Overview

About the roleThis is an exciting opportunity for a designer who is passionate about print and evolving trends to join the WW Print design team. You must be passionate about fashion, and stay informed and up to date about inspirational print design (catwalks), social media and also our competition, (High street).

As a Designer in the Print Design Profession, you will be responsible for designing, developing and delivering original, relevant, customer-centric and distinct best in class own brand products, utilising customer insights, to inspire, excite and delight our customers and deliver planned growth for categories, ensuring it aligns to the overall strategic direction. You will take a key role designing print for womenswear product and design briefs, working independently, alongside or in collaboration with the wider Design, Buying and supplier community. Working flexibly, you will provide support where there is the largest demand / tightest deadlines with the product categories.

Responsibilities

Design:

• Play a critical role in delivering product design that will form a coherent category assortment aligned to brand / sub brand guidelines and in service of our customers. Support the Design Team and studio in fulfilling key tasks across the season.

• Produce commercial and innovative design solutions to briefs. Develops product design handwriting, displaying a breadth of design handwriting to ensure our customer offer is truly unique.

• Assist in the research, preparation and presentation of relevant and appropriate category trends. Demonstrate a good level of research and analytical skills to keep abreast of key customer requirements, market trends and conditions, product trends including technological advancements

• Ensure the sampling process is efficient for your sub-category. Produces precise design packs and fulfils delegated seasonal design briefs with commercial and innovative solutions, supported by illustrating / briefing / sourcing key materials and details. Ensure accurate samples are produced. Maintains comprehensive records of design projects.

• Works on designated product ranges/projects. Takes ownership of design, product development and sampling process, engaging relevant stakeholders throughout, with the support from L6 Designer and L5 Design Manager

• You will bring proficiency in design software (e.g. Adobe Suite, CAD, AI or Clo3D) and be able to bring designs to life digitally, using technology to sketch and design.

• Where applicable, deliver task management for L9 Design Assistants to achieve and deliver work, in line with business outcomes and with the voice of the customer at the heart of decision making.

• EU and International travel may be required to develop products as appropriate.

Stakeholder Management:

• Support success driven cross-department working through effective stakeholder relationships.

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships.

Continuous Improvement:

• Consistently demonstrate a Continuous Improvement mindset

• Think boldly and see issues and opportunities from all angles and multiple perspectives, even the unprecedented, to draw out meaning and connections and make recommendations to adjust strategy and outcomes as a result. Generate a number of workable options and overcome barriers to finding solutions.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Proven experience working as a Print Designer

• Demonstrated ability to translate design concepts into production-ready sketches and technical specifications, using technology (e.g. Adobe, Clo3D and AI) to do achieve this

• A general awareness of current fashion trends and a passion for fashion and a willingness to research and learn about trends

• Experience in preparing design presentations and technical packages

• A good knowledge of pattern making, sewing, and garment construction or other relevant technical experience as well as an understanding of textiles and materials

• A strong portfolio showcasing fashion design skills within print

• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the JL&P brand, sub-brands values and potential for product design to drive commercial outcomes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Design experience in the retail industry

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• BA degree in Design (product, fashion, furniture, textiles, surface pattern, decorative arts)

• Specific sub-category design experience (e.g. Knit, Jeans) and a demonstrable portfolio

For internal use only

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About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.