Associate Designer- Men’s Outerwear & Accessories

Position Details:
Title: Associate Designer- Men’s Outerwear & Accessories
Department: Product Design
Reports to: Maura Morgan
Location: Dearborn, MI
Job Classification: Hybrid

Job Summary
The Associate Designer brings ideas to life by translating consumer needs, market opportunities, and brand vision into innovative product solutions. Collaborating across Design, Merchandising, and Product Development teams, this role assists with the end-to-end creative journey, from consumer research and market inspiration through concept creation, sketching, rendering, prototyping, and final refinement. With a passion for solving real-world problems, the Associate Designer assists in the creation of durable, functional, and meaningful products that empower hardworking consumers and shape the future of the brand.

Representative Responsibilities

Assists in the creation of consumer-focused designs for their assigned category, or subcategory that meets or exceeds the needs of our consumers.
Collaborates with Insights Team as well as Consumers to create relevant functional designs. Plans and participates in job sites, consumer insight surveys, round tables, etc.
Supports seasonal direction, researching to maintain and develop knowledge of the industry including materials and relevant technologies. Plans and participates in market trips, tradeshows to gather product and material insights.
Sketches designs in both 2D and/or 3D for both presentation and technical specification
Partners with Design Resources Art Team to build seasonal art concepts, direction for category needs.
Partners with cross-functional teams to ensure seasonal direction is followed to deliver highest quality product while meeting all GTM milestone dates.
Partners with Product Development and Raw Material teams to deliver on seasonal direction within raw materials, color & wash development.
Assists in-season handoff of designs to the Product Development and Technical Design Teams
Manage and maintain Design-owned PLM responsibilities
Attends fit sessions, supporting design point of view and documenting any edits needed
Presents new ideas and concepts within design team and cross-functionals, builds story telling skills, supports presentations as needed at key meetings and milestones. Partner with Design Resources Presentation team to build and set up for all key meetings.



Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design, or related field. Equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of degree.


Required Skills & Experience

0-1 yrs of work experience in apparel design
Knowledge of apparel design and garment construction required
Fabric, trim, and color knowledge within the Apparel and Textile industry.
Proficiency in design software and tools, including Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop), and 3D modeling/rendering tools (e.g. CLO3D)
Experience with Web PDM/ PLM System or similar
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to develop strong business relationships.
Excellent written and oral communication skill with all levels including management and external partners
Outstanding organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize workload and manage multiple projects simultaneously
Excellent attention to detail
Manage/Create visual tools under the time and budget set for GTM Milestones (Design Resources focused)


Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

This position has a Hybrid location: Associate will work on-site regularly as needed for work activities.


Office environment: open office setting and collaboration workspaces.
Light lifting up to 10lbs
Willing to work some weekends if necessary
Domestic and international travel required (up to 20%)


Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace.

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