Designer - Accessories

We are seeking a highly creative and driven Designer to join our Harrods Own Label team. This role focuses on the research, design, and delivery of innovative collections of Accessories and Gifts, aligning with our department strategy and key deadlines.

You will be responsible for creating mood boards, developing key shapes, and establishing colour palettes that consistently build brand equity and set industry standards.

About the Role

As the Designer, you will lead design initiatives, driving newness and maintaining a market-leading customer value proposition. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration and maintaining a positive, can-do attitude.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Drive innovation and newness by executing efficient and streamlined design processes.
• Leverage a broad range of influences to deliver cutting-edge designs.
• Collaborate closely with Buying, Merchandising, and Technical teams to enhance product quality and exceed expectations.
• Consistently deliver premium, industry-standard designs that align with brand strategy and key dates.

Strategy & Range Proposition -

• Contribute to seasonal design strategies, identifying trends and opportunities for growth.
• Drive customer acquisition and brand equity through thoughtful product decisions.
• Research category trends, create mood boards, and develop colour palettes that inspire and align with business goals.
• Continuously develop and refine designs in response to market trends and sales performance.

Product -

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver best-in-class products.
• Design products that meet attribute targets and maintain premium quality.
• Develop detailed design briefs for suppliers to ensure accurate and timely sample production.
• Stay informed on global competition and incorporate insights into design development.
• Ensure all products reflect current trends and align with strategic goals.

Supplier Relationships -

• Understand the capabilities of suppliers and manage communication to ensure timely, high-quality deliverables.
• Prepare and deliver precise design packs and briefings to suppliers, ensuring they meet the highest standards.
• Contribute to supplier strategy and vendor scorecard processes, addressing risks and opportunities.
• Ensure all designs adhere to sustainability commitments and promote continuous improvement among suppliers.

Commercial -

• Support the drive for gross sales and net contribution by contributing to in-season design decisions.
• Maintain strong commercial awareness and respond to sales performance by refining designs and exploring new opportunities.
• Design ranges that align with commercial parameters, such as retail price architecture.

Leadership, Training, and Employee Development -

• Act as a role model for company values, fostering an inclusive and creative culture.
• Mentor junior team members, helping them develop their creative skills and market knowledge.
• Contribute to team goals and demonstrate a proactive approach to collective deliverables.
• Regularly review and update KPIs, driving your own development and that of your team.

About You

You will be highly organized, capable of managing multiple projects, and committed to delivering on time while maintaining the highest level of quality.

You will also have:

• Proven experience in Own Label Design within a bridge/luxury brand.
• Deep understanding of the bridge/luxury retail landscape, with the ability to leverage this knowledge effectively.
• Highly creative with a refined taste level and strong attention to detail.
• Strong leadership skills, with a flexible and organized approach to managing projects.
• Innovative and driven, with the confidence to challenge the status quo and advocate for design excellence.
• Positive, can-do attitude with strong stakeholder management and influencing abilities.
• Consistently strive for exceptional results and excellence in design.

About Us

Our 175th anniversary will see the Knightsbridge store become a stage for our legacy of firsts, our house of world-leading brands and our reputation for exceptional. We want you to come and be a part of all this - and help us deliver exceptional service that represents our authority as a long-standing icon, industry-leader and innovator. Inspired by our past, celebrating our present and focusing on our future, you’ll be joining a team with the belief that anything is possible. What makes you different makes us exceptional.

Our Promise to You

Help us make the impossible possible for our customers and we’ll do something remarkable for you. As well as offering a friendly environment to inspire your best work, we provide abundant opportunities and support to build an exceptional career across the varied specialisms of our business. 

In return you’ll receive an excellent benefits package, including a company pension, flexible working, 25 days’ holiday, and your birthday off, up to 33% in-store discount (including across our food hall and restaurants) and a season ticket loan.

Uniquely You

At Harrods we believe the personality and authenticity of our people sets us apart. We celebrate and invite applications from all cultures, backgrounds, tastes, and experiences and are proud of our culture where people from all walks of life can grow and thrive. What makes you unique makes us exceptional.

While our job adverts outline the ideal qualities, skills, and prior experience for the role, we believe in the potential for growth and value individual strengths. If you do not meet every desired criteria but feel you have the skills and experience to thrive in this role as well as a genuine interest in working for Harrods and you can demonstrate an alignment with our values, we would encourage you to apply.

If you want to know more about our people and our culture, search #TogetherHarrods on LinkedIn, Facebook or follow us on Instagram @togetherharrods