Midweight Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Midweight Product Designer

Company: Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton

Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-21T13:37:08

Experience Level: Midweight (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design lifecycle for affordable luxury fashion and lifestyle products, ensuring brand alignment and quality standards.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Senior Designers, Buying, and Marketing teams to support successful product development and launch initiatives.

• Create and manage detailed technical specifications, artwork, and product documentation using Adobe Creative Suite.

• Contribute to product innovation, personalization opportunities, and market trend analysis to maintain competitive edge.

• Ensure efficient project management, accurate data maintenance, and continuous process improvement within the design operations workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the emphasis on technical specifications, product development lifecycle, cross-functional collaboration with Buying and Marketing, and process improvement suggests a strong GTM (Go-to-Market) operations component. The role requires bridging creative concept with operational execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Support the conceptualization, design, and development of innovative, on-brand products that align with the company's affordable luxury positioning.

• Execute the full product development process, from initial concept sketches and mood boards to final production-ready artwork and technical specifications.

• Create detailed artwork, technical specifications, and product documentation using Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Manage and review product samples against specifications, ensuring meticulous attention to detail and quality control throughout the development cycle.

• Collaborate closely with Buying and wider Design teams to ensure successful product launches, including input on packaging, tags, care labels, and POS displays.

• Maintain accurate critical paths, product codes, colour descriptions, and essential product information within the design and operations systems.

• Contribute fresh creative ideas for product innovation, exploring personalization opportunities and staying ahead of market trends and competitor activity.

• Mentor and support junior team members, fostering a culture of accuracy, organization, and creativity within the design department.

• Provide regular project updates and communicate progress clearly to Senior Designers and relevant stakeholders.

• Continuously identify and implement opportunities to improve design processes, enhance team efficiency, and streamline workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities blend creative design with operational execution, particularly in managing the product lifecycle, technical documentation, and cross-functional coordination. This indicates a need for strong organizational and project management skills alongside design expertise.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A degree in Fashion Design, Product Design, or a related creative field is preferred, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• 2-5 years of proven experience in a Product Design role, ideally within the fashion, accessories, or lifestyle product sectors.

Required Skills:

• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating artwork and technical documentation.

• Excellent visual communication and presentation skills, with a keen eye for detail and aesthetic quality.

• Robust organizational skills with a high degree of accuracy in written and numerical work, essential for technical specifications and data management.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Confidence and capability to work both collaboratively within a team and independently on assigned projects.

• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a positive attitude towards problem-solving and process improvement.

• Strong interpersonal and team-working skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues at all levels.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with 3D design software or product visualization tools.

• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and materials relevant to accessories and jewelry.

• Basic understanding of supply chain and logistics related to product delivery.

• Experience in mentoring or guiding junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite, technical specifications, and managing the product lifecycle points to a role that requires not just creative flair but also rigorous operational discipline. The "Midweight" level suggests the candidate should be capable of independent project management and mentorship.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects that demonstrate the full product design lifecycle from concept to final product.

• Include examples of technical specification sheets, artwork creation (using Adobe Creative Suite), and sample review outcomes.

• Highlight projects where you contributed to product innovation, personalization, or adapting to market trends.

• Demonstrate your ability to manage project timelines and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., Buying, Marketing).

Process Documentation:

• Include examples of how you have documented design processes, workflow improvements, or created standard operating procedures (SOPs) for design tasks.

• Showcase your approach to managing critical paths, product codes, and ensuring data accuracy within a design workflow.

• Provide case studies illustrating your role in sample review, quality control, and ensuring adherence to brand standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a design role with GTM operational considerations, the portfolio should emphasize not just aesthetic output but the process, documentation, and problem-solving involved in bringing a product to market successfully and efficiently.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The company offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience (DOE). Based on industry benchmarks for a Midweight Product Designer in the UK with 2-5 years of experience, a typical range would be between £30,000 - £45,000 per annum.

Benefits:

• Holiday: 33 days of holiday, including bank holidays, which increases to 35 days with length of service, offering excellent work-life balance.

• Staff Discount: A very generous staff discount across both Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton brands, a significant perk for fashion and lifestyle enthusiasts.

• Professional Development: Opportunities to make an impact and gain further learning and development, supporting career growth.

• Health & Wellbeing: While not explicitly detailed, typical benefits for such roles often include access to employee assistance programs or wellness initiatives.

