Design Specialist: Infants

Our Trend & Design team is looking for a Design Specialist to successfully **research** and **interpret** **trends** and **design** merchandise in accordance with Ackermans customer requirements, keeping price and value in mind.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Responsible for executing trend strategy
- Presentations will be delivered to key stakeholders on what is trending in the retail markets
- Research, establish and present the trends that will define the new season
- Monitoring and interpreting of trends and leveraging off both local and international resources to condense this into actionable insights to ensure that the product meets customer demand
- Research and spot newness for bulk testing purposes
- Track and analyse local and international best sellers in order to enable the team to optimize assortments and drive sell-thru across portfolios
- Liaise with graphic designers to produce artwork for relevant ranges
- Propose seasonal trend updates on winning styles based on the current trade for respective brand
- Input into range building in conjunction with the buying team to ensure the collection is trend relevant, strong, cohesive and balanced
- Inform Merchandise team of seasonal category shift projections which can impact their range
- Team constantly kept informed and participation ensured

**Skills required**:

- Global fashion trends collected, researched and filtered in line with the Ackermans brand positioning (seasonally, monthly and continually).
- Awareness of global, local and holistic trends ensured.
- Good strategic, conceptual skills and a solid knowledge of South African retail landscape
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite
- Strong eye for fashion and detail with the ability to predict, analyse & monetize future retail and fashion trends for local customer
- The ability to research and provide mood, colour, print and silhouette direction, drawing from many sources of influence including runway, street, retail, culture, art, social media and trend services.
- Appropriate trends, items, colour, styling, materials and patterns proposed and prepared in an exciting, understandable and appropriate format.
- The above presented and work-shopped with buying teams in a style that is credible, convincing and persuasive.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills
- All communication demonstrated in an in-depth trend knowledge coupled with a business understanding.
- Strong relationship building and influencing skills
- Excellent time management, organizational and administrative skills and presentation skills
- High energy level and is performance-driven and deadline-orientated
- Creative with an eye for detail, analytical and systematic, passionate about fashion
- Flexible, function under pressure and maintain a positive attitude and work
- Performance in a variety of circumstances
- Multi-task and to deal with complexities, use initiative to solve problems
- Work independently, as well as be a team player, strong interpersonal skills

**Knowledge of**:

- The retail merchandise cycle with regards to buying
- QA knowledge
- Fabric knowledge
- The knowledge on how to stay abreast of emerging macro trends, micro trends and cultural phenomenon and consistently communicate these trends to all levels, both within as well as outside the Company

**Essential**:

- Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in clothing design: with proven experience in Apparel

**Qualifications**:

- A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
- Relevant Degree (e.g. Fashion Design) or Diploma