What are the responsibilities and job description for the Urban Outfitters Design Director position at URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, Free People & Nuuly)?
About Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters is more than a brand—it’s a cultural movement. We’re a destination for creative expression, trend-defining fashion, and the next generation of style. Loved by Gen Z and rooted in youth culture, we’re constantly evolving to reflect what’s now and what’s next. Our design team is at the forefront of that evolution, shaping the future of fashion through bold ideas, thoughtful storytelling, and a deep connection to our customer.
The Role
We’re looking for a visionary Design Director to lead seasonal concepting and assortment strategy for one of our key apparel categories. This role is for someone who lives and breathes fashion, understands the pulse of culture, and knows how to translate trend into product that sells. You’ll guide a team of designers in creating collections that are not only aesthetically compelling but commercially powerful—balancing innovation with business acumen, and creativity with customer relevance.
Role Responsibilities
Seasonal Vision & Assortment Strategy
Own the seasonal design vision, translating macro trends into key items and outfitting stories.
Drive raw material innovation across core and seasonal categories—fabric, wash, trim, stitch, and embellishment.
Collaborate with other Design Directors to ensure cross-category cohesion and outfitting synergy.
Elevate brand identity through thoughtful branding and storytelling across the assortment.
Product Development & Execution
Guide designers in developing styles that reflect seasonal concepts and meet business needs.
Partner with Product Development and R&D to align raw material vision with cost and quality goals.
Collaborate with Print Color teams to ensure balanced, integrated print stories.
Conduct competitive shopping and trend analysis to inform design direction.
Leadership & Team Development
Inspire, mentor, and coach a team of designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and accountability.
Provide clear, constructive feedback and create growth opportunities for junior talent.
Partner with the Senior Director to align team efforts with brand and business objectives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with Buying, Planning, Production, and Marketing to ensure alignment and execution.
Communicate progress and resolve development issues in partnership with cross-functional teams.
Lead seasonal presentation set-ups and ensure readiness for key milestones.
Business Acumen & Strategy
Analyze weekly performance metrics to inform design decisions and identify white space opportunities.
Present seasonal concepts and assortments to leadership with clarity and strategic insight.
Manage team budgets and ensure alignment with financial goals.
Adhere to master calendar deadlines and drive process efficiency.
#
Role Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits
EEO Statement
URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.
Urban Outfitters is more than a brand—it’s a cultural movement. We’re a destination for creative expression, trend-defining fashion, and the next generation of style. Loved by Gen Z and rooted in youth culture, we’re constantly evolving to reflect what’s now and what’s next. Our design team is at the forefront of that evolution, shaping the future of fashion through bold ideas, thoughtful storytelling, and a deep connection to our customer.
The Role
We’re looking for a visionary Design Director to lead seasonal concepting and assortment strategy for one of our key apparel categories. This role is for someone who lives and breathes fashion, understands the pulse of culture, and knows how to translate trend into product that sells. You’ll guide a team of designers in creating collections that are not only aesthetically compelling but commercially powerful—balancing innovation with business acumen, and creativity with customer relevance.
Role Responsibilities
Seasonal Vision & Assortment Strategy
Own the seasonal design vision, translating macro trends into key items and outfitting stories.
Drive raw material innovation across core and seasonal categories—fabric, wash, trim, stitch, and embellishment.
Collaborate with other Design Directors to ensure cross-category cohesion and outfitting synergy.
Elevate brand identity through thoughtful branding and storytelling across the assortment.
Product Development & Execution
Guide designers in developing styles that reflect seasonal concepts and meet business needs.
Partner with Product Development and R&D to align raw material vision with cost and quality goals.
Collaborate with Print Color teams to ensure balanced, integrated print stories.
Conduct competitive shopping and trend analysis to inform design direction.
Leadership & Team Development
Inspire, mentor, and coach a team of designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and accountability.
Provide clear, constructive feedback and create growth opportunities for junior talent.
Partner with the Senior Director to align team efforts with brand and business objectives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with Buying, Planning, Production, and Marketing to ensure alignment and execution.
Communicate progress and resolve development issues in partnership with cross-functional teams.
Lead seasonal presentation set-ups and ensure readiness for key milestones.
Business Acumen & Strategy
Analyze weekly performance metrics to inform design decisions and identify white space opportunities.
Present seasonal concepts and assortments to leadership with clarity and strategic insight.
Manage team budgets and ensure alignment with financial goals.
Adhere to master calendar deadlines and drive process efficiency.
#
Role Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- 10–12 years of design and leadership experience in fashion/apparel.
- Deep understanding of youth culture, fashion trends, and the Urban Outfitters customer.
- Expert-level knowledge of apparel construction, fabric development, and manufacturing processes.
- Strong hand and digital sketching ability; Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office proficiency.
- Experience with AI tools for creative ideation and presentation (e.g., Midjourney, PromeAI, ChatGPT).
- Familiarity with Treadstone and BOM systems.
- Highly organized, adaptable, and solution-oriented.
- Creative Leadership – Inspires innovation while maintaining brand integrity.
- Strategic Thinking – Connects seasonal vision to business goals and customer needs.
- Collaboration – Builds strong partnerships across teams and departments.
- Customer Focus – Designs with empathy and insight into Gen Z preferences.
- Execution Excellence – Delivers high-quality work on time and with attention to detail.
- Talent Development – Invests in team growth through coaching and mentorship.
URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits
EEO Statement
URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.