• Work Environment: Access to an innovative and friendly workplace in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Working Hours: The role operates on a standard Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm schedule, totaling 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on UK market rates for a Midweight Product Designer in the fashion/lifestyle sector, considering the location (Oxfordshire) and the specified experience level. The benefits package is detailed as provided in the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates within the fashion, accessories, and lifestyle product sectors, with a focus on "affordable luxury." They are a family-run, entrepreneurial business with a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Company Size: The company is likely of medium size, given it operates two distinct brands (Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton) and has a presence beyond the UK, suggesting a structured yet agile organization.

Founded: Joma Jewellery was founded in 2008, and Katie Loxton was launched in 2015. This indicates a company with established roots and a history of successful brand expansion.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely consists of Senior Designers, Midweight Designers (this role), and potentially junior designers or interns.

• Collaboration is expected across departments including Buying, Marketing, and potentially Production/Operations.

Methodology:

• Creative Process: Emphasis on bringing beautiful, on-brand products to life from concept to delivery, driven by market trends and customer appeal.

• Operational Integration: Strong focus on technical specifications, product documentation, sample review, and critical path management to ensure timely and quality product launches.

• Innovation & Improvement: Encouragement of fresh ideas, personalization opportunities, and continuous process improvement to enhance efficiency and competitiveness.

Company Website: https://careers.katieloxton.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and friendly, with a strong emphasis on creating desirable products and fostering a collaborative environment. The commitment to diversity and inclusion is also highlighted, indicating an inclusive workplace.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Midweight Product Designer role, positioned as a key contributor within the design team. It involves taking ownership of projects, supporting senior members, and potentially mentoring junior staff. This level requires a balance of creative execution and operational task management.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to Senior Designers and works closely with them on project development and delivery. Collaboration with Buying, Marketing, and other design team members is integral.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts the company's product offerings, brand perception, and ultimately, revenue. Successful product launches, adherence to quality standards, and efficient development processes are critical to the business's commercial success. The role contributes to the "Go-to-Market" strategy by ensuring products are designed to specification, within budget, and on time for launch.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in product design, gain experience with new materials or manufacturing techniques, and refine technical documentation skills.

• Leadership Potential: Potential to move into a Senior Product Designer role, taking on more complex projects and greater leadership responsibilities, including formal mentorship.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining a broader understanding of the entire product lifecycle and business operations by working closely with Buying, Marketing, and Sales teams.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in specific product categories or areas like personalization and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Midweight" designation suggests a critical phase in a designer's career, where they are expected to operate with increasing autonomy and contribute to process improvements, bridging creative output with operational efficiency.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in a hybrid model, requiring an average of three days per week in the office located in Banbury, Oxfordshire. This suggests a dynamic office environment that balances focused work with collaborative team interaction.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Cherwell Business Village, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 2SP, United Kingdom. This is a business park setting, likely offering a professional and accessible workspace.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is described as "exciting buzz" and "friendly," indicating a space conducive to teamwork, brainstorming, and cross-functional communication.

• Tools & Technology: While not explicitly stated, it's expected that the office provides standard design workstations equipped with necessary software (Adobe Creative Suite) and hardware.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for dedicated in-office days for team meetings, sample reviews, and collaborative design sessions, fostering strong team cohesion.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, providing a structured work week with a focus on delivering tasks within business hours, while the hybrid arrangement offers flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, indicating a modern work environment that values both in-person collaboration and employee flexibility. The "exciting buzz" suggests a vibrant and engaging office culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the role and alignment with required skills.

• First Interview: Likely a discussion with a Senior Designer or Hiring Manager to delve into your experience, design philosophy, and technical skills. Be prepared to discuss your portfolio highlights.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present selected projects from your portfolio, explaining your design process, problem-solving approach, and the outcomes. Focus on projects demonstrating the full product lifecycle.

• Practical Exercise: You may be asked to complete a short design task or case study related to product development or specification creation, potentially under timed conditions.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader or HR to discuss company culture fit, career aspirations, and finalize terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your experience in fashion/lifestyle product design, technical specification creation, and end-to-end development.

• Process Over Perfection: Clearly articulate your design process, challenges faced, and how you overcame them. Highlight your problem-solving skills and operational considerations.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., sales impact, efficiency gains in production).

• Showcase Technical Skills: Ensure examples of your Adobe Creative Suite work, technical drawings, and specification sheets are clear and professional.

• Brand Alignment: Demonstrate an understanding of the "affordable luxury" positioning and how your design choices support it.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton's current product lines and brand aesthetic.

