Sr Designer, Home Products at American Exchange Group in New York, NY

Job Title: Sr Designer – Home Products

Location: Monday – Thursday onsite, Friday remote

Senior Designer, Home Products

Job Summary

As a Senior Designer, you will play a key role in the design, development, and execution of innovative, trend-forward home product collections across our expanding non-textile categories. This includes home storage and closet organization, tabletop and disposable dinnerware, home décor, decorative accessories, vases, trays, and pet accessories such as bowls, collars, leashes, and toys.

This role requires a strong understanding of product design and development for hard goods, exceptional technical design skills, and the ability to manage multiple product categories from concept through production. The ideal candidate is highly creative, detail-oriented, and experienced working directly with overseas manufacturers to bring commercially successful products to market.

Reporting to: Design Director

Key Responsibilities

Design & Product Development

• Lead the product development process for each season, from initial concept through production, creating cohesive assortments that balance innovation, functionality, and commercial appeal.
• Design and develop products across multiple non-textile home categories including storage and organization, tabletop, disposable dinnerware, decorative home accessories, pet products, and seasonal home décor.
• Interpret and apply each brand's DNA to develop products that strengthen brand identity while meeting customer and market needs.
• Collaborate with the Design Director to develop seasonal color palettes, trend direction, materials, finishes, and key item presentations on a quarterly basis.
• Research consumer trends, emerging materials, global design influences, and competitive products to inspire new product concepts.
• Create concept sketches, CAD renderings, product presentations, technical drawings, and detailed specification packages using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Develop comprehensive tech packs including dimensions, materials, finishes, hardware, construction details, packaging requirements, and testing specifications.
• Partner closely with overseas manufacturers throughout sampling, prototyping, product refinement, and production to ensure design intent, quality, and cost objectives are achieved.
• Review prototypes and production samples, providing detailed feedback to factories to ensure products meet design and quality standards.
• Participate in and lead product development meetings, sample reviews, line reviews, and design presentations.
• Maintain product line plans for proprietary, licensed, and private label brands while ensuring adherence to development calendars and key milestones.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work cross-functionally with merchandising, sourcing, packaging, quality assurance, and sales teams to deliver successful product launches.
• Develop compelling product presentations for internal reviews and customer meetings, effectively communicating design concepts and assortment strategies.
• Monitor competitive products and marketplace trends to identify opportunities for innovation and category expansion.
• Regularly shop retail and online marketplaces for inspiration, trend analysis, materials, finishes, and merchandising best practices.
• Build collaborative relationships with overseas factories to ensure efficient communication throughout the product development process.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Industrial/Product Engineering, Graphic Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of product design and development experience within home products, hard goods, consumer products, housewares, tabletop, storage and organization, home décor, pet products, or related categories.
• Experience designing multiple non-textile consumer product categories from concept through production.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with experience creating CADs, renderings, technical drawings, and production-ready specification packages. Experience with additional 3D design and visualization software such as Blender, SketchUp, Rhino, SolidWorks, or similar programs is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, construction methods, finishes, and product engineering for hard goods.
• Experience working directly with overseas manufacturers throughout product development and production.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple product categories and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across design, merchandising, sourcing, and executive leadership teams.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Half Day Fridays with shortened hours during both Summer and Winter seasons
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• Exclusive employee merchandise discounts

Salary: The anticipated base salary is $100k - $120k annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, internal equity, and location.