Director, Product Design (New Orleans)
About KREWE KREWE is an independent, high-fashion eyewear brand rooted in the vibrant culture and boundless creativity of our hometown, New Orleans - and now proudly headquartered in both New Orleans and New York City. Since our launch in 2013, KREWE has grown into a dynamic brand celebrated for its distinctive, handcrafted sun and optical frames that reflect a deep commitment to quality, individuality, and design. In 2022, we opened the doors to our NYC headquarters in the heart of the Meatpacking District, building a second home for the brand that brings New Orleans’ culture, creativity, and energy to one of the world’s most iconic design capitals. Our presence now spans brick-and-mortar boutiques, mobile retail concepts, and a thriving e-commerce platform - alongside distribution through premier independents and top national retailers. Celebrated for our unique approach to design, KREWE has cultivated a loyal following among style-conscious consumers and influential tastemakers. As we continue to expand, we’re looking for passionate, driven, and innovative individuals to join our talented team. At KREWE our work is fast-paced, collaborative, and deeply mission-driven. Our people are high-performing and ambitious - not just about hitting goals, but about building something that’s original, culturally rooted and globally resonant. Every team member at KREWE has the opportunity to own their role and make a lasting impact. If this sounds like the right environment for you we invite you to apply below. We are currently searching for a Director, Product Design to join our Product Design team. This role will lead the day-to-day product design process and development of eyewear from concept through development, translating creative direction into technically sound, production-ready product. This role partners closely with the Founder/Creative Director to build product and process, helping translate design philosophy into a documented and scalable product design system, protect design intent through technical execution, and build the methods and rituals that make quality repeatable. The Designer will also work directly with Planning and Merchandising to shape frame assortment, with optical as the priority and sun second. The role owns color development, contributes trend research and ideation, and helps build a repeatable design system. Final taste and selection remain with the Founder. This role is based in our New Orleans Headquarters with periodic travel to New York. Key Responsibilities Product Design Leadership Own design of seasonal eyewear collections across sun and optical, from concept through production readiness Partner with the Founder to translate product direction into production-ready design Leads execution across all categories, builds and improves the department’s systems and calendar Execute silhouette development, material selection, color development across the line, and construction detailing Owns design reviews, technical approvals, conversion sheet specs, naming and model approvals Escalates interpretations calls to the Founder End-to-End Development Ownership Drive the full product lifecycle: concepting, CADs, tech packs, sampling, fit, and prepare final approvals for the Creative Director Maintain direct communication with overseas factories to ensure execution aligns with design intent Identify risks early and problem-solve across design, engineering, and production constraints Technical Excellence & Systems Building Create, refine, and standardize technical drawings and tech packs across the organization Establish repeatable design processes, tools, and documentation that scale product quality Ensure all product meets fit, durability, and aesthetic standards prior to production Calendar & Workflow Management Protects department forecasting and trend time from other deadlines Own adherence to T&A calendar for all design deliverables Proactively manage timelines across internal and external partners Maintain clear visibility into status, risks, and dependencies Cross-Functional Integration Partner closely with Planning and Merchandising to align product with business needs, optical as the priority and sun second Collaborate with Brand and Spatial teams to ensure product direction informs broader creative outputs Ensure product direction is informed by both creative vision and market insight Owns the design agenda into global, cross-functional calls Research & Concept Development Own trend research, concept development, and competitive analysis, working with minimal support Develop seasonal design direction, mood boards, and concept narratives Proactively introduce new ideas, materials, and construction innovation into the line Requirements 5 years total design experience 2 years management responsibility Proven ability to lead product from concept through production, managing multiple cycles Strong technical expertise in eyewear construction, materials, and fit Advanced proficiency in CAD and Adobe Creative Suite Experience working directly with overseas manufacturers Strong organizational and project management skills Ability to operate independently while collaborating cross-functionally High standard for design quality and execution Benefits And Perks Competitive wage Group health plans: health, vision and dental insurance Welfare benefits: life, ad&d, supplemental voluntary coverage FSA Plan & HSA Program 401(K) Investment Options Adoption Assistance, EAP, Commuter Benefits Paid Parental Leave Quarterly Cultural Spend Ongoing Training and Development, an Educational Allowance 10 paid holidays and Paid Time Off accrual KREWE employee quarterly frame allowance (of course!) Diversity And Inclusion KREWE believes in providing an inclusive workplace where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without discrimination or retaliation because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, pregnancy or any other protected characteristic as established by applicable local, state, or federal law. J-18808-Ljbffr
