Location:North West London (NW8), NW8 8PL
Salary:Competitive plus benefits
Company:The Dune Group
Position:Design
Sector:Multiple
Job Type:Permanent
Reference:RetailChoice/b_WgmzISTnWQbSNNiDiLvX
Date posted:13/10/2015 18:40
Job Description:
The Dune Group is the global leader of affordable luxury fashion footwear and accessories.
Based in London, the fashion capital of the world, The Dune Group has over 20 years of experience in the footwear industry and has grown through a passion and dedication to excellence in product development and in-house design, and a commitment to providing outstanding customer service.
The company has grown from a 20 square metre concession in a fashion store in Oxford Street, London, in 1992, to a group with 46 UK stores, 169 concessions in the major department stores such as Topshop, Topman, House of Fraser, John Lewis and Selfridges in the UK, and 35 franchised stores and concessions in 12 countries around the world.
At The Dune Group we believe our customer should always come first. We pride ourselves on offering a unique customer experience that is second to none and are currently recruiting for fun, passionate and fashion obsessed people to join our fabulous team in order to drive our business forward. If you are Fanatical about footwear and Crazy about Customer Service then The Dune Group could be for you.
THE ROLE
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Designer to support our Head over Heels and Dune range. Working closely with the Dune Group buying teams, the succesful candidate will act as guardian and advocate of the brand to design a comprehensive range of product
RESPONSIBILITES:
Design Development
• Reviews existing and developmental constructions ensuring the brands always have the lead on what is key & have it interpreted and represented appropriately in the ranges
• Instinctively understands what is right and wrong about a product
• Liaises on a daily basis with the relevant Buying teams and supervises the quickest possible design route for trialling purposes ensuring product is developed in a speedy process for the Buyers to buy. (e.g. manipulating existing lasts, heels etc for speed), and proposing new constructions for trialling
• Ensures all development both from Design and Buying is ‘on brand’ and setting up process to review Buying developments
• Ensures the product designed is consistently achieving standards in make-up e.g. sock design, sole design etc. and is consistent with where we are positioned as a brand
• Reviews and critiques proposed ranges together with Design Manager, Buyers and Buying Directors prior to Range Review and Sign Off
• Influences changes and recommendations on the selection of product and details where required
• Ensures presence at QC fit and aesthetic sessions
• Influences the Buying teams in the awareness of future trends and the need to represent those looks within the range
• Works collaboratively with retail, marketing and buying teams to ensure product development and ranging are consistent with the brand
Trend Information
• Gains clarity on the Dune Group brand and customer by immersing self in fashion through store visits, reading fashion magazines, visiting trade shows etc.
• Continually develops and establishes a clear vision of fashion directions and trends, in both clothing and footwear
• Constantly researches the market and is aware of competitors ranges
• Visits key trend fairs and cities for shopping and reporting back new trend information to Directors and Buying team
• Collates relevant trend information to deliver in a clear concise presentation format to the Buyer and Directors of the latest, future materials, colours and details for the Concept Meeting at the start of our product development cycle
• Continually ensures trend information is update and communicated to the Dune Group Buying team
• Ensuring latest trend information is being used in product development and is interpreted in an appropriate way for Dune Group
• Anticipates future trends and ensures Dune is ahead of the high street
Guiding the Critical Path process and deadlines
• Ensures all updated trend information i.e.: colour/details etc. is available in a clear and concise format for the Dune Group Buying team to work with at the ‘Initial Selection’ stage
• Ensures adherence to the Critical Path in line with Buying Critical Path
• Ensures key ‘design intensive’ periods are planned for and appropriate time scales allowed for the Design team to focus on all follow-up design work
• Manages the design process from concept to final samples for product and ensuring all samples are present for all subsequent product meetings
Range building
• Creates a clear vision of range including shapes, colours and materials
• Works closely with buying team to plan the range and develop constructions, components and styles
• Works to clear critical path and meets deadlines without exception
• Works well with suppliers across a broad supply base to deliver great samples
• Works with suppliers to engineer samples to fit price points
• Reviews ranges with buyer to ensure balanced, consistent and confident range
Managing the Team
• Manages the direct reports in the Design team on a daily basis, ensuring there is clarity of job roles, responsibilities and allocated tasks
• Completes regular one to one communications along with annual PDR’s; to drive performance and development
• Completes any HR related activity such as recruitment or absence meetings
• Leads and directs the team to drive creativity and inspiration to ensure continued commercial success of the product
SKILLS/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
ESSENTIAL
• Strong fashion credentials and understanding of fashion trends
• Experienced designer with a clear understanding of the Dune Group brands
• Ability to design range with authority and confidence
• Top class footwear technical expertise and understanding
• Understands the need for quality standards to be met and constantly looking at ways to enhance the comfort and quality of the product
• Excellent drawing skills
• Good computer design skills
• Strong CAD, illustrator and photoshop skills
• Creative
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills
• Clear ability to meet strict deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively across a number of different business functions and supply base
• Exemplary organisational skills
• Maturity in approach and able to self-manage
• Minimum of 3 years + design experience ideally in retail but would also consider wholesale experience as well
• Able to travel abroad on regular business trips
DESIRED
• Experience of sourcing in China, Brazil and India
• Close relationships with sourcing factories
YOUR REWARD
• Excellent product discount
• Participation in the Company bonus scheme
• up to 25 days holiday per year plus bank holiday
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Any many, many more….
