Melody Chou

Currently working as men’s accessories designer creating collections of belts, wallets, and small leather goods for licensed brands including Levis, Columbia, Dickies, and private label companies. Designated team lead for Columbia; combine licensor’s direction and product merchandiser’s sales feedback to come up with seasonal design direction for respective brands. Collaborate with team members to execute collections, from initial ideas to merchandised product. Experience with hardware development as well as both leather and PU materials. Also participated in development trips to overseas factories.

Collaborated with fellow members of the Ladies Dress team to create watches in line with the Fossil brand, from initial conception to final end product. Routine tasks included trend research to create inspiration boards, sketching, specking mechanicals, and communicating with overseas team members and factories on a regular basis. Eventually assumed responsibilities of team lead to coordinate project workflow and provide input for upcoming seasonal direction. Member of design committee that helped launch inaugural Karl Lagerfeld watch collection; also worked on side projects for licensed brands Diesel and Buckle and completed prior internship experience with Michael Kors and DKNY teams.

Assisted staff designers at Manhattan-based package design consultancy with ongoing projects. Responsible for generating conceptual sketches, building study models, doing refined drawings, creating Photoshop and Illustrator renderings, taking photographs, and executing related design tasks.