Away
Design
AssociateDesignDirector,Luggage
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Director candidates.
“Associate Design Director, Luggage at Away. Skills: Industrial design, Material R&D, Product strategy, Design systems. Execute design and innovation strategy. Evolve existing platforms”
What You'll Achieve.
Define future of core luggage category; Ensure products deliver elevated travel experiences; Ensure products deliver functional performance; Ensure products deliver iconic brand aesthetic; Drive category innovation; Modernize internal processes; Improve weight optimization; Improve repairability; Improve sustainability; Enhance customer experience; Improve clarity and speed-to-market
Industry & Context.
Root cause analysis
Up to 20% travel, Stationary work at computer, Hands-on interaction with prototypes
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
7 years industrial design experience, Supervising/mentoring design talent, Supporting successful product launches, Advanced understanding of complex product construction, Material R&D knowledge, Manufacturing processes knowledge, Fusion 360 proficiency, KeyShot proficiency, Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, Exceptional sketching skills, 3D visualization skills, Balance creative ambition with commercial viability, Balance engineering constraints, Direct experience working with overseas factories, Direct experience working with suppliers, Ability to travel domestically and internationally (up to 20%), Comfortable working in a design studio setting
Nice to Have
Interest or experience in leveraging emerging technologies, Experience in AI tools
What You'll Do.
Execute design and innovation strategy
Evolve existing platforms
Identify whitespace opportunities
Manage luggage design strategy
Execute seasonal creative direction
Execute long-term category goals
Translate consumer insights into design systems
Translate travel behaviors into design systems
Translate market trends into design systems
Champion elevated product concepts
Champion new functionalities
Champion disruptive design thinking
Build a high-performing design team
Manage a high-performing design team
Mentor a high-performing design team
Provide tactical creative direction
Cultivate technical excellence
Deliver against innovation roadmap
Explore industrial design
Drive construction innovation
Collaborate with manufacturing
Evaluate new materials
Evaluate new finishes
Evaluate new component systems
Partner with Product Development
Partner with Engineering teams
Manage material libraries
Manage innovation references
Manage prototyping systems
Manage AI-assisted design workflows
Support rapid concept iteration
Identify opportunities to improve weight optimization
Identify opportunities to improve repairability
Identify opportunities to improve sustainability
Enhance customer experience
Manage end-to-end luggage design process
Commercialize products
Operationalize scalable workflows
Improve documentation standards
Improve communication protocols
Collaborate with Merchandising
Collaborate with Brand
Collaborate with Quality
Collaborate with Supply Chain
Participate in global travel
Drive manufacturing alignment
Conduct competitive research
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Cross-functional teams; Product Development teams; Engineering teams; Merchandising teams; Brand teams; Quality teams; Supply Chain teams; Overseas manufacturing partners
Communication Scope
Present project directions
Process & Methodology
Roadmap planning
Full Job Description
ABOUT AWAY We believe travel makes us better. Launched in 2016 with one perfectly designed carry-on, we now offer a range of luggage and travel essentials for every journey. Together we create, innovate, and embark on this journey as a community of travelers, helping to make travel more seamless for everyone. JOIN THE CREW We are hiring an Associate Design Director, Luggage, to join our Design team. This position reports to the Senior Director, Design and takes Away further by defining the future of our core luggage category through innovative industrial design, material R&D, and forward-thinking product strategy. In this role, you will lead the end-to-end execution of luggage design, ensuring every product delivers on Away’s commitment to elevated travel experiences, functional performance, and our iconic brand aesthetic. You will drive category innovation by exploring new construction methods and sustainable materials, while modernizing our internal processes by integrating AI-enabled design tools and workflow automation. WHAT YOU’LL DO AS THE ASSOCIATE DESIGN DIRECTOR, LUGGAGE - You’ll execute and contribute to the design and innovation strategy for core luggage product lines, evolving existing platforms while identifying whitespace opportunities for future growth - You’ll manage the luggage design strategy in executing seasonal creative direction and long-term category goals, in close alignment with the VP and Senior Design leadership - You’ll translate consumer insights, travel behaviors, and market trends into scalable, production-ready design systems - You’ll champion elevated product concepts, new functionalities, and disruptive design thinking within the team to push forward product innovation - You’ll build, manage, and mentor a high-performing design team, providing tactical creative direction and cultivating a culture of technical excellence - You’ll deliver against a multi-year innovation roadmap through focused industrial design exploration, material R
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