Leading a Design Team into AI
2XFaster to design and tech pack samples
Piloted three AI platforms, cleared IT, Legal and Procurement, and trained 30+ designers and merchandisers to use AI in trend, concept and design work.
Read the case studyCreative & Design Director · Chicago
Directing brands. Designing product.
I’m a Creative and Design Director with 16+ years in accessories design. I directed design for 11+ licensed brands, including Levi’s, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Columbia, built private label for Target, Walmart and Costco, and brought 3D and AI into how the work gets made.
Chicago · Open to hybrid, remote or relocation
Experience
16+ yrs
Accessories design, from Assistant Designer to Senior Design Director
Portfolio
11+
Licensed brands, plus private label for six national retailers
Team
6+
Direct reports, plus 50+ cross-functional partners
3D rollout
−66%
Physical samples after the move to CLO 3D
Licensed brands
Private label
Case studies
Leading teams through change, running a multi-brand portfolio, and turning research into decisions.
Directing a Licensed Portfolio of 11+ Brands
11Licensed brands directed each season
One design team, one calendar and shared factories, with every brand still looking like itself and approved by its own licensor.
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Setting Wallet Strategy for a Nine-Brand Portfolio
9Licensed brands repositioned
Proved wallets were thinning, not dying, and rebuilt the category for nine brands. The result was a refresh across the brands and a MagSafe program at Kohl’s.
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Taking Accessories Digital with 3D
−66%Physical samples
Led the company-wide move to CLO 3D with Target’s 3D team: 35% faster to market and 75% of approvals moved to digital.
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Setting Each Season’s Trend Direction
DaysTo build the trend site, down from weeks
Turned forecasting, brand partner direction, analytics and trend trips into each season’s direction, then used AI to replace hand-built decks with a live trend site.
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Launching Damen + Hastings
Kohl’sNational wholesale partner, grown from Chicago pop-ups
Part of the small team that built RAA’s first owned brand. Named it, worked on the brand book, directed packaging and display, and helped grow it to a national partnership with Kohl’s.
Read the case studyEarlier work
Hands-on design, before I led the team
Projects from my years as a designer at Randa. I drew the CADs, built the books and worked the samples, which is why I still know the details.
Designing a Slipper Line for Levi’s
Nine styles, six outsoles and packaging, presented in a 32-page book I printed and bound by hand.
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Designing Headwear and Gloves for Levi’s and Dockers
Caps, ivies, fedoras, trappers, beanies and gloves, taken from concept CAD through tech pack and factory sample.
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Gift Concepts for Levi’s
Six gift collections named for San Francisco streets, in cut-edge leather and waxed canvas, with kraft packaging for most pieces.
Read the case studyHow I run a design team
01
Start with the brief
Customer, price point, retailer and what the brand won’t do, settled before concepts go on the wall.
02
Bring merchandising in early
Design and merchandising work through trade-offs in month one, before the calendar decides for us.
03
Write it down
Design guides and training toolkits, so the team can run a season without waiting on me.
Let’s talk about your team.
I’m interested in Creative & Design Director roles across apparel, accessories, lifestyle and consumer product brands. Based in Chicago and open to hybrid, remote or relocation.