- J. MANDEL DESIGN STUDIO, MPLS, MN, 55401, USA
- jmandeldesignstudio@gmail.com
ABOUT ME
With over 18 years of experience in designing women’s and men’s accessories, I am passionate about trend forecasting and styling. I have a diverse portfolio working with both mass-market and luxury brands.
I excel in cross-functional collaboration, vendor negotiations, and team leadership. My skills include conceptualizing new product ideas, analyzing fashion and lifestyle trends, guiding seasonal collections across categories, and using market data to forecast trends. I understand the importance of a creative leader who can adapt quickly, uphold a brand’s aesthetic, and inspire teams to innovate and grow within the brand’s vision.
Let’s connect and create something exceptional!
ALA CART SERVICES
PRICING UPON REQUEST
DESIGNER FOR COLLECTIONS/RUNWAY ASSORTMENTS
- Create items by utilizing ideas directly from seasonal concept, then act as the liaison between design and manufacturing, to ensure all components are in sync for the collection, and that the product is competitive finthe market
- Responsible for hand sketching/CAD development, by working through the product/collection with the client/team
- Work with the client/team to establish development, by presenting material options/hardware/details/additional suggestions, and own work with overseas partners to execute the product
- Lead communication with overseas vendors to ensure calendar deadlines are met
- Actively participate in conceptual development of the product, which typically entails several rounds of design review from concept CADs, prototype, to finished samples
- Assist technical designers with product development by answering design inquiries from factory or vendor partners
- Create specs and update all changes in technical packets, then relay updates to OS partners
- Own relaying/issuing approvals to factories from development through production stages
- Ensure product is consistent with market trends, while maintaining brand identity, business strategy, and competitive cost viability
- Problem solve to bring innovative designs and new construction to fruition
DEVELOPER
- Responsible for owning the product creation process from initial design handoff to final product, with an emphasis on quality product development and timely completion of all tasks, in accordance with the operating calendar
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships with leadership, product managers, designers, materials/sourcing team, quality control, operations, and direct material suppliers, to ensure product success
- Complete management, creation, and revision responsibilities of specifications for assigned styles as needed, e.g., compile and renew all specs (B.O.M.'s/tech packs) for accuracy, completeness, quality, affordability, and compliance before issuance
- Recommend design enhancements, construction, and material options geared to elevate the brand's aesthetic and hit financial requirements
- Collaborate with counterparts to rework designs that do not meet design criteria, merchandising, production, and financial needs
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams to manage spec turnover within the calendar, development status, and final hand-off to production
- Oversee the spec pass off to manufacturing partners, on behalf of design, and communicate with suppliers regarding questions or changes to specs, standards, and aid with interpreting design needs
- Monitor and review all prototype and market samples, ensuring faithful execution is to spec and meeting quality execution and construction standards. Additionally, provide feedback and information to factories to make necessary changes clear and organized
- Maintain and issue all standards for design & production to manufacturing partners
- Review and communicate style and material minimums, material costs, and lead times with design, production, and merchandising
- Aim to instill quality in the product from material selection through final production
- Review all components with an eye for quality and durability
- Ensure that all components and constructions used are compliant with performance and restricted substances before production
SOURCING
- Work closely with the design team on seasonal needs, by providing competitive options for materials and techniques, ensuring that the costing is feasible for the brand
- Collaborate with internal departments & direct sources to execute materials that are visible for brands, trends, costing, and quality
- Work with the supplier to manufacture and provide options in materials, products, and techniques
- Work with production and design input to allocate specs to factories that benefit the brand in terms of aesthetics, price, delivery, and execution, while avoiding over-dependence on any resource
TREND FORECASTING
- Monitor the competitive landscape and present unique brand concepts and strategies
- Responsible for aligning seasonal development with the brand's vision
- Forecast seasonal concepts by identifying key items, and provide color, as well as high-level print and pattern direction
- Own design ideation following the merchant plan, by shopping benchmark competition, attending trend forums, conducting trend research, and reviewing industry data
- Collaborate with design teams to identify core fashion items, reassuring trends, and merchandising opportunities, then translate this inspiration into sellable trends