• Be ready to discuss current market trends in fashion accessories and lifestyle products.

• Practice explaining your design decisions and technical specifications concisely and clearly.

• Prepare to discuss how you manage multiple projects and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and potentially a practical exercise highlights the hands-on nature of this design role, requiring candidates to demonstrate both creative thinking and operational execution capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for all artwork creation, graphic design, and technical documentation. Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is explicitly required.

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software: While not specified, companies of this nature often use PLM systems for managing product data, specifications, and workflows. Familiarity is a plus.

• Project Management Tools: Tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com may be used for tracking critical paths, task management, and inter-departmental communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Market Trend Analysis Tools: Access to fashion forecasting services, trend reports, and competitor analysis platforms.

• Internal Sales/Performance Data: Ability to interpret basic sales data or product performance metrics to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Internal Databases: For managing product codes, colour palettes, and supplier information.

• Communication Platforms: Email, Slack, or Microsoft Teams for day-to-day collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is Adobe Creative Suite. Other tools are inferred based on typical design operations workflows in the fashion/lifestyle industry, focusing on efficiency and data management.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A strong drive to create beautiful, on-brand products and explore new ideas, personalization, and market trends.

• Quality & Detail: A commitment to high standards in design execution, technical specifications, and sample review, ensuring products meet brand expectations.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively with Senior Designers, Buying, Marketing, and other teams to achieve shared goals and successful product launches.

• Efficiency & Process Improvement: A proactive mindset towards streamlining workflows, managing critical paths accurately, and contributing to team efficiency.

• Integrity & Authenticity: Operating with honesty and encouraging team members to be their authentic selves, as reflected in the company's diversity and inclusion statement.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role necessitates close collaboration with Buying (for sourcing and timelines), Marketing (for product storytelling and campaigns), and other Design team members.

• Feedback Exchange: An open environment where ideas are shared, and constructive feedback is given and received to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging junior team members and sharing insights on market trends or process improvements to foster collective growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values creativity, quality, and collaboration, underpinned by a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The operational aspect emphasizes efficiency and process improvement, suggesting a culture that balances creative freedom with structured execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Commerciality: Meeting brand aesthetic and innovation goals while adhering to tight deadlines, budgets, and manufacturing constraints.

• Managing Multiple Projects: Effectively juggling various product lines and development stages simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

• Ensuring Consistency: Maintaining brand consistency and quality across a diverse range of products and collections.

• Adapting to Trends: Rapidly incorporating evolving market trends and customer preferences into product designs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific product categories, materials, or advanced design techniques.

• Operational Acumen: Gain a stronger understanding of the broader product lifecycle, including supply chain, manufacturing, and go-to-market strategies.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Develop skills in guiding junior designers and potentially taking on more project management responsibilities.

• Industry Insights: Stay abreast of fashion and lifestyle trends through market research and potentially industry events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges in this role are typical for product designers in fast-moving consumer goods industries, requiring a blend of creative problem-solving and operational resilience. Growth opportunities are clearly linked to advancing design skills and operational understanding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a product from initial concept sketch to final production-ready technical specifications." (Focus on documentation, collaboration, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency and quality across multiple product lines and projects simultaneously?" (Highlight attention to detail, process management, and collaboration.)

• "Tell me about a time you had to adapt your design based on market trends or competitor activity. What was the outcome?" (Demonstrate market awareness and design flexibility.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton, and our 'affordable luxury' positioning?" (Research the brands, their target audience, and their market niche.)

• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, especially in a hybrid work setting?" (Emphasize communication, proactivity, and team support.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the process you followed, the challenges, your solutions, and the final outcome (quantify if possible).

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Emphasize your role in creating technical specs, managing samples, and collaborating with other departments.

• Showcase Software Proficiency: Clearly point out your use of Adobe Creative Suite and any other relevant tools.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time. Be prepared for follow-up questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both creative talent and operational rigor, showcasing an understanding of the full product lifecycle and the ability to contribute to the business's commercial success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Midweight Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the online application form via the provided careers portal link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your end-to-end product design experience, focusing on fashion/lifestyle products and showcasing your technical specification skills. Ensure it is easily accessible (e.g., PDF, online portfolio link).

• Tailor Your CV: Highlight relevant experience in product design, fashion/accessories, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, and any experience with process improvement or project management. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving, operational contributions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss specific projects in detail.

• Research the Brands: Familiarize yourself with Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton's product ranges, brand aesthetic, and market positioning to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.