Monica Welcker

+ Weft is a full service Technical Soft Goods Design and Development Studio with a focus on bags, apparel, and accessories.
+ Clients range from start-ups to renowned Outdoor and Lifestyle brands.
+ Services include market research, concept creation and refinement, color strategy, material and trim development, pattern making, spec creation, sourcing, and testing.

+ Lead strategy and design for all packs, luggage, and accessories.
+ Responsible for all phases of the design process, including market research, user research, ideation, design review facilitation, early patterning, tech pack creation, sourcing, and factory communication.
+ Conduct market and user research, using findings to propose line strategies. Collaborate with Design Director to refine briefs.
+ Ideate and iterate in various forms, including analog sketching, digital sketching, full scale paper mock-ups, fabric mock-ups, and 1:1 illustrations.
+ Present designs in all phases to various stakeholders, compiling and implementing feedback.
+ Collaborate with developers to manage factory relationships and sampling processes.
+ Manage lab dip process for all categories.
+ Represent the design team on the Big Agnes DEI Committee, working to create a more equitable workplace and industry, and reflect that intention in our products and communications.

+ Led the design + development of 1-3 products per season while overseeing the growth of the team.
+ Indentified, proposed, and implemented process changes and best practices for the Design + Development team.
+ Organized and led design reviews and provided design direction to all Designers and Developers, assuring consistent design language across the line.
+ Created robust future looking plans for team structure, taking into account individual and company goals.
+ Recruited, hired, and planned onboarding for new employees to support team goals.+ Led the design + development of 1-3 products per season while overseeing the growth of the team. + Indentified, proposed, and implemented process changes and best practices for the Design + Development team. + Organized and led design reviews and provided design direction to all Designers and Developers, assuring consistent design language across the line. + Created robust future looking plans for team structure, taking into account individual and company goals. + Recruited, hired, and planned onboarding for new employees to support team goals.

+ Responsible for the design and development of a variety of products, and delivered on design and costing goals. Products included packs, outerwear, apparel, travel gear, working dog products, collars and leashes.
+ Managed projects through all phases - including market and user research, ideation, rapid prototyping, materials sourcing, prototype fabrication, field testing, fit testing, tech pack creation, and QC guidelines.
+ Traveled overseas twice a year to work with suppliers, factories, and the RW Vietnamese development team to supervise products through the development and manufacturing processes.
+ Led color and merchandising for every season, starting with trend research and line analysis, and collaborating with each designer to apply color and trims.
+ Oversaw all product orders for the Ruffwear Working Dog Line. Created branding guidelines for the line and manage a freelance designer who created custom artwork packages for each order.
+ Presented projects in many forms, starting with early concepts to a small leadership team, and eventually presenting final product and giving departmental training at the company sales meeting.
+ Attended various trade shows throughout the year to research trends and meet with supplier partners.

+Collaborated with Industrial Designers and Mechanical Engineers to satisfy the needs of both independent and corporate clients.
+Created concepts for a wide variety of projects through a process of sketching, Solidworks refinement, and 3D prototypes.
+Assembled presentations, and worked with clients to develop favored ideas.