Senior Product Designer - Gifting & Lifestyle

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - Gifting & Lifestyle

Company: Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton

Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / Creative Operations

Date Posted: May 22, 2026

Experience Level: Senior Level (5-10 years estimated)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote, with potential for 5 days in office during peak periods)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic design and development of innovative gifting and lifestyle products, ensuring alignment with brand aesthetic and commercial objectives, crucial for GTM strategy.

• Drive the creative direction for seasonal collections, translating trends and brand vision into tangible, high-quality, and affordable luxury products for both wholesale and retail channels.

• Mentor and develop a team of junior designers and design assistants, fostering a collaborative environment and ensuring consistent brand execution across all product lines.

• Oversee the end-to-end product lifecycle, from concept and technical specification to sample approval and final production, requiring meticulous attention to detail and project management.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, E-commerce, and Wholesale teams to enhance product success and market penetration.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is explicitly Senior Product Designer, the emphasis on leading product development, mentoring junior staff, and shaping creative direction aligns with aspects of GTM operations, specifically in product strategy and execution. The hybrid model with increased office presence during peak periods is a key detail for candidate planning.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Product Design & Development Leadership:

  • Lead the conceptualization and design of new gifting and lifestyle product ranges, ensuring they embody the Katie Loxton brand aesthetic and affordable luxury positioning.
  • Drive the creative vision for seasonal collections, developing initial concepts, colour palettes, and cohesive campaign ideas.
  • Translate market trends, competitor analysis, and customer insights into commercially viable and on-brand product designs.
  • Oversee the creation of detailed technical specification sheets, artwork, and packaging designs.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:

  • Work closely with Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, E-commerce, and Wholesale departments to ensure product alignment with sales strategies and market demands.
  • Effectively present creative concepts, design proposals, and final collections to senior stakeholders and wider teams.
  • Maintain proactive communication with suppliers to ensure alignment on product vision, quality standards, and production timelines.

• Team Management & Development:

  • Line manage and mentor Product Designers and Design Assistants, providing guidance, constructive feedback, and support for their professional growth.
  • Conduct performance reviews and development conversations to foster a high-performing and engaged design team.
  • Champion a collaborative and inclusive team culture, promoting best practices and knowledge sharing.

• Execution & Delivery Oversight:

  • Ensure the meticulous end-to-end delivery of products, including packaging, tags, care labels, and Point of Sale (POS) materials.

  • Maintain critical paths, product codes, color references, and comprehensive documentation for consistency and accuracy throughout the product development cycle.

  • Support the sample process, rigorously checking quality and ensuring all products meet stringent brand standards.

  • Track project progress and provide timely updates, proactively raising queries and escalating issues to meet seasonal deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative leadership and rigorous execution oversight, which are critical for successful Go-To-Market (GTM) product launches. The inclusion of line management and cross-functional collaboration highlights the strategic impact expected from this senior role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Senior-level experience (estimated 5-10 years) in product design, with a proven track record of delivering products from concept through to production.

• Demonstrated experience in line managing, mentoring, or supervising mid-weight/junior designers.

Required Skills:

• Advanced Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Expert-level skills in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign are essential for creating visuals, artwork, and technical specifications.

• Product Design Expertise: Deep understanding of product design principles for accessories, gifting, and lifestyle categories.

• Commercial Awareness: Strong ability to balance creative vision with business objectives, market trends, and pricing strategies, crucial for GTM success.

• Technical Specification Development: Proficiency in creating accurate technical specification sheets for manufacturing.

• Visual Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate design concepts and product details effectively through visual means.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, documentation, and quality control.

• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet strict deadlines in a dynamic setting.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of packaging design, typography, and retail product development specific to the gifting and lifestyle sector.

• Familiarity with emerging trends in accessories, fashion, and lifestyle markets.

• Experience in line managing or mentoring junior design professionals.

• Understanding of brand positioning, particularly in the "affordable luxury" segment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite, technical specifications, and commercial awareness are core operational skills for product development teams that directly support GTM strategies. The preference for trend knowledge and specific sector experience adds depth to the ideal candidate profile.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Concept to Production Showcase: A strong, concept-driven portfolio demonstrating the full product development lifecycle, from initial ideation and mood boards to final technical specifications and manufactured samples.

• Brand Alignment: Portfolio pieces that clearly reflect the Katie Loxton brand values, aesthetic, and commitment to affordable luxury.

• Commercial Impact: Examples of designs that have achieved commercial success, demonstrating an understanding of market viability and customer appeal.

• Technical Proficiency: Clear examples of technical specification sheets, artwork, and packaging design that showcase accuracy and attention to detail.

• Mentorship/Leadership Examples: If applicable, include examples or descriptions of projects where you guided or mentored junior designers or contributed to team-wide process improvements.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Demonstrate experience in designing and optimizing product development workflows, from concept brief to final sign-off.

• System Integration: Showcase understanding of how design processes integrate with other operational systems (e.g., PLM, ERP, CRM for product data).

• Quality Assurance Protocols: Evidence of implementing quality assurance checks and processes throughout the design