Design Assistant

Company Overview

DÔEN is a fashion and lifestyle brand that launched in 2016, built by sisters Margaret and Katherine Kleveland together with a collective of partners. The company focuses on creating enduring, visually distinctive collections while also backing people across its organization, supply chain, and local communities. It collaborates with domestic and international partners who align with its values around gender equity, social equality, and community support through partnerships with foundations that directly serve employees and neighboring communities.

DÔEN is an equal opportunity employer.

Role Summary

This position is for a Design Assistant based at the Van Nuys, CA headquarters. It is classified as non-exempt and offers an hourly pay range of $23.00 to $25.00. The role follows a hybrid schedule, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a minimum of four in-office days each week and the possibility of being onsite five days depending on business requirements.

Key Duties

• Partner with the Design Director and design team on inspiration work, design support, and special projects.
• Support seasonal concept research covering fabrics, trims, and color direction.
• Prepare design presentations on a weekly and seasonal basis.
• Maintain, refresh, and circulate line sheets and other shared documents while coordinating between the Design and Development teams.
• Assign style names and numbers and help move styles through pass-off to the Technical Design team.
• Research and title styles, seasonal colors, artworks, and embroideries promptly.
• Create flats or construction-detail sketches when needed for pass-off materials.
• Develop color CADs and embroidery layouts, and help present color options for artwork.
• Coordinate CAD, print placement, and embroidery placement communication with the Development team during the design process.
• Update sketches as needed and keep sketch files organized and current.
• Contribute to design and concept updates for top-selling styles.
• Assist with organizing and filing vintage archive samples and submissions.
• Support designers with BOM creation and component reference management.
• Build productive cross-functional relationships with Development teams and other partners.

Qualifications

• A degree from a 2- to 4-year apparel or fashion program is required.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, is required.
• Strong organization and product-detail focus are important.
• Sketching ability is necessary.
• Experience or interest in knitwear design is a plus, though not mandatory.
• Working knowledge of pattern and technical design is needed.
• A good eye for color is important.
• Basic understanding of fabrics, embellishments, and wash/dye processes is expected.
• High attention to detail and strong personal organization are essential.
• The candidate should be able to follow direction and also work independently with limited supervision.
• Tasks should be carried through with strong follow-up and completion discipline.
• Planning skills, prioritization, and deadline awareness are important.
• Flexibility and adaptability are needed in a fast-moving, rapidly growing environment.
• A strong interest in learning and collaborating closely with cross-functional teammates is valued.
• The role requires contributing to an inclusive and respectful workplace.

Physical Requirements

• The candidate must be able to perform the job with reasonable accommodation.
• Work includes extended periods of sitting, typing, sketching, and computer use.
• Ability to lift, move, push, or pull items up to 25 lbs is required.
• The role involves walking, sitting, and standing for extended periods.
• Capability to use equipment such as computers, copiers, and phones is needed.
• The employee must be able to access different areas of the workplace.

Total Rewards

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays are included.
• The workplace is described as fun and fast-paced.
• Benefits include healthcare, vision, and dental coverage.
• A 401(k) plan with company match is offered.
• Pay will be set based on experience and other factors allowed by law.
• The hybrid work arrangement may be removed at any time based on business needs or company discretion.

Application Note

Applicants should submit a resume along with a link to an online portfolio, which may be a website, PDF, or shared drive, showing the most relevant work.

Compensation

The California hourly pay rate is $23 to $25.