Manual Designer

Job Summary:

The Manual Designer will be responsible for conceptualizing, sketching, and developing new designs for fabricated flip-flops. The role involves transforming creative ideas into market-ready products through detailed manual drawings, material selection, and coordination with sampling and production teams. The designer should possess a strong sense of color, proportion, and trend awareness suitable for the target consumer segment.

Key Responsibilities:

• New Product Development (NPD):
  
  Create innovative flip-flop designs manually, ensuring alignment with brand positioning, seasonal trends, and market requirements.
• Concept & Sketching:
  
  Prepare high-quality hand sketches, renderings, and illustrations for new product concepts, upper patterns, soles, and straps.
• Material & Component Selection:
  
  Work with the sourcing and production teams to identify suitable materials (EVA, rubber, fabric, synthetic, etc.) for comfort, aesthetics, and cost optimization.
• Sampling & Prototyping:
  
  Collaborate with the sampling team to develop prototypes; ensure design intent and detailing are accurately captured in the samples.
• Design Modifications:
  
  Refine and update existing designs based on feedback from production, marketing, and market response.
• Trend & Market Research:
  
  Study global and domestic trends in flip-flops, color themes, and consumer preferences to create commercially viable designs.
• Product Costing Support:
  
  Work with the costing and development teams to assist in estimating product cost based on design components and material choices.
• Cross-Functional Coordination:
  
  Liaise with marketing, merchandising, and production teams for seamless product development from concept to commercialization.

Required Skills & Competencies:

• Strong hand sketching and rendering skills.
• Good understanding of flip-flop construction, fabrication, and material behavior.
• Creative mindset with attention to detail and proportions.
• Basic knowledge of product costing and commercial design thinking.
• Awareness of current fashion and footwear trends.
• Good communication and teamwork abilities.

Qualifications:

• 1 to 3 Year dimploma / FDDI / CFTI.
• 2 - 5 years of experience in manual designing, preferably in flip-flops or casual footwear.
• Exposure to fabricated footwear or EVA/rubber-based product development is an added advantage.