Associate Design Director, Luggage

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

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