What are the responsibilities and job description for the Freelance Tech Designer position at Artful Home?
Part gallery, part art fair, part online marketplace - Artful Home is all of these things and more. For over 30 years, we have been successfully connecting artists and art lovers, offering an extensive juried collection of fine art, craft, and design for the home and wardrobe. We are dedicated to creating an unforgettable experience for customers, artists and team members. We believe that every work of art has a story. We also believe that each member of our team has a story and that these narratives enrich our entire organization.
The Freelance Tech Designer is responsible partnering with and supporting Design, Product Development, and Production teams with the technical design of garments.
Duties and Responsibilities
An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential functions listed below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Essential Functions
- Focuses on Artful Home’s Vision and Values. Considers the best interest of Artful Home and its team members, artists, and customers, while performing job duties.
- Contributes to an environment in which all team members are respected and included regardless of their individual differences and feel motivated to improve individual and work area contributions to achieve desired business results.
Tech Packs: Partners with Design and Product Development to create detailed tech packs that include garment measurements, construction details, fitting notes, trim callouts, Adobe Illustrator flat sketches, and final graded specs. Maintains detailed revision notes or changes that occur throughout the development process. Maintains accurate updated information including titles, measurements, sketches and ensure the final hand off to Production is accurate.
Fittings: Schedules and leads fit sessions, guides necessary revisions to ensure garments meet fit and construction standards while executing design intent. Manages fit development process from start to finish, provides detailed feedback and adjustments to ensure proper fit, and keeps styles on track for bulk production timeline. Owns daily communication with teams cross-functionally on all fit sample status and ensures fit deadlines are met. Fits on live model and dress form as needed.
Quality Assurance: Establishes and maintains quality standards for all styles. Collaborates with production team to review and approve PP samples. Problem solves production issues related to fit and construction. Ensures that production garments meet quality requirements and that all specs, fit blocks, and comments are executed.
Collaboration: Works closely with design, product development, and production team members to deliver results at each stage in the garment lifecycle.
Organization: Keeps all technical design files and folders organized seasonally. Updates with name changes, style number changes, etc. as they occur. Performs seasonal clean-up to organize and maintains a library for dropped styles.
Garment Specifications: Ensures consistent measurements and grading across all sizes. Establishes fit standards and continuously analyzes for modifications needed. Reviews return reports and provides suggestions to improve return rate. Develops and maintains fit standards utilizing block library. Works with patternmakers to expand block library for maximum utilization.
Return Rate: Recognizes and corrects issues associated with high returning products to identify the source of problems/returns.
Marginal Functions
- Performs all other duties as assigned.
- Overtime as required.
- Associate or bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred.
- Five (5) plus years of Tech Design experience is required.
- Experience in product development, production, or design is helpful.
- Strong time management and attention to detail is required.
- Ability to work proficiently in Microsoft Excel.