Product Designer - H&M Divided - Jersey Fashion Essentials & Dresses
π Job Overview
Job Title: Product Designer - H&M Divided - Jersey Fashion Essentials & Dresses Company: H&M Group Location: Stockholm, Sweden Job Type: Full-time, Temporary (1 Year Contract) Category: Fashion Design / Product Design Date Posted: 2025-10-20 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: On-site
π Role Summary
- This role is for an experienced Fashion Designer to lead the vision and design for Jersey Fashion Essentials and Dresses within the H&M Divided department.
- The position requires a strong understanding of youthful fashion products, current trends, and the ability to translate these into commercial, trend-leading collections.
- Success in this role hinges on a creative, visionary mindset combined with a commercial understanding of the H&M Divided customer and a passion for creating "Best Products."
- The Designer will operate in a high-speed, collaborative environment, managing large collections with parallel timelines and goals.
π Enhancement Note: The core focus of this role is product design within the fashion industry, specifically for H&M Divided's target demographic. While the prompt requests enhancement for Revenue Operations, Sales Operations, and GTM roles, this job listing is for a Product Designer. To provide the most value, I will enhance this listing as a Product Designer role, incorporating operations-adjacent concepts where applicable to highlight transferable skills and operational aspects of the design process.
π Primary Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the design vision for Jersey Fashion Essentials and Dresses, ensuring alignment with H&M Divided's brand identity and customer profile.
- Create innovative and trend-driven designs that cater to the youthful target customer, encompassing both essential items and elevated fashion pieces.
- Conduct market research and trend analysis to identify emerging styles, fabrics, and silhouettes relevant to the Jersey and Dress categories.
- Build comprehensive collections, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic and commercial viability across all designs.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including merchandising, sourcing, and production, to bring designs to life efficiently and within established timelines.
- Utilize Adobe Creative Suite proficiently to create detailed design sketches, technical packs, and visual presentations.
- Manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
- Contribute to the overall product development process, from concept ideation through to final product approval.
- Ensure a high standard of quality and attention to detail in all design outputs.
π Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities emphasize creative output and fashion trend translation. However, the mention of "managing parallel timelines and goals," "commercial understanding," and "collaboration with cross-functional teams" highlights operational aspects of the design process, particularly in a large retail organization.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Fashion/Textile Design or a related creative field.
Experience:
- Minimum of 3 years of professional work experience as a Product Designer within the commercial fashion industry.
- Proven experience in designing woven fashion products, with a strong understanding of jersey materials and their application.
Required Skills:
- Fashion Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to create trend-leading fashion collections, with a specialization in Jersey Fashion Essentials and Dresses.
- Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: High-level skills in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and potentially InDesign for design creation and technical documentation.
- Trend Forecasting & Analysis: A creative, visionary mindset with deep knowledge of current and future fashion trends and the ability to translate them into commercial products.
- Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of the target customer (H&M Divided) and the ability to design products that resonate with their purchasing behavior.
- Collection Building: Expertise in curating cohesive and commercially viable fashion collections.
- Visual Communication: Excellent ability to present design concepts effectively through sketches, mood boards, and presentations.
- Collaboration & Teamwork: Proven ability to work effectively within diverse, high-paced teams and communicate ideas clearly.
- Adaptability & Flexibility: Capacity to thrive in a dynamic environment with parallel timelines and evolving priorities.
- Self-Drive & Initiative: Strong personal drive, ability to take ownership of projects, and lead initiatives.
- English Fluency: Professional proficiency in English.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with 3D design software for fashion.
- Knowledge of sustainable fashion practices and materials.
- Familiarity with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems.
- Understanding of garment construction and manufacturing processes.
π Enhancement Note: The qualifications highlight a blend of creative talent and practical, commercially-oriented skills. The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite and trend analysis aligns with common requirements for product designers in fast-paced retail environments. The "commercial understanding" and "collection building" are key operational skills within the design function.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Design Vision & Trend Translation: Showcase examples of how you've translated current and future fashion trends into commercially successful designs for a target customer, ideally with a focus on jersey or similar fabrics.
- Collection Cohesion: Present at least one complete collection (or a significant capsule) that demonstrates your ability to build a cohesive range with a clear narrative and commercial appeal.
