. This is your chance to let your creativity shine and demonstrate your abilities to Oner Active!

Craft a Standout Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to weave in your passion for fashion and the specific reasons you want to work at Oner Active. Share your vision of how you'd contribute to their brand and why you're excited about their work. Tailoring this will make you stand out from the crowd!

How to prepare for a job interview at Oner Active

Showcase Your Style Portfolio

For a role in the fashion-apparel industry, having a well-curated portfolio is essential. Ensure you include your best work that reflects your style and creativity, whether it's sketches, lookbooks, or completed designs. Be ready to discuss your design process and the inspirations behind your pieces!

Know the Latest Trends and Brands

Being well-versed in current fashion trends and influential brands can give you a leg up in the interview. Get familiar with what’s trending in the market and know your competitors. This shows your passion for the industry and helps you connect your work experience to current fashion trajectories.

Demonstrate Your Collaboration Skills

In a full-time fashion role, collaboration is key, whether you’re working with designers, marketers, or suppliers. Be prepared to share experiences where you successfully worked as part of a team or navigated challenges with colleagues. This will highlight your ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Dress the Part

This might sound obvious, but in fashion, how you present yourself is part of your brand. Wear something that represents your personal style while still aligning with the company’s aesthetic. It’s a great way to show you understand the industry's essence and can embody the brand’s image!