Requirements
- You have at least 7 years of industrial design experience (luggage, technical soft goods, or hard goods) with a proven track record of supervising/mentoring design talent and supporting successful product launches
- You possess an advanced understanding of complex product construction, material R&D, and manufacturing processes, with an interest or experience in leveraging emerging technologies (like AI tools) to optimize team workflows
- You’re highly proficient in Fusion 360, KeyShot, and Adobe Creative Suite, with the ability to guide and upskill direct reports in these tools
- You’re exceptional sketching and 3D visualization skills, with the ability to clearly translate complex design concepts to cross-functional partners and present project directions to senior leadership
- You have a strong ability to balance creative ambition with commercial viability and engineering constraints, ensuring your team’s outputs align with category health and business metrics
- You have direct experience working closely with overseas factories and suppliers, ensuring design intent and quality standards are maintained from prototyping through production
- You are genuinely motivated by mentoring designers and transforming the travel experience through thoughtful, functional, and innovative design
- You can to travel domestically and internationally (up to 20%) to collaborate with global manufacturing partners and attend industry events
- You’re comfortable working in a design studio setting, which includes extended periods of stationary work at a computer and hands-on interaction with physical prototypes, material samples, and luggage hardware
- You’re creative and innovative; you love to build great new things that are fresh and unique while staying on brand
- You’re agile, and motivated by a fast-paced and ever changing environment
- You’re passionate about transforming travel for all (but that’s a given!)
- Excited to join the team, but not sure you meet all of the qualifications? Please apply, we’d still love to hear from you
What the job involves
- We are hiring an Associate Design Director, Luggage, to join our Design team
- This position reports to the Senior Director, Design and takes Away further by defining the future of our core luggage category through innovative industrial design, material R&D, and forward-thinking product strategy
- In this role, you will lead the end-to-end execution of luggage design, ensuring every product delivers on Away’s commitment to elevated travel experiences, functional performance, and our iconic brand aesthetic
- You will drive category innovation by exploring new construction methods and sustainable materials, while modernizing our internal processes by integrating AI-enabled design tools and workflow automation
- You’ll execute and contribute to the design and innovation strategy for core luggage product lines, evolving existing platforms while identifying whitespace opportunities for future growth
- You’ll manage the luggage design strategy in executing seasonal creative direction and long-term category goals, in close alignment with the VP and Senior Design leadership
- You’ll translate consumer insights, travel behaviors, and market trends into scalable, production-ready design systems
- You’ll champion elevated product concepts, new functionalities, and disruptive design thinking within the team to push forward product innovation
- You’ll build, manage, and mentor a high-performing design team, providing tactical creative direction and cultivating a culture of technical excellence
- You’ll deliver against a multi-year innovation roadmap through focused industrial design exploration, material R&D, construction innovation, and manufacturing collaboration
- You’ll evaluate and implement new materials, finishes, and component systems that support performance, durability, sustainability, and brand differentiation
- You’ll partner closely with Product Development and Engineering teams to bridge the gap between design intent, technical feasibility, and manufacturing execution
- You’ll manage and continuously improve material libraries, innovation references, prototyping systems, and AI-assisted design workflows to support rapid concept iteration
- You’ll identify and execute opportunities to improve weight optimization, repairability, and sustainability, enhancing the overall customer experience
- You’ll manage the end-to-end luggage design process from concept development and CAD execution through prototyping, sampling, approvals, and commercialization
- You’ll operationalize scalable workflows, documentation standards, and communication protocols that improve clarity and speed-to-market across Design, PD, and overseas manufacturing partners
- You’ll collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Brand, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure design integrity and category health throughout production
- You’ll participate in global travel and supplier engagement to drive innovation, sourcing, manufacturing alignment, and competitive research