- Technical Proficiency: Include examples of detailed technical sketches, spec sheets, or other documentation that highlights your ability to communicate design intent clearly to production teams.
- Commercial Impact: Where possible, include examples of products you've designed that have achieved strong sales performance or positive customer feedback, demonstrating your commercial understanding.
Process Documentation:
- Workflow Design: Be prepared to discuss your typical design process, from initial trend research and concept development through to final design approval and handover to production.
- Collaboration & Feedback: Demonstrate how you incorporate feedback from merchandising, sourcing, and other stakeholders into your design process to ensure alignment and efficiency.
- Adaptation to Pace: Showcase examples of how you've managed design projects under tight deadlines and in rapidly changing market conditions.
π Enhancement Note: For a creative role like Product Designer, the portfolio is paramount. The emphasis here is on demonstrating not just aesthetic skill but also the operational capacity to translate creative ideas into viable, mass-produced products within a structured process. This includes showcasing an understanding of commercial viability and collaborative workflows.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range:
- Based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 2-5 years of experience in Stockholm, Sweden, the estimated annual salary range is SEK 380,000 - SEK 550,000. This range accounts for the cost of living in Stockholm and the competitive nature of the fashion industry.
Benefits:
- Competitive Salary: As per the estimated range above.
- Employee Discount: Generous discount on H&M Group products.
- Health & Wellness: Access to health and wellness programs.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for training and skill enhancement within the H&M Group.
- Work Environment: Opportunity to work with a leading global fashion retailer in a dynamic and creative setting.
- Contractual Benefits: Specific benefits related to a temporary contract, which may include pro-rated holiday pay and pension contributions as per Swedish labor law.
Working Hours:
- Standard full-time hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with potential for overtime during peak periods. The role is on-site in Stockholm.
π Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on publicly available data for similar roles in Stockholm and H&M Group's typical compensation structures. Benefits are standard for large retail organizations and tailored to the context of a temporary contract.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Fashion Retail. H&M Group is a global leader, operating across various brands and price points, with a strong focus on making fashion accessible and sustainable. Company Size: H&M Group is a large, publicly traded corporation with tens of thousands of employees worldwide, indicating a structured yet dynamic organizational framework. Founded: H&M was founded in 1947, giving it a long-standing heritage and deep experience in the fashion retail sector.
Team Structure:
- Design Department: The Product Designer will be part of the H&M Divided design team, which is likely structured by product category (e.g., Jersey, Dresses, Denim, Outerwear).
- Reporting: The role will report to a Design Manager or Head of Design for the Divided category, with close collaboration with Merchandising Managers and Buyers.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: The design team works extensively with sourcing, production, marketing, and sales teams to ensure product success from concept to customer.
Methodology:
- Data-Informed Creativity: While creativity is paramount, design decisions are informed by sales data, customer feedback, market trends, and commercial viability analysis.
- Agile Product Development: The design process operates at a high pace, often involving iterative development and quick decision-making to meet seasonal deadlines.
- Global Alignment: Designs must align with global fashion trends while also being tailored to the specific H&M Divided customer profile.
Company Website: https://hmgroup.com/
π Enhancement Note: Understanding H&M Group's scale and focus on sustainability and accessibility is crucial. The "high speed" and "youthful fashion" aspects of H&M Divided suggest a culture that values agility, trend-consciousness, and a direct connection to the target market.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Product Designer. This role is for an individual contributor with specialized design skills who is expected to manage their own product categories and contribute significantly to collection development. Reporting Structure: The Designer will report to a Design Manager or Head of Design, working within a team that collaborates closely with merchandising and production departments. This structure emphasizes operational efficiency through clear communication channels and shared goals. Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is directly tied to the commercial success of their designed collections. Their ability to create desirable, trend-relevant, and well-executed products directly influences sales revenue, brand perception, and customer engagement for H&M Divided.
Growth Opportunities:
- Specialization: Deepen expertise within jersey, dresses, or other specific product categories.
- Leadership: Transition into a Senior Product Designer role, mentoring junior designers, or potentially moving into a Design Manager position.
- Cross-Brand Experience: Opportunities to work with other H&M Group brands or explore different product areas.
- Global Mobility: Potential to relocate to other H&M Group design hubs.
- Skill Development: Access to internal training programs focused on design software, trend forecasting, sustainability, and business acumen.
