Assistant Designer - Womenswear Sports & Leisure

About the role

As an Assistant Designer on you will support the delivery of seasonal ranges, taking day-to-day ownership of defined product areas within a category. Working closely with your Designers, this role helps translate trend and customer insight into commercially relevant product.

Product & Range Support

• Support the development of seasonal ranges, balancing new ideas with established core product. 
• Work closely with Designers and Buying to help build balanced, commercially aligned assortments. 
• Assist with product development through the supply base, supporting innovation, quality, cost, and delivery. 
• Where required attend selection, sign-off, and fit sessions, supporting preparation, documentation, and follow-up actions. 
• Build understanding of trade performance, identifying best and worst sellers and using insight to inform future ranges.  

Customer, Trend & Market Insight 

• Support trend research and analysis, contributing to mood boards, styling rooms, key shapes, and colour palettes. 
• Conduct regular market and competitor research, sharing insight on trends, customer behaviour, and product opportunity. 
• Build understanding of the customer, ensuring design decisions reflect customer needs, preferences, and expectations. 
• Work with Buying and Merchandising to ensure customer and market insight informs product decisions. 

Ways of Working & Development 

• Work with an end-to-end product mindset, supporting delivery from initial concept through to store execution. 
• Develop a strong understanding of the critical path, managing own workload to meet deadlines. 
• Collaborate effectively with Design, Buying, Merchandising, Technical, and Marketing teams. 
• Maintain clear communication with the supply base under guidance, supporting effective working relationships. 
• Actively seek feedback, learning, and development to build technical, creative, and commercial capability. 
• Support and collaborate with fellow Assistant Designers, contributing to a positive team culture and shared learning. 

About You

• Proven experience as a Trainee or Junior Designer. 
• Experience of working across short, medium, and long-term timelines while adapting to changing priorities. 
• Experience in a fast-paced omni-channel retail environment. 
• Commercial awareness of the product market, with an eye for identifying opportunities and trends. 
• Ability to analyse market trends and insights to inform design direction effectively. 
• Analytical and problem-solving capabilities to navigate challenges and enhance product offerings. 
• Skilled in using design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, CAD, AI) to bring ideas to life with precision. 
• Ability to present ideas with clarity and impact, effectively communicating design concepts to stakeholders. 
• Organisational skills with a keen attention to detail, ensuring projects meet quality standards. 

About Matalan

From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, find out about how Matalan is ever-evolving here.

We know as a team, we are stronger together – we champion equality for all and make lasting connections that go beyond work. We thrive off our inclusive culture, encouraging our colleagues to bring their true selves to work and contributing to collective creativity, open-mindedness and growth.

We want give every candidate the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the application and interview process and then ultimately in their role. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

In the event that a high volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.

Benefits

In addition to competitive salaries, we also offer the below core benefits:

• 20% staff discount, which increases with length of service
• Thrive Recognition Scheme
• Wellbeing support provided by the Retail Trust
• Life Assurance
• Retail Rewards platform offering discounts for other retailers
• Pension Scheme
• Access to a wide range of career development
• Additional benefits may apply depending on your role and area of the business