Technical Designer

Employee classification: 11 Month Hourly Staff FT

Category: Staff

Posting Text:

Technical designers work in collaboration with professors and staff as they assist fashion students in turning ideas into finished products. They anticipate any design issues and liaise with students to ensure garments adhere to the established specifications, and that the end results are high-quality, marketable products.

The technical designer position requires strong technical skills in garment construction and fit. The day-to-day responsibilities include assisting students in creating patterns, measuring garments, properly conducting fits for live models, and adjusting patterns when necessary. Technical designers are expected to demonstrate strong knowledge of the entire product development process in order to assist fashion students in making the best decisions to achieve their desired results, while maintaining the integrity of the students’ design concept.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in fashion design or related discipline
  • Minimum of five years of industry experience in technical design and apparel manufacturing preferred
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and Gerber AccuMark
  • Knowledge of Avancé Embroidery Machine, Mutoh Fabric Digital Printer, and FreeJet Sublimation Printer preferred

Preferred Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in fashion design or closely related program (preferred).
• Technical design and apparel manufacturing skills as documented through work samples and demonstrations.
• Minimum 5 years of industry experience within technical design and apparel manufacturing (preferred).
• Excellent understanding of the apparel design and development process from inception, pattern layout through production.
• Knowledge of how products are sourced and developed.
• Ability to adjust patterns, analyze garment construction and workmanship.
• Ability to manipulate existing patterns and communicate adjustments to fashion students, professors, and fashion department to reflect changes.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Strong understanding of technical design; including construction, fit, patternmaking, fabric relation to design intent, and overall improving quality of a garment while maintaining cost to cut and sew products.
• Knowledge and skill in commercial fit and pattern standards, corrections, grading, construction methods, sewing, and sketching.
• Experience and skills in leading live fittings in evaluating overall fit with the ability to make necessary fit and pattern corrections to achieve the desired fit.
• Ability to identify apparel flaws quickly and effectively adjust designs on-the-spot.
• Commitment to strong work ethic and high-performance standards.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while seeking continual development and growth opportunities.
• Professional interest in the clothing industry.
• Excellent attention to detail and communication skills.
• Knowledge of factory production, tools and machinery.
• Experience in operating industrial sewing machines, industrial sergers, specialty sewing machines, digital printing equipment and industrial fabric cutter.
• Knowledge and skills in Avancé Embroidery Machine, Mutoh Fabric Digital Printer and FreeJet Sublimation Printer (ideal but not essential).
• Proficiency in PC operation, including Microsoft Office products.
• Practical experience with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop software.
• Experience with Gerber AccuMark or other pattern design software.
• Superb attention to detail.
• Ability to take direction and execute projects without additional supervision.

Certificates, licenses and registrations:

• Undergraduate degree in fashion design or closely related program (preferred).
• Technical design and apparel manufacturing skills as documented through work samples and demonstrations.
• Minimum 5 years of industry experience within technical design and apparel manufacturing (preferred).
• Excellent understanding of the apparel design and development process from inception, pattern layout through production.
• Knowledge of how products are sourced and developed.
• Ability to adjust patterns, analyze garment construction and workmanship.
• Ability to manipulate existing patterns and communicate adjustments to fashion students, professors, and fashion department to reflect changes.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Strong understanding of technical design; including construction, fit, patternmaking, fabric relation to design intent, and overall improving quality of a garment while maintaining cost to cut and sew products.
• Knowledge and skill in commercial fit and pattern standards, corrections, grading, construction methods, sewing, and sketching.
• Experience and skills in leading live fittings in evaluating overall fit with the ability to make necessary fit and pattern corrections to achieve the desired fit.
• Ability to identify apparel flaws quickly and effectively adjust designs on-the-spot.
• Commitment to strong work ethic and high-performance standards.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while seeking continual development and growth opportunities.
• Professional interest in the clothing industry.
• Excellent attention to detail and communication skills.
• Knowledge of factory production, tools and machinery.
• Experience in operating industrial sewing machines, industrial sergers, specialty sewing machines, digital printing equipment and industrial fabric cutter.
• Knowledge and skills in Avancé Embroidery Machine, Mutoh Fabric Digital Printer and FreeJet Sublimation Printer (ideal but not essential).
• Proficiency in PC operation, including Microsoft Office products.
• Practical experience with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop software.
• Experience with Gerber AccuMark or other pattern design software.
• Superb attention to detail.
• Ability to take direction and execute projects without additional supervision.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Duties may vary and other duties may be assigned.

• Provide expert student support in fabric preparation, pattern layout and marking, garment assembly and pressing while demonstrating industrial sewing, hand sewing and fine finishing techniques.
• Maintain a professional environment in specialized fashion studio areas.
• Offer extra help sessions and at least twenty SCADextraTech workshops each quarter, including the weekends and breaks in-between quarters.
• Create a database of supplementary materials (technical handouts and videos) for online student access.
• Provide expert technical support to fashion students in specialized technical design room areas of fabric preparation, pattern layout and marking, garment assembly and pressing while demonstrating industrial sewing, hand sewing and fine finishing techniques.
• Maintain a professional environment in these specialized studio areas and follow professional standards in ensuring excellent execution of student work.
• Ensure consistency in fit aesthetic based on the individual fashion student’s design intent.
• Assist in developing, updating, and utilizing the library of blocks and patterns to ensure standards are being met to support the best fit, and to help students expedite their production process.
• Measure samples, compare construction and overall execution of the student garments.
• Communicate effectively with students on all intended fit corrections and technical information.
• Collaborate and establish professional working relationships with fashion students, professors, and department chair.
• Assist fashion department in presenting and conducting fits on live models to ensure fitting of garments and apply possible adjustments.
• Recommend materials and relevant finishing techniques to students.
• Analyze designs and assist fashion students in determining the required techniques and resources to meet their project deadlines.
• Collaborate with fashion students to ensure that garment specifications are viable.
• Assist fashion students in implementing design changes and making contingency plans as necessary.
• Instruct students with using various equipment in fashion studios including industrial sewing machines, sergers/overlockers, fusing machine etc.
• Work on digital fabric printer that includes uploading images using RIP Master software, printing, steaming process, profiling and printer maintenance (training will be provided).
• Conduct multiple workshops facilitating specific training of the Juki industrial sewing equipment, specialty machines and fabric manipulation techniques.
• Operate on fabric printers and digital embroidery machine.
• Ensure all fashion student products are high-quality and that they conform to SCAD standards and values.
• Evaluate sample prototypes and inspect finished products to ensure that they are free from defects, fit and construction.
• Help students with creating spec sheets.
• Support students with planning of execution of garments from the initial sketch to the final product.
• Inspire performance solutions in constructing high-quality garments.
• Update and maintain pattern blocks and muslins library. Develop new patterns and muslins.
• Maintain professional and timely daily email correspondence with students, staff, and vendors.
• Establish quality control standards for the technical team and office procedures.
• Uphold and improve department specific technical standards, record keeping, processes, procedures and resources.
• Upon daily arrival and departure, complete a key inventory and maintenance check, relaying needs to the appropriate person, carry out daily maintenance needs of the studio to ensure the studio’s resources are accessible and functioning for students’ use. Identify department supply needs, align with external vendors and order necessary supplies.
• Collaborate with the awards and recognition office in assisting students with fashion competition submissions for a successful outcome on domestic and international platforms.

Work Hours:The university work week is Sunday through Saturday. Most offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. In order to accommodate business needs, employees may be assigned to other work days and/or hours, including weekends and evenings.

ADA Tag: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions