Urban Outfitters- Concept Designer, Apparel

Job Title
Urban Outfitters Concept Designer - Womens
Reports To
Director of Print, Pattern & Textiles
Overview
The Concept Designer works to identify key trends and formulate seasonal concept ideas appropriate for Urban Outfitters apparel. This role is responsible for putting together written communication for the Design and Buying teams to support concept direction, managing presentations to the Design and Buying teams, and conceiving ways to further the customer experience through brand and design development. Additionally, the Designer of Trend/Concept is required to: research, plan, coordinate, present, communicate, and strategize customer trends and influence the trends in various facets of Urban Outfitters.
Responsibilities
Trend Identification and Research:

• Ascertain new resources for trend, design and concept info.

Concept/Shop Idea Generation:

• Keep abreast of customer identity and interests relating to the social and cultural aspects of her lifestyle and relay the info to the Concept team.
• Leverage and identify applications for this knowledge and react with business initiatives involving product, design, merchandising and process.
• Identify key looks and silhouettes to support the concepts/shops.

Plan and Project Manage:

• Execute plans to expedite the initiatives relating to trend, concept and silhouette research including scheduling and logistics.

Information & Sample Management:

• Manage the Concept sample organization.
• Collect images to represent and illustrate current and future trends as related to Concept.
• Manage category inspiration packs for Design teams.
• Oversee and categorize Concept image folders to ensure timely data input and output.
• Manage Concept/Shop packs for Buying teams.

Present & Communicate:

• Uphold each season’s Concept Book organization and presentation set-up.
• Reinforce a process to relay pertinent Concept info to the Concept Director, Design Directors, Buyers and the Visual team.

Follow-up & Strategize:

• See plans through from conception to finalization.
• Continuously update said plans by preempting fluctuating trends within the marketplace.

Qualifications

• Must be self-motivated and the ability to see creative vision through, from inception to completion.
• Ability to demonstrate a creative perspective applicable to future fashion trends as they relate to the Urban Outfitters customer.
• Ability to identify and communicate trends appropriate to the customer and distill trend info into key messages that drive sales and marketing plans.
• Must be enthusiastic about product and categories and be motivating in presentation and communication style.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and ability to organize complex information and manage multiple projects.
• Exceptional understanding on the Urban Outfitters brand and customers.
• Ability to work independently with high sense of urgency while supporting company goals and objectives.
• 5+ Years experience in Trend Forecasting, Concept Design or related field.
• An extremely strong knowledge of trends and the ability to translate marketplace and trend trajectories for the Urban Outfitters customer.

Education
Bachelor Degree in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising or Equivalent Experience
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Travel
Some Travel may be required.
#UrbanOutfitters
Urban Outfitters, Inc. celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.