Description:
Caroline Gardner Publishing, a leading British design brand in cards, stationery, stylish home and gifting products, is looking for an experienced and creative Senior Print & Gift Designer to join our design team from April 2026.
Senior Print & Product Designer (Accessories, Home & Gifting)
Reports to: Design Director
This is a rare opportunity for a highly creative, ideas-driven Senior Designer to play a defining role in shaping beautifully considered, commercially successful product collections across fashion accessories, homeware, stationery and gifting.
Working in close partnership with the Design Director, you’ll originate seasonal stories, colour palettes, prints and product concepts, translating creative vision into distinctive ranges for both wholesale and retail. You’ll balance creativity with commercial thinking, spotting new opportunities in fabrication, trims, product categories and trends, while ensuring the range remains fresh, relevant and cohesive.
Alongside core collections, you’ll support the Design Director on retail-only projects including cashmere accessories, loungewear, and exciting licensing collaborations with external brand partners.
This role suits a designer who thrives on variety, takes ownership, and loves seeing ideas travel from sketchbook to shop floor.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead the creative development of seasonal stories, from trend research and colour direction to print, product design and final execution
- Organise and deliver inspiring research trips, competitive shopping and trend analysis, presenting clear mood, colour and concept boards
- Design all-over and placement prints, colour palettes and product visuals using a mix of hand-drawn, painted, mixed media and CAD techniques
- Create print-ready artwork, amend cutter guides and oversee product construction details
- Build and maintain visual range plans throughout the season, from initial concept through to final sales tools
- Own projects from concept to completion: briefing, specification, sampling, and critical path management
- Partner closely with Buying, Merchandising and Sales to analyse performance and shape ranges that meet strategic and commercial goals
- Identify new product opportunities through market and customer insight
- Produce clear, detailed specification packs covering colour, trims, packaging and labelling
- Manage the sample approval process, ensuring colour, quality and timing meet expectations for key milestones, trade shows and customer meetings
- Support licensing projects, supplying artwork, reviewing proposals, managing amendments and ensuring brand guidelines are met
- Assist with retail-only collections, including seasonal cashmere and loungewear ranges
- Line-manage and mentor a Product Design Assistant, supporting development and maintaining creative standards
- Collaborate across the wider design team as required
About you
- Minimum 8 years’ experience in a senior print and/or product design role, with a relevant design degree
- Previous experience managing at least one direct report
- A naturally creative, ideas-led designer with strong experience across both print and product development
- Highly skilled in hand-drawing, painting and mixed media, alongside CAD
- Advanced Adobe Illustrator skills; Photoshop and InDesign advantageous
- Solid understanding of textile and/or ceramic manufacturing, with experience working with international suppliers
- Exceptional eye for colour, detail and quality
- Comfortable juggling multiple projects and seasons while keeping to critical path deadlines
- Clear, confident communicator who's able to interpret briefs, negotiate with suppliers and collaborate cross-functionally
- Passionate about design, with the confidence to present and sell ideas to founders, stakeholders and customers
- Detail oriented, ensuring timely product commenting takes designs through to timely delivery
- Organised, resilient and calm under pressure
- Open to feedback, adaptable and solutions-focused
- Commercially aware, able to analyse information and make sound creative decisions
- Proactive in spotting opportunities, improving workflows and driving efficiencies
- Self-motivated, collaborative and comfortable working independently with a positive, can-do attitude