π Enhancement Note: The growth path for a designer is typically vertical (more responsibility, seniority) or horizontal (broader scope, different categories/brands). The "operations impact" is framed in terms of commercial outcomes, which is a key performance indicator for any role within a retail organization.
π Work Environment
Office Type: The role is based at H&M Group's Head Office in Stockholm, Sweden, which is likely a modern, collaborative office space designed to foster creativity and teamwork. Office Location(s): MΓ€ster Samuelsgatan, Stockholm, Sweden. This is a central location in Stockholm, accessible via public transport.
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Hub: Expect an environment that encourages interaction with designers, merchandisers, buyers, and other creative professionals.
- Tools & Resources: Access to design software, trend resources, sample libraries, and potentially in-house sample rooms.
- Fast-Paced Culture: The workspace is designed to support a high-energy, deadline-driven atmosphere characteristic of the fast fashion industry.
Work Schedule:
- Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected, with the flexibility to manage workflow to meet project deadlines. The emphasis is on output and meeting deliverables rather than strict adherence to hours.
π Enhancement Note: The description of the workspace emphasizes collaboration and the fast-paced nature of the fashion industry, which requires efficient workflow management and adaptability from its team members.
π Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: Application review, focusing on resume and portfolio relevance.
- Portfolio Presentation (Round 1): Candidates will likely be asked to present a curated selection of their work, showcasing their design aesthetic, trend understanding, commercial awareness, and process. This may include specific case studies of past projects.
- Skills Assessment/Case Study (Round 2): This could involve a design challenge or a task related to collection building or trend interpretation, requiring the candidate to demonstrate their practical skills and problem-solving abilities under timed conditions.
- Team/Manager Interview (Round 3): Discussion about the candidate's experience, cultural fit, collaboration style, and motivation for the role. Questions will likely probe their understanding of the H&M Divided customer and their approach to design operations.
- Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and long-term potential.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate Strategically: Select 5-8 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills for this specific role. Focus on jersey, essentials, and dresses if possible.
- Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate your design process: inspiration, research, concept development, trend application, technical execution, and commercial considerations.
- Quantify Impact: If possible, highlight the commercial success of your designs (e.g., "This dress became a top seller," "This collection exceeded sales targets").
- Tailor to H&M Divided: Demonstrate an understanding of the H&M Divided customer and brand aesthetic.
- Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Keep file sizes manageable (as per the 10MB limit).
Challenge Preparation:
- Trend Research: Familiarize yourself with current and upcoming trends relevant to the H&M Divided customer.
- H&M Divided Analysis: Understand the brand's aesthetic, pricing strategy, and target demographic.
- Design Process Practice: Be ready to walk through your design process for a hypothetical collection or product.
- Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you handle design challenges, tight deadlines, or conflicting feedback.
π Enhancement Note: The application process for a design role heavily emphasizes the portfolio. The advice provided focuses on how to present work that demonstrates not only creativity but also operational competence and commercial awareness, crucial for a large retail organization.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for all design work, including:
- Adobe Illustrator: For creating vector-based sketches, technical flats, and patterns.
- Adobe Photoshop: For mood boards, color palettes, fabric simulations, and presentation graphics.
- Microsoft Office Suite: For general communication, organization, and basic data handling (Excel for range plans, Word for documentation).
Analytics & Reporting:
- Internal H&M Systems: Likely proprietary tools for sales data analysis, trend reporting, and product performance tracking. Specific names are not provided, but proficiency in using data to inform design is key.
- Web Analytics Tools (General Awareness): Understanding how website traffic and sales data are used to inform product strategy.
CRM & Automation:
- PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) Systems (Potential): While not explicitly stated, large fashion companies often use PLM systems (e.g., PTC FlexPLM, Centric PLM) to manage the product development lifecycle from design to production. Familiarity with the concept of PLM is beneficial.
π Enhancement Note: The primary tools are standard for fashion design. The emphasis on "internal H&M Systems" for data and "PLM systems" highlights the operational infrastructure that supports product design at scale.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- Customer Focus: Designing products that delight the H&M Divided customer is paramount. This involves understanding their needs, trends, and purchase drivers.
- Sustainability: H&M Group has a strong commitment to sustainability. Designers are expected to consider ethical sourcing, material choices, and waste reduction in their work.
- Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams across different functions and geographies is essential for success.
- Efficiency & Pace: Operating within a fast-paced environment requires efficiency, adaptability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Best Product: A drive to create high-quality, trend-relevant, and commercially successful products.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-functional Integration: Designers are integral to a larger product creation ecosystem, requiring open communication and teamwork with merchandising, sourcing, and production teams.
- Feedback-Driven: A culture that embraces constructive feedback to refine designs and improve product outcomes.
- Shared Goals: Working towards common objectives related to collection delivery, sales performance, and brand integrity.
π Enhancement Note: H&M Group's core values, particularly sustainability and customer focus, are likely integrated into the design process. The emphasis on collaboration and efficiency reflects the operational realities of a large, global fashion retailer.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Pace & Volume: The fast fashion industry demands rapid turnaround times and the ability to manage a high volume of design projects across multiple categories.
- Trend Interpretation: Accurately predicting and translating fleeting trends into commercially viable products for a specific target audience.
- Balancing Creativity & Commerciality: Finding the sweet spot between innovative design and products that will sell well and meet production constraints.
- Sustainability Integration: Effectively incorporating sustainable materials and practices into design without compromising aesthetics or cost.
- Global Market Nuances: Adapting designs to potentially diverse regional preferences within the broader target market.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Trend Forecasting Workshops: Access to internal and external trend forecasting services and training.
- Sustainability Training: Deep diving into H&M Group's sustainability initiatives and best practices.
- Software Proficiency: Advanced training on Adobe Creative Suite and potential exposure to new design technologies.
- Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced designers and design leaders within the H&M Group.
- Cross-Category Exposure: Gaining experience in designing for different product types or collaborating on broader collection strategies.
π Enhancement Note: The challenges listed are inherent to the fast fashion industry. The growth opportunities are framed around skill enhancement and career progression within a large retail organization, often facilitated by internal L&D programs.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- Design Philosophy: "Describe your design philosophy and how it aligns with the H&M Divided brand." (Prepare to articulate your approach to trendy, youthful fashion.)
- Trend Analysis: "How do you stay current with fashion trends, and how would you translate a specific emerging trend into a dress or essential for H&M Divided?" (Be ready to walk through your trend research and development process.)
- Commercialization: "Describe a time you designed a product that was both innovative and commercially successful. What was your process, and what were the results?" (Focus on quantifiable outcomes and your role.)
- Collaboration & Conflict Resolution: "How do you handle feedback from merchandising or production that might conflict with your initial design vision?" (Highlight your ability to compromise and find practical solutions.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What excites you about H&M Divided specifically, and why do you want to work for H&M Group?" (Show genuine interest and research.)
- "How do you approach sustainability in your design process?" (Connect to H&M's stated values.)
- "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a collaborative culture." (Emphasize teamwork and adaptability.)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Storytelling: For each project, tell a clear story: the brief/inspiration, your creative process, the challenges you faced, and the outcome (especially commercial success).
- Visual Clarity: Use high-quality images and clear annotations. Ensure your technical sketches are precise.
- Conciseness: Be mindful of the time limit. Practice presenting your portfolio to ensure you hit the key points efficiently.
- Demonstrate Process: Show how you think and design, not just the final output. Include mood boards, sketches, and technical details.
- Know Your Numbers (If Applicable): If you have sales data or positive customer feedback for your designs, be ready to share it.
π Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for a design role is heavily weighted towards portfolio presentation and the ability to articulate one's creative process, commercial acumen, and collaborative skills within the context of the company's brand and values.
π Application Steps
To apply for this Product Designer position:
- Submit your resume and a portfolio showcasing your best work through the provided application link. Ensure your portfolio is under 10MB.
- Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight relevant experience in jersey, fashion essentials, dresses, and commercial fashion design. Emphasize your trend analysis and collection-building capabilities.
- Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your 3+ years of commercial fashion design experience, highlighting proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and any relevant achievements in product success or collection development.
- Prepare for Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear storytelling, process explanation, and commercial impact, especially for H&M Divided's target customer.
- Company Research: Thoroughly research H&M Group, the H&M Divided brand, and current fashion trends to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm during interviews.
β οΈ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have a BA/MA degree in Fashion/Textile Design and at least 3 years of experience in commercial fashion design. Strong skills in Adobe Creative Suite and a deep understanding of current and future fashion trends are essential.