What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Designer position at EMERGING BLUE?
Job Description
Associate Apparel Designer
Location: Charleston, SC (Hybrid)
Department: Production
About
Our client is a premium family swimwear and lifestyle brand built for sun-filled days and the little moments in between. They design thoughtful, high-quality pieces for the whole family, from baby to adult, with an aesthetic that's classic, clean and detail-obsessed. The team is small, fast-moving and deeply invested in the product they put into the world. If you love clever prints, well-made things and a job where your work shows up on real families at the beach, you'll feel at home here.
Specific Duties / Responsibilities
Associate Apparel Designer
Location: Charleston, SC (Hybrid)
Department: Production
About
Our client is a premium family swimwear and lifestyle brand built for sun-filled days and the little moments in between. They design thoughtful, high-quality pieces for the whole family, from baby to adult, with an aesthetic that's classic, clean and detail-obsessed. The team is small, fast-moving and deeply invested in the product they put into the world. If you love clever prints, well-made things and a job where your work shows up on real families at the beach, you'll feel at home here.
Specific Duties / Responsibilities
- Responsible for creating seasonal developmental tech packs (technical drawing with construction details, construction page, bill of materials page)
- Develop new finishing details, silhouettes and construction methods
- Create original prints, graphics, and seasonal artworks aligned with our client's brand aesthetic. Modify existing prints through recoloring, resizing, scaling, layout adjustments and adding texture and depth.
- Develop seasonal color palettes and artwork presentations.
- Create and maintain seasonal line plans and assortment boards.
- Research adult, children and baby apparel and swimwear silhouettes, as well as fabrications, trims and prints to inspire new collections.
- Prepare presentations for seasonal design reviews and roadmaps.
- Partner closely with product development team in reviewing strike offs, lab dyes, trims and development samples and provide clear comments for overseas vendors.
- Evaluate print and trim placement and sizing to ensure accurate proportions throughout size range.
- Help maintain organized design files, artwork libraries and seasonal documentation.
- Ensure all artwork and tech packs are accurate, complete and production-ready while meeting development calendars.
- Support cross-functional collaboration with product development, tech design and production team.
- Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design
- 2–4 years of experience in apparel design
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator is required and strong Photoshop skills preferred
- Experience in PLM systems a plus
- Swim experience (apparel experience a bonus as well!)
- Experience creating production-ready technical artworks and tech packs
- Demonstrate ability to create original print designs and repeat patterns.
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication and strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Hybrid role (in-office in Charleston and remote work environment)
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k)
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Generous employee discount on all of our client's products
- A close-knit, collaborative team that moves fast and cares about the work
- Direct exposure to every part of the design and production process, not siloed