Associate Designer- Cat & Jack Kids /Toddler Apparel

About Us:

Target is an iconic brand, a Fortune 50 company and one of America’s leading retailers.

At the heart of one of the world’s best loved and most recognizable brands is an impeccable Product Development & Design organization. We thrive on the magic of discovering that just-right thing, and we infuse everything we do with our passion for affordable chic. We concept, develop, make and deliver the stylish new favorites that Target guests expect and deserve. We are uber-savvy trend and style experts who stay ahead of the curve, proactively identifying our market’s needs and exceeding them, every time. Join one of our dynamic and inventive teams to influence the style, quality and value that decisively position Target above the competition. Your input will have a direct and positive effect, whether on home, hardlines or apparel & accessories categories. Here, you’ll be close to the action of dreaming up and bringing to life the Target-owned brands that surprise and gratify guests, wherever and whenever they love to shop.

A role with the Design team means a big opportunity to start from scratch and create something truly original. Are you a design expert who can support your business by staying one step ahead of industry trends, new materials and techniques? Can you demonstrate the utmost attention to detail and create products that are unprecedented in the marketplace for their design and quality for the price? Then you’ll have success on our Design team that owns the design and development of all Target-owned brands, from apparel to home goods, and beauty to essentials. In close partnership with our merchant and sourcing counterparts, you’ll drive brand cohesion and continuity, ensuring that our products meet our own brand values, merchant line plans, assortment strategies, price points and overall creative direction.

As an Associate Designer supporting Owned Brand Product Design and Development in Kids or Toddler Apparel, you will work under the direction of design leaders to deliver cohesive seasonal product stories that meet design and merchant strategy objectives. While this role will be highly collaborative, you will be expected to maintain a diligent and self-directed approach to workload and provide accurate and timely communication to both internal and external partners on all aspects of product development. Because this role will support the team in trend research, concepts, color, presentation/material boards, and the design & development of products, strong collaboration and communication skills are critical to success. Some partners you will work closely with include our Textile, Fabric/Raw Materials, Technical Design, Merchant and Sourcing Teams, as well as close collaboration with our external business partners. Some important skills for this role include ability to do in-depth research across trend resources, social media, market, guest insights,etc. and effectively synthesize influences, big ideas, and key items. Demonstrating a strong Design taste level and point of view, with the ability to translate aspirational trend into commercially-viable product development. Understanding of appropriate fabric usage and fit and ability to closely collaborate with partners on execution of product. Additionally, strengths in creating both digital presentations and physical presentations that showcase our brand and item vision for the season through use of samples and hand or computer aided illustrations will be critical for this role. Some additional day-to-day job responsibilities in this role may also include owning and assisting the team in preparing product development direction and entering it into our PLM system, CAD sketching, updating product line sheets or colored CADS, and creating physical and digital color and material palettes for the team.

Core responsibilities of this job are described within this job description. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.

We currently are seeking Associate Designers to support multiple areas within Cat & Jack Kids & Toddler Apparel. Your application may make you qualified for one or more of these roles and a recruiter will discuss them more in depth to evaluate you if you are selected to move forward. Please review the different categories below:

Associate Designer- Toddler Boys Apparel:

• This role supports product design & development of Cat & Jack Toddler boy apparel, under the direction of the Designer and Design Director. This role covers the 3-5 year old age range, and includes a variety of apparel categories such as cut and sew knits, sweaters, wovens, bottoms (non-denim), and sets.

Associate Designer- Boy Apparel:

• This role supports the product design and development of Boys apparel for our Cat & Jack Kids size range. In this role you will work closely with and under the direction of our Sr. Designer and Design Director.

Associate Designer- Girls Apparel:

• This role supports the product design and development of Girls apparel for our Cat & Jack Kids size range. In this role you will work closely with and under the direction of our Sr. Designer and Design Director.

About you:

• Four-year degree in Fashion Design or similar area of study

• 0-4 years of experience

• Computer design system skills including InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, NewArc, etc.

• Experience in CAD illustration or 2D/3D software

• Keen eye for detail & nuance within trend & fashion, with a passion for elevated, aspirational design POV

• Understanding of textiles, garment construction/ fit, raw materials, & product production

• Effective Communicator: will need to give direction to cross functional teams (sourcing, tech development, buyers) and external vendors.

• Ability to research & apply relevant market/ trend information

• Curious & positive self-starter

• Ability to build strong partnerships and collaborate well across various levels in order to successfully work in a team environment

This position will operate as a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement based on Target’s needs. A Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement means the team member’s core role will need to be performed both onsite at the Target HQ MN location the role is assigned to and virtually, depending upon what your role, team and tasks require for that day. Work duties cannot be performed outside of the country of the primary work location, unless otherwise prescribed by Target. Click here if you are curious to learn more about Minnesota