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DESIGN AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Engineering & Production

Product Development Consulting including design, illustration, research, strategy, branding, sampling, and sourcing.
Results for clients include:
-Developed new private label product line which experienced sales of $40,000+ in the  first week on the market for JOANN Stores.
-Built craft supply brand Opia Crafts from concept to launch in 4 months with repeat top listings, consistently sold out products on Amazon, managed all design projects, illustrators, and social media
-Executed data-driven product development process and design for ModCloth, realizing a 90% sell-through, while reducing cost in manufacturing through design, contributing to 51% profit growth.
-Reduced cost in manufacturing through design for ModCloth, contributing to 51% profit growth, exceeding margin goals while implementing data-driven product design and development, realizing 100% sell-through in 6 months or less of 90% designs.
-Worked in small team of 2 for handbag licensor Signal Brands to design and develop handbag seasonal lines for Steve Madden Australia, Nine West Australia and BCBGeneration representative of their respective brands, meeting aggressive timelines including detailed component BOMs and Color/Graphic specifications.

Services provided include: 
-Incorporating industry knowledge, trend research and market analysis to to develop innovative product lines, managing the product lifecycle from concept to manufacturing to commercialization.
-Establishing and Managing relationships with domestic and overseas vendors 
-Recruiting, hiring and managing Creative Team including Graphic Designers, Copywriters, Photographers and Illustrators

-Product Design Studio Instructor:  mentor and instruct students to employ a design process to develop ideas into innovative product designs.
-Human-Centered Design Lecturer:  introduce students to ergonomics, providing them with an awareness of how to make products meet the needs of consumers and incorporate anthropometric data.
-3D Modeling Instructor:  teach 3D CAD Software, including Rhino3D and KeyShot, to visualize concepts, and create models for manufacturing, CNC, laser cutting and 3D printing.

Industrial Design Adjunct Professor

-Lead Merchandising Department to strategically manage portfolio of 40,000+ products spanning 200+ brands
-Directed new segment strategy to increase company’s reach as a distributor, led focus group research, sourced new vendors and negotiated contracts to increase average gross margin dollars
-Directed Creative Team (graphic designers, copywriters) on multi-brand email campaigns for major retail customer, delivered to over 11 Million users, resulting in average 30% increase in ecomm purchase margin 
-Contributing member of industry leading blog/social media entity “Art Dog Blog,” hosted & produced webinars, wrote articles, and curated content. Increasing social media engagement by 32%

DIRECTOR OF MERCHANDISING AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

-Promoted to manager as department grew to 22 designers, managed team of 6 designers on interdisciplinary teams including Framing, Art Supplies, Kids, and General Crafts
-Led in a quickly moving direct sourcing group in a $4B retail organization which developed 11 private label brands reaching a 1 Billion dollar sales goal in 2 years
-Directed global network of designers in U.S., China, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and India
-Increased productivity and employment engagement by defining and implementing multiple processes including Design Process, Design Project Initiation, and Preferred Vendor Evaluation
-Traveled to and participated in industry and internal trade shows

DESIGN MANAGER (PROMOTION)

-Designed and developed over 2000 sku’s for multiple categories of product for Michaels Stores including Frames, Art Supplies, Kids and General Crafts.
-Led Role Clarity task force for Product Managers/Designers to improve process and team morale.
-Traveled extensively to overseas manufacturers, participating in mutual training and defining processes to increase product development efficiency.


SENIOR PRODUCT DESIGNER 

-Led international team of 4 designers to deliver seasonal product lines by aligning team’s efforts to the goals of the brand and business.
-Led creation and development of annual product strategies, aligned across categories incorporating trends in design, technologies, and demographic, market & consumer research.
-Designed and developed watches, jewelry and handbag hardware through all stages of design process including Tech Packs, detailed component BOMs and Color/ Graphic specifications.


SENIOR PRODUCT DESIGNER

-Led Michael Kors Watches design team from launch to best-selling brand, achieving 400% growth in 5 years.
-Appointed by CEO to overhaul and strengthen a struggling category (Ladies’ watches), resulting in an increase of 15% in sales in the first year.
-Member of Global Fossil Brand Team researching and contributing to trend direction for the company.
-Managed, mentored and collaborated with 3 direct reports.

-Designed 200+ original watches for licensed brands including Michael Kors, Columbia, and Fossil.
-Led launch presentations for Michael Kors watches to major retail stakeholders.

PRODUCT DESIGNER

Heather Blaikie is a DESIGN AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR at HEATHER BLAIKIE DESIGN in Portland, OR.

Heather Blaikie

Heather Blaikie

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