Assistant Designer
JCPenney
Overview
Job Title: Assistant Designer, Sweaters
Position Overview
The Assistant Designer, Sweaters (JCP) supports the design and development of knitwear collections from concept through production. This role assists the design team in creating brand-right, trend-informed sweaters that align with seasonal strategies and business objectives.
Working closely with Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, Product Development, and Production, the Assistant Designer helps execute sweater styles while gaining exposure to all phases of the product development lifecycle.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about knitwear, with a strong interest in design, yarn innovation, and emerging fashion trends. Key Responsibilities
Design Support
Assist in the development of seasonal sweater collections, including silhouettes, stitch patterns, textures, stripes, jacquards, and novelty knit constructions
Create design sketches, technical flats, stitch layouts, and presentation materials using Adobe Illustrator
Support the development of seasonal mood boards, color stories, trend research, and concept presentations
Conduct trend, market, and competitive research to identify emerging opportunities in knitwear, fashion, and lifestyle categories
Assist in yarn sourcing, stitch development, and color review processes
Organize and maintain inspiration materials, design references, and seasonal files
Product Development
Assist in the creation and maintenance of tech packs, including stitch information, gauge specifications, yarn details, construction notes, measurements, and trim applications
Support communication of design intent to overseas and domestic vendors throughout the development process
Review knit-downs, strike-offs, proto samples, and fit samples for accuracy and design consistency
Attend fit sessions; document comments, track revisions, and support sample approval processes
Monitor development calendars and sample deliverables to help ensure adherence to key mi