Junior Designer

We are seeking a highly accomplished and strategically minded Junior Designer to join our creative team. This is a pivotal role for an individual who brings deep expertise in brand-led design within the sport/street and lifestyle sectors. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving the design and development of collections and Special Make-Ups (SMUs) that are commercially compelling, brand-authentic, and market-relevant, specifically within the UK market.

The Junior Designer will work in close collaboration with the Creative Director, cross-functional teams, and key retail partners to translate global brand collections into coherent, on‑brand range offerings. This role demands an individual who is highly self‑sufficient, commercially aware, and possesses an innate understanding of the processes, rhythms, and disciplines that define brand‑led design as distinct from high street or fast fashion retail environments.

Key Responsibilities

Brand & Creative Direction

• Champion and safeguard brand DNA across all design output, ensuring full adherence to established brand guidelines and creative vision.
• Interpret and translate global brand collections for the UK market, adapting product ranges to meet local commercial and consumer requirements without compromising brand integrity.
• Develop original in‑house collections where required, demonstrating a strong design perspective informed by brand ethos, market insight, and consumer demand.
• Maintain an authoritative understanding of brand positioning, seasonal aesthetics, and creative territories across relevant sport and lifestyle brands.

Collection & SMU Development

• Lead the end‑to‑end design and development of collections and SMUs, from initial concept through to final sign‑off.
• Collaborate closely with multiple retail partners to curate and build ranges drawn from global brand collections, ensuring product selection is commercially viable and brand‑appropriate.
• Apply a thorough and critical understanding of fabric, construction, and fit to all design decisions, maintaining the highest standards of product quality and wearability.
• Ensure all designed collections and SMUs are commercially positioned to achieve strong sell‑through performance.

Planning, Process & Timeline Management

• Own and manage personal design timelines with a high degree of autonomy, proactively identifying risks and resolving bottlenecks without requiring external oversight.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of brand calendars, sales cycles, and launch windows, ensuring all deliverables are planned and executed in alignment with key milestones.
• Apply a rigorous understanding of brand‑side processes— including range planning, range review, sales launch, and market go‑live cycles—to structure and sequence design activity appropriately.
• Maintain meticulous records of design decisions, revisions, and approvals throughout the development process.

Stakeholder Communication & Collaboration

• Clearly articulate and present design rationale, concepts, and creative direction to internal stakeholders including the Senior Creative Director and wider leadership team.
• Proactively engage with sales teams to refine design output in response to commercial feedback, customer insight, and sell‑through data.
• Build and maintain strong, productive working relationships with brand partners, retail buyers, and product development teams.
• Demonstrate confident and professional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to align diverse stakeholders around a shared creative vision.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 to 10 years of professional design experience, with a demonstrable track record in brand‑led design within sport, lifestyle, or adjacent consumer sectors.
• Proven experience working with globally recognised brands, with a strong understanding of how major brand organisations operate, plan, and go to market.
• Demonstrable experience working within or alongside the UK market, with a clear understanding of UK retail dynamics, consumer preferences, and commercial considerations.
• Deep and applied knowledge of brand DNA, brand guidelines, and the discipline required to design consistently within a defined creative framework.
• Expert understanding of garment construction, fabric selection, and fit across relevant product categories.
• Proven ability to manage personal workload, timelines, and deliverables with a high degree of independence and self‑direction.
• Significant experience working directly with or reporting into a Senior Creative Director or equivalent senior creative leader.
• Strong experience engaging with sales teams and using commercial feedback to inform and improve design output.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to define and defend design decisions at a senior level.
• Experience working across both sport and lifestyle brand categories.
• Exposure to SMU design processes within a wholesale or licensed brand environment.
• Familiarity with range planning tools and product lifecycle management (PLM) systems.
• An established network of brand, retail, and supplier contacts within the UK market.
• Highly self‑motivated and capable of working autonomously without close supervision.
• Commercially astute, with an ability to balance creative ambition with business requirements.
• Collaborative and communicative, with a natural ability to build trust across diverse teams.
• Detail‑oriented and process‑driven, with a strong commitment to consistency and quality.
• Passionate about brand, product, and the design disciplines that underpin exceptional collections.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced

#J-18808-Ljbffr…