The Associate Director, Furniture Design leads the creative and strategic development of seasonal assortments from concept to market. Partnering with the VP of Design, they execute brand-aligned product strategies while driving cross-functional collaboration and operational excellence. This role manages the design team and vendor relationships, leveraging expertise in materials and trends to deliver innovative, high-quality products that fuel business growth.
This is an on-site position ("Monday through Thursday") based out of our Northbrook, IL office with the flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.
A day in the life as an Associate Director, Furniture Design
- Partner with the Vice President of Design to translate seasonal direction into commercially viable product strategies aligned with brand vision and business goals
- Serve as the creative lead for our team of designers for assigned product categories, driving the development and execution of cohesive, trend-right assortments across all categories
- Lead and manage the end-to-end product development process, from concept through final approval, ensuring design integrity, quality, and adherence to timelines
- Establish and evolve processes and workflows to improve efficiency, communication, and overall team performance cross-functionally
- Own the structure, cadence, and outcomes of key product meetings, ensuring clear alignment across design, merchandising, sourcing, and external partners
- Drive accountability to seasonal calendars, proactively identifying risks and communicating timeline changes or challenges to executive leadership
- Review and approve all design concepts and technical specifications prior to vendor handoff, ensuring accuracy and readiness for development
- Collaborate with overseas vendors and agents to resolve development challenges, providing thoughtful solutions that balance design intent, cost, and feasibility
- Build and maintain strong relationships with collaborators through presentations, communication, and product approvals
- Travel internationally as needed to review product development
- Lead, mentor, and develop design team members by setting clear objectives, providing ongoing feedback, and supporting professional growth
What You’ll Bring To The Table
- Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across design, merchandising, sourcing, and executive teams
- Deep passion for design, interiors, and product development, combined with a strong awareness of market trends, materials, and the evolving competitive landscape
- Understanding of design history, trends, and market positioning
- Proven ability to effectively communicate, influence, and align stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership, external partners, and vendors, with strong negotiation and decision-making skills
- Strategic thinker with a strong understanding of business priorities, able to translate high-level concepts into actionable design strategies that align with commercial viability
- Experience establishing and improving processes to drive efficiency and elevate team performance
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Detail-oriented with a high standard for quality, accuracy, and execution
- Proven leadership capabilities with experience managing and developing high-performing teams
We’d love to hear from you if you have
- Must provide a link to portfolio (including password) on resume or provide PDF samples
- 10 years of experience in product design and development within the furniture and lighting industry
- 5 years of proven experience leading and developing a high-performing design team
- BFA or MA in Industrial Design, Furniture Design, or a related design field, or equivalent practical experience
- Proficiency in industry-standard design software, including Solidworks, Keyshot, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop), and Google/Microsoft Suite applications
- Expert of the product design and development process, including deep technical expertise in materiality, product engineering, manufacturing best practices, and production processes for furniture and lighting
- Demonstrated ability in trend research and driving innovative cross-category product development
- Extensive experience traveling and working with factories in-country on product development projects, as well as travel for design inspiration