Trend & Innovation

• Researched and shopped domestic and international markets to drive newness

• Attended and reported on trade shows to drive innovation

• Recapped runway, industry and street style trends as weekly digital publications

• Created and directed monthly trend reports for company-wide distribution

• Presented market and social trend overviews to key stakeholders

• Developed trend-driven color and material palettes cadenced to retail deliveries

• Generated seasonal direction documents and concept rigs

• Created brand environments for public spaces and corporate showrooms

• Created seasonal video mood boards for company-wide presentations

• Generated product briefs for key items & collections

• Analyzed retailer and customer feedback to improve assortment

• Developed customer and brand positioning briefs

• Identified international trends and lifestyle to focus global customer POV

Design & Manufacturing

• Designed and drove direction for leather goods, home, apparel and accessories

• Partnered with engineering, PD and merchandising to bring brand right assortments to market

• Created and approved all outgoing tech packs

• Developed product in domestic and international factories

• Created local sourcing model for rapid prototyping of innovations

• Developed unique leather and textile articles in partnership with sourcing teams

• Assessed pre-production samples for costing, functionality and design integrity

• Created prints, placement graphics and intarsias for apparel, home and hard goods

• Developed jacquard and embroidery designs for trim and allover textile applications

• Generated 4-color and die art, screenprinting and embroidery

• Created strategy & alignment documents as extensions of seasonal direction

• Developed assortment plans based on merchant feedback and sales

Leadership & Project Management

• Established seasonal direction for graphics, print and product

• Drove adoption of key concepts into product assortment

• Key stakeholder in brand strategic initiatives and incubator businesses

• Recruited, managed and developed design, textiles, and concept staff

• Managed department annual budgets and calendars

• Created & executed timing and action plans for product and strategic initiatives

• Developed cross-category partnerships to develop cohesive, saleable assortments

• Partnered with visuals, marketing and social media to drive consumer-facing stories

• Collaborated with Asia-based product development and sourcing teams

CV

December 2017 - Current
Design Director
ABLE, Nashville, TN

July 2016 - September 2017
Trend Director
Cato Corporation, Charlotte, NC

August 2011 - July 2016
Senior Concept Designer, Associate Creative Director
Fossil Inc., Richardson, TX

June 2006 - August 2011
Lead Surface Designer
L.L.Bean/L.L.Bean Signature, Freeport, ME

June 2003 - June 2006
Designer II
William Arthur Fine Stationery/Vera Wang Fine Papers , Kennebunk, ME

EDUCATION
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
B.F.A, Fibers (Cum Laude)

AWARDS
Language and Literature Department Recognition Scholarship (MICA)
Telluride Association Fellow - Literature (Cornell University)

SKILLS
• Adobe - Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop
• Microsoft - Excel, Powerpoint, Word
• NedGraphics - EasyKnit, EasyWeave, Design and Repeat, Color Reduction
• Natural Media - Sketching, Watercolor, Oils, Engraving, Printmaking
• Graphic Design - Typography, Layout and Pagination

Email
kristamalexander@gmail.com