Senior Textile Designer
5 days ago
Hatfield
Title: Senior Textile Designer Location: Welham Green, Hertfordshire Position type: Full-time, Permanent and Studio-based Salary: Competitive About us Ashley Wilde Group (AWG), established in 1950, is a leading textile and soft furnishings company based in Hertfordshire. AWG, a proud family-run business, is renowned for its industry-leading designs, style, innovations and exceptional customer service. AWG is seeking an experienced, innovative, and driven Senior Textile Designer to join our dynamic Design team. We’re looking for a creative thinker who brings fresh ideas and a strong technical expertise in textile design, with a thorough understanding of industry processes and production methods. The ideal candidate is forward-thinking and trend-aware, with the ambition to push creative boundaries and help shape the future direction of our collections. You’ll be a collaborative team player, confident working with stakeholders at all levels and contributing positively to a supportive, high-performing environment. Reporting to the Design Director, Laura Spencer, you will play a key role in sharing ideas, managing timelines, and overseeing budgets to ensure projects are delivered successfully and to the highest standard. The ideal candidate will have: • 6-8 years of experience in designing and developing fabric collections., • A comprehensive technical knowledge of print and weave processes., • Qualified with a degree in Textiles, Surface Design or similar., • Excellent CAD skills (AVA, Adobe packages - Photoshop and Illustrator)., • Excellent creative judgement with a good eye for colour, layout and composition., • The ability to adapt a design or archive artwork, e.g., amending scales, creating new colourways, confidence and knowledge in creating and adjusting repeat patterns., • Good understanding of commercial design, relevant trends and wider market knowledge., • Previous experience in designing readymade products, e.g. bedlinen curtains and cushions, is favourable but not essential., • You will require a level of adaptability and patience when working on multiple brands, deadlines and approvals., • You are confident in presenting concepts and collections., • Ability to liaise with Directors, brand owners and buyers confidently., • Ability to liaise efficiently with suppliers and internal departments to keep to critical paths and launch dates., • Ability to work at a fast pace, deliver to deadlines and work well under pressure., • You are highly motivated and able to work individually and as part of a team., • You can communicate clearly and effectively at all times., • Excellent organisational and time management skills. Duties include but are not limited to; • Work closely with brand owners, Directors, licensees, and the design team to lead the development of commercial and trend-driven soft furnishings collections., • Work with Laura Spencer, Design Director, on collection critical paths., • Produce clear design briefs and manage direct communication with suppliers and manufacturers, ensuring everyone is working to the critical path., • Lead the development of multiple collections simultaneously, while applying expert knowledge of fabrics, prints, and weave processes., • Identify seasonal trends, conduct market research and source inspiration, to then present ideas, concepts and mood boards for future collections., • Maintain strong working relationships with brand-owners, suppliers and manufacturers., • Prepare technical CAD files for print and production, ensuring colour accuracy and repeat integrity., • Maintain a digital artwork library for all your design files., • Maintain an approved product master sample library., • Create briefs for photography and manage the process from start to finish., • Write creative descriptions for products you have worked on e.g. where the inspiration came from, product composition and colourways., • Liaising with suppliers globally to source new qualities, negotiate prices, develop new products and approve qualities and colours., • Work closely with the Production team to ensure there is accuracy between the approved master samples and production samples., • Work closely with Laura Spencer and the Brand Director, Marc Strong, on product direction for each brand. Benefits: • Subsidised on-site canteen, • On-site parking, • Pension, • Access to an Employee Health App, • Automatically registered for the Employee Assistance Programme., • Staff discount on products, • Retail discounts through BrightHR, • Company social and charity events, • Based in a state-of-the-art design studio Schedule: • Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5pm and Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm If you are interested in applying for this role please send your CV and examples of your work to
