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Job Description
POSITION: Associate Industrial Designer – Bags, Accessories, & Soft Goods
DEPARTMENT: Design
LOCATION: Hybrid, 3 days a week in Lawrence, MA
REPORTS TO: Senior Industrial Designer
THE ROLE:
We’re seeking a hands-on, product-obsessed Industrial Designer who is passionate about soft goods, consumer insight, sustainability, and creating products people use every day. You’ll design bags, accessories, and lifestyle products such as backpacks, coolers, totes, and duffels as part of Gemline’s collaborative in-house Design team.
In this role, you’ll work closely with Gemline’s Design team and cross-functional partners to help shape future product assortments through research, CMF exploration, product innovation, and storytelling. You’ll receive mentorship from your manager and learn through day-to-day collaboration with other designers on the team. As a B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation, Gemline’s Circular Design Principles guide how we think about durability, material impact, resource efficiency, and responsible product decisions.
The ideal candidate will be a curious and creative problem solver who enjoys translating consumer insights into practical, thoughtful product solutions. This role supports both Gemline’s in-line assortment and custom business, including products for a wide range of businesses, and retail brand partners. If you are interested in applying for this position please email your resume and portfolio to Ashley Brown at [email protected].
A DAY IN THE LIFE:
• Design new soft-sided bags and accessories that contribute to cross-category collections.
• Innovate through in-depth cultural, product, and consumer trend research, synthesizing insights into relevant product opportunities.
• Explore CMF direction, including color, materials, finishes, fabrics, trims, and hardware that support product storytelling, function, and collection cohesion.
• Apply Gemline’s Circular Design Principles as a decision-making filter throughout the design process.
• Champion hands-on exploration to create innovative design concepts and collections through concept sketches, virtual renderings, 3D prototyping, and sampling.
• Build accurate technical drawings and three-quarter views to communicate visually with our technical center team in China.
• Manage the design and development of multiple projects simultaneously, partnering with the Product Development team from concept through final prototype in accordance with the launch calendar.
• Obsess over the details to deliver functional items with features that the consumer will value.
• Refine product concepts to meet business objectives and production requirements.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships by sharing information, valuing different perspectives, solving problems, and working toward consensus.
• Confidently present trend forecasts, product direction, and supporting narrative stories to internal and external audiences.
• Embrace a lean work environment and look for ways to continuously evolve standard processes and implement improvements.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design.
• Recent graduate or early-career Industrial Designer with 0–2 years of relevant product design experience, including internships, co-ops, freelance work, or strong academic studio projects.
• Portfolio demonstrating soft goods, cut-and-sew construction, CMF sensibility, sketching, technical drawing, product development, and/or consumer-focused design thinking.
• Strong ability to design and develop products that function well, have marketable features, and meet production requirements.
• Passion for research and synthesis of cultural, product, and consumer trends.
• Strong visual, verbal, and presentation communication skills for varied audiences.
• Enthusiasm for domestic and international travel, up to 5%.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Basic knowledge of SolidWorks is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially PowerPoint.
MUST HAVES:
• Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovates to achieve great results.
• Establishes and maintains trusting relationships through collaboration, clear, honest communication, and humility. Creates a space for others to do the same.
• Holds a high standard for personal performance, accuracy, and follow-through.
• Exceptional organization skills required as well as the ability to prioritize workflow based on deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactively identifies potential challenges, asks thoughtful questions, and takes action to solve problems before they impact project timelines.
• Integrates curiosity and imagination into their creative process to inspire fresh solutions and new ideas.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Our Company takes the security and privacy of job applicants very seriously. We will never ask for payment, bank details, or personal financial information as part of the application process. All our legitimate job postings can be found on our official website under the careers section (https://www.gemline.com/s/careers).
Application Details
Please send your full resume and portfolio if available.