Design Director - Packed Party

Packed Party is a female-founded and led lifestyle gifting brand that encourages people to make every day a party with our fun and experiential products.

Our items range from party packages to jewelry, drinkware, travel accessories, and more, all designed to bring smiles and start a party!

In May 2024, we joined the Bioworld family, a leading design and distribution company of licensed and private label apparel, headwear, and accessories across all retail channels.

Packed Party operates as a standalone brand benefiting from Bioworld’s global capabilities to achieve its goals of brand-building, category expansion, and distribution.

We are seeking skilled candidates excited to join this amazing team!

We Believe in Great Brands : Our goal is to translate the brand story into product that is as innovative and distinctive as the brand itself.

Creative Culture : Our team offers a unique mix of creative product design and merchandising expertise, believing that innovation stems from diverse creative ideas.

We are the Market : Our team believes in full immersion to gain insight into retail markets, contemporary culture and consumer reaction.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Design Director will be responsible for leading and managing the design team, shaping the overall design strategy, and ensuring that our product offerings align with the company’s brand vision, market trends, and commerciality.

This role as a category leader requires a blend of strategic thinking, creative vision, hands on expertise, and leadership skills to drive innovation and elevate our design standards.

The ideal candidate will have a strong creative hand, a critical eye for upholding standards and accuracy, a bias towards action in a fast-paced environment, and experience allocating resources and process mapping across competing priorities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Design Leadership :

• Lead the design team in creating innovative and trend-setting products that meet customer needs and market demands.
• Oversee the entire design process from concept to execution, ensuring high-quality, on time, and on-brand outcomes.

Team Management :

• Manage and mentor a team of designers, providing guidance, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative and creative work environment that encourages innovation and teamwork.
• Build KPIs to ensure cohesive and consistent team performance

Design Exploration :

• Explore various design directions, materials, and techniques to develop diverse and engaging initial concepts.
• Experiment with different visual styles and approaches to push creative boundaries and explore new possibilities.

Trend Analysis :

• Stay current with industry trends, emerging styles, and consumer preferences to inform and inspire design concepts.
• Conduct research on market trends, competitor products, and cultural influences to ensure designs are relevant and impactful.

Strategic Planning :

• Build process maps and SOPs for best in class creative processes and Tech Pack development
• Collaborate with senior leadership and Creative Design Lead to define and implement the design vision and strategy for the brand.
• Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activity to inform design decisions and maintain a competitive edge.

Project Oversight :

• Ensure timely delivery of design projects while maintaining high standards of quality and consistency.
• Allocate team resources according to business demands and adjust team priorities and deadlines as necessary
• Develop and maintain standards for excellence and accuracy acting as the approval authority on art files, packaging, and creative cohesiveness across collections.

Cross functional Collaboration :

• Drive constant cross functional communication and partnership with Product Development, Chief Creative Director, and Sales Teams
• Act as the Category Leader to partner with cross functional teams to bring a design focused point of view and help drive the best assortments possible.

Functional Leadership :

Act as a hands-on leader by actively engaging in design projects and contributing to the creative process as a category owner;

willing and skilled to step in and assist the team whenever needed

• Balance leadership responsibilities with direct involvement in design work, setting a high standard for creativity and technical proficiency.
• Provide guidance and support to the team through practical design execution, guiding process improvement when necessary through your functional expertise.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidate would :

• Passion for being part of a creative, dynamic company.
• Proven track record of successful design leadership, including managing teams and overseeing complex design projects.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating a diverse range of design work and a deep understanding of current trends and market dynamics.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a team.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a keen eye for detail and a passion for design excellence.
• Proficiency in design software and tools, including Adobe Creative Suite; Experience in PLM preferred

EDUCATION

4 year BA or BS college degree with at least 10 years of Design experience; at least 5 years in a leadership role

BUSINESS HOURS

Hours of operation : Monday-Friday : 8 : 30am 5 : 30pm; Overnight travel is required as needed