Industrial Designer/Visual Merchandising

Springs Window Fashions has been part of the window treatments industry since 1939. Headquartered in Middleton WI, we have over 8,000 associates and 14 locations in North America. Our products are available in nearly every major retailer, in thousands of designer showrooms and showcased in large commercial buildings. Our company is privately owned with products marketed across a broad portfolio of brands including Bali, Graber, SunSetter and Mecho. We pride ourselves as “The Best Experience Company”, striving to provide the best experience for our consumers, channel partners, and associates.

Marketing Team:

The Marketing Team develops and executes the SWF residential marketing strategy to position our brands as market leaders, drive brand awareness and consumer engagement while continually improving the consumer’s purchase experience. Marketing at SWF is a fast-paced and dynamic group providing a vital role with our work often being the first impression consumers have of our brands. This is a group of home décor enthusiasts who are motivated by a passion for providing our consumers a Best Experience.

Industrial Designer for Sampling & Merchandising Mission:

The Industrial Designer for sampling is integral in supporting and leading the design development and implementation of sampling vehicles on time and maintaining budget. This position will manage projects including structural components, print and production performance from concept to completion. This includes high impact product sampling vehicles in partnership with brand design, channel marketing, product teams and vendors.

Sampling is the primary way we showcase and display our products to the consumer. We create catalog like vehicles with material swatches for the consumer to browse colors, patterns and materials. Sampling vehicles are the primary tool that consumers use to make their selections. Sampling of the Springs Window Fashions product lines range from small portfolio style books to large complete product line books, and other unique ways to display products.

Job Duties

50% Manages concept, production and internal communications for sampling and merchandising projects

• Meet with, and participate in key stakeholder discussions serving as a creative resource to analyze customer needs and provide solutions that enhance sampling item
• Manages daily communication with both domestic and international vendors for any needed support
• Presents concepts, specifications, prototypes, production proofs to internal stakeholders and drives decisions with rationale
• Works with internal creative staff to ensure integrated brand presence at point-of-sale
• Evaluates vendor quotes to obtain cost effective solutions plus needed quality
• Proactively communicates with project initiators, cross-functional departments, and vendors to give and receive feedback that is necessary to the successful completion of the sampling pieces
• Benchmark competitive sampling, merchandising and displays, and apply key learnings in development of concepts

25% Executes design and production for sampling pieces and other merchandising collateral

• Executes graphic design for sampling and other print marketing projects through multiple rounds of review and ensures timely delivery for routings and production
• Defines print specifications
• Performs revisions and corrections throughout the design and production process
• Completes rigorous Quality Assurance checks on own work
• Prepares final print files and transfers to vendor or appropriate team(s)
• Correctly links, archives, and files all completed artwork and support /administrative files

15% Executes design and production of high impact retail displays and merchandising solutions

• Meet with, and participate in, key customer presentations serving as a creative resource to analyze customer needs and provide solutions that enhance display merchandising items
  • Shipability
  • Easy to load
  • Easy to replenish
  • Meets store internal guidelines

• Manages external vendor(s) in design and production of displays on time and on budget
• Presents concepts and rationale to internal initiators
• Works with internal creative staff to ensure integrated brand presentation at point of sale
• Evaluates vendor quotes to obtain lowest cost alternatives; partner in cost-engineering activities to achieve budget
• Engages internal fulfillment department 14 to ensure fulfillment requirements can be met
• Proactively communicates with project initiators as well as vendors to give and receive feedback that is necessary to the successful completion of the documents

10% Executes graphic design on print materials and POP collateral

• Executes graphic design on print marketing projects through multiple rounds of review and ensures timely delivery for routings and production
• Defines print specifications
• Performs revisions and corrections throughout the design process
• Completes rigorous Quality Assurance checks on own work
• Prepares final print and release and transfers to vendors or appropriate team(s)
• Prepares completed project files for digital archiving

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• In-depth knowledge of printing technologies, papers, plastics, substrates, glues, and manufacturing technologies used for creating merchandising materials is required.
• Excellent communication skills for internal teams, internal customers, external suppliers of materials, vendors for sample books and swatching.
• Must have the ability to effectively lead and coach others cross functionally.
• Must be a proactive problem solver; not afraid to jump into the details of an issue.
• Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite
• Organized work habits, familiar with office automation products, i.e. Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office (including MS Project).
• Must have the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of associates from various disciplines.
• Must conduct themselves professionally; frequent contact with vendor partners and customers.
• Must have an analytical approach towards the business; ability to track project tasks and performance to budget.

Experience

Work experience should be in a graphics department or agency setting or in a setting using graphic standards and printing technologies to produce high accuracy level pieces. Demonstrated abilities with computer programs and detail accuracy required.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Industrial or Packaging Design with business emphasis, Merchandising, Marketing or Business education preferred with 3-5 years of experience.
• Experience with designing or managing the design of 3-dimensional / structural design for product sampling, POP merchandising and displays is required.
• Experience in home décor or custom consumer products preferred.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software
• Experience in three-dimensional creative solutions
• Experience using overseas printing vendors a plus
• Experience with DAM system or other asset management system a plus
• Must keep current with new trends, methods and technologies related to the design and printing fields and incorporate them into improving daily work