Diana (Fine) Strauss
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About
• Design educator & creator/instructor of online web tutorials focused on CAD Illustration, design, and product development skills for the beginning or aspiring Fashion & Accessories
• Accomplished accessories designer with 20+ years experience, now specializing in men's & bags, travel gear, small leather goods, belts and hardware.
• Skilled creative director & researcher, with extensive knowledge of current trends, best selling shapes and competitive analyses, as well as construction, materials, overseas sourcing and value engineering.
• Outstanding team leader, trainer, mentor and manager of cross-functional teams. Consensus builder with sales, merchandising and product development teams, as well as buyers and manufacturers.
• Excels under pressure, while solving complex problems and managing multiple brands, seasons and markets. Flexible & adaptable. Works with urgency and meticulous attention to detail.
• Innovative thinker with strong analytical skills and business acumen.
•Proven success at increasing revenue through design excellence: building new brands and re-branding/expanding existing ones, throughout all major retail distribution channels (mass to luxury).
• Experienced designer for licensed product lines, creating strong design partnerships between new licensees and the licensors; excellent understanding of licensor design approval processes, line reviews, presentations, color and material guidelines, etc.
• Extensive overseas travel, including Asia, for product development, sourcing & trend research; Builder of long lasting partnerships with overseas agents and offices, and product development partners, factories and vendors.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Advanced computer illustration skills, with mastery of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; excellent technical drawing for spec sheets and tech packs. -
Education
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Post Baccalaureate Studies Jewelry DesignFashion Institute of Technology1995 - 1996
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Studies Concurrent with Brown University Degree Fine and Graphic ArtsRhode Island School of Design1988 - 1990
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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Visual ArtsBrown University1985 - 1990Phi Beta Kappa Magna Cum Laude
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Experience
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Design Educator/Online InstructorJul 2015 - Present (10 years 11 months)Create & teach online tutorials in Adobe Illustrator CS6/CAD tailored to Illustration for Fashion Design.
Responsible for entire video creation: script writing, graphics, video creation and editing, sound editing, trailers, etc.
Skilled in screenshot software such as iShowU; iMovie and similar
Developing Curriculum and Lessons for launch of the sites Women's & Men's Accessories Design Division: History of Accessories, Materials, Hardware, "How To", Portfolio Basics, Presentation, Product Development; Tech Packs, and Adobe Illustrator tailored to Accessories Design: Leather Goods (belts, bags, SLGs,), Jewelry, etc. -
Head of Design: Men's, Business & Travel DivisionsSpringfield, MANov 2013 - Present (12 years 7 months)Responsible for year-round design, development and market presentation for our multiple brand portfolio - BUXTON | BX BUSINESS | DOPP |FIELD & STREAM (licensed) - with mastery of diverse product categories, price points and fabrications, including:
• Bags (backpacks, laptop bags, messenger bags, duffels; briefcases; soft luggage; totes and more); Wallets; Belts; Small Leather Goods; Travel Accessories; Grooming Accessories; Tech Cases & Business Items for men and women. -
Design Director, FreelanceNEW YORK, NYNov 2011 - Jul 2013 (1 year 8 months)Created the fundamental brand DNA for a new luxury fine jewelry brand. Due to confidentiality agreement, references and further details upon request.
• Responsible for all design, technical sketches, packaging and logo design and prototype development. -
Design & Product Development, FreelanceTandy Brands AccessoriesJan 2012 - Sep 2012 (8 months)Design & Product Development for the initial launch of their Luxury Division, including these licensed brands:
Elie Tahari; T Tahari; & Sperry Topsider; including: communication with licensor; trend research and presentation; material selection and line planning; tech packs and spec sheets; exclusive hardware development; factory communication. -
Senior Designer: Men/Women's Leather Accessories & HardwareDallas, TXNov 2006 - Aug 2011 (4 years 9 months)• Managed, developed and directed teams of designers and interns through all phases of design and product development, from initial research and trend presentations, through inspection and approval of PP (Pre-Production) and TOP (Top of Production) samples
• Increased men’s division revenue by initiating the launch of a new product category, men’s leather cuff bracelets; This category became the number one selling men’s leather item, by volume, in their first season debut.
• Created the first Fossil Leather Division Training Manual & Glossary with comprehensive coverage of raw materials, construction and finishing techniques for small leather goods, bags and belts, including the essentials of hardware production, design, costing and compliance issues. Delivered trainings to our design and product development teams and factory partners.
• Directed a company wide cross functional/cross-category “Hardware Team” to create a set of global core hardware shapes and finish standards. Implemented quality standards and created nominated vendor relationships, decreasing costs and increasing brand identity.
• Designed exclusive core hardware for men and women’s shoes, bags, small leather goods and belts, including: buckles, zipper pulls, the Fossil “Key”, rivets and studs, d-rings, locks and more. These core items are still in production and remain part of the iconic Fossil brand identity. -
Design & Product Development Director: MICHAEL HERO BrandAURAFIN LLC/ The Nob Hill Luxury GroupTamarac, FLJan 2003 - Sep 2006 (3 years 8 months)Creative force behind the launch of a new luxury lifestyle brand, MICHAEL HERO, “jewelry for the home”. Drove the identity and expansion of the line from initial launch to $3M in sales, with placement in Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Bailey, Banks & Biddle, and over 200 independent retailers worldwide.
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Designer & Merchandise ManagerAURAFIN, LLC.Tamarac, FL2001 - 2003 (2 years)Designed and developed fine gold, sterling silver and gemstone product for all sales divisions of this $350M gold jewelry manufacturer. Managed a team of assistant merchandisers; collaborated with overseas vendors, travelled to domestic and international trade shows.
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Head DesignerProvidence, RI2000 - 2001 (1 year)Responsible for the design, merchandising and product development of sterling silver and alloyed product for the $25M fashion jewelry manufacturer, serving customers such as Wal-Mart, Disney, QVC and HSN, collaborating directly with celebrity clientele Suzanne Somers and Joan Rivers.
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Design & Product Development ManagerD. Gioielli Inc.Providence, RI1996 - 2000 (4 years)•Designed all products for sterling silver and fashion jewelry main line collections as well as for private label and licensed clientele. Brands included Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Talbots, The Limited, M&M-Mars, Coca-Cola and Mattel. Supervised product development and sample making teams.
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Designer: Private LabelCipriani Accessories/The Max Leather groupNew York, NYOct 1995 - 1996 (8 months)• Designed and developed exclusive hardware and collections for all private label clientele including Ann Taylor, Talbots, Banana Republic and Nordstrom. Assisted with Nautica Men’s and Jones New York.
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Awards
Roberta Joslin Award for Fine Arts, 1990
Phi Beta Kappa Society, elected 1990 -
Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@dianastrauss, member since 2012
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Following 2
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Followers 4
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