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Summer Fridays · 1 week ago

Director of Design, Visual Merchandising & Packaging Design

Los Angeles County, CA

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

10+ years exp

Summer Fridays is a company focused on beauty and wellness, seeking a Design Director for Visual Merchandising & Packaging Design. This role involves leading a team to develop innovative design concepts for retail and packaging, ensuring brand consistency and overseeing project management across multiple teams.

BeautyConsumer GoodsCosmetics

Responsibilities

Concept Development & Design Execution: Develop and iterate innovative design concepts for retail merchandising (permanent and temporary spaces), events, and packaging. Create 3D renderings, turnover drawings, and technical documentation for review and approval, ensuring feasibility within budgets and timelines. This role combines design leadership and design execution

Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Manage incoming project briefs, align with project managers and vendors, and collaborate with cross-functional teams (Founders, Creative, Marketing, NPD, Operations) to clarify requirements, share updates, and deliver high-quality outcomes

Leadership, Mentorship & Team Management: Lead and support the design team by providing clear direction, feedback, and development opportunities. Manage resources, workloads, and external partners to ensure projects are staffed and executed efficiently while fostering a collaborative, high-standards creative culture

Vendor & Production Oversight: Review vendor technical drawings, prototypes, and packaging mechanicals; redline and approve final production. Provide on-press oversight for quality and color accuracy. Maintain organized guidelines, specifications, and documentation across regions

Standards & Brand Consistency: Establish and enforce global design standards across store design, fixtures, displays and packaging, and displays. Ensure consistency of brand expression across all physical and packaging touchpoints

Innovation & Trends: Stay current with emerging design trends, materials, and technologies in beauty, fashion, and wellness to inspire forward-thinking concepts. Collaborate with the Creative Director on new strategic initiatives that push the brand aesthetic

Process & Communication: Oversee multiple concurrent projects, prioritize effectively, and manage reporting. Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve communication across teams and vendors. Maintain a global archive of design assets, including photos, renderings, drawings, and guidelines

Qualification

Packaging DesignVisual MerchandisingTeam LeadershipAdobe Creative Suite3D RenderingProject ManagementCommunication SkillsProblem-Solving SkillsAttention to Detail

Required

10+ years of experience in packaging, store design, and/or visual merchandising within the beauty, fashion, or wellness industry, with a strong portfolio of work. Experience developing designs for open-sell environments is a must

Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Graphic Design, Packaging Design, Visual Communications, Architecture, or a related discipline

Proven leadership experience with the ability to manage, mentor and inspire a design team while driving projects to completion and helping to execute the work

Proven expertise managing the full design development process from concept through review, approval and execution with both internal teams and external vendors

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), Microsoft Office, SketchUp, PowerPoint and Keynote, Excel, Smartsheet, and 3D rendering programs (V-Ray, Keyshot, Enscape, etc.)

Skilled at redlining technical drawings and reviewing vendor prototypes and construction documents

Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines

Demonstrated attention to detail, adaptability and problem-solving skills, with a forward-thinking, collaborative mindset

Current knowledge of design, fashion, beauty, wellness, and digital trends; art direction experience in beauty is a plus

Must be based in Los Angeles with the ability to work in a hybrid capacity, including days in the office as defined by your manager/company