At Happy Socks, spreading happiness has always been our mission, and we make sure our creative process is filled with as much color, fun, and energy as the products we create! Now, we’re on the lookout for a passionate, visionary Head of Design to lead our talented design team and drive the creative evolution of our brand.

As our Head of Design, you’ll be the artistic heartbeat of our products, guiding the conceptual development of each collection and setting seasonal direction. You’ll lead our design team through an innovative journey, bringing trendsetting ideas to life while expanding beyond our sock roots into new, exciting fashion categories. You’ll also be collaborating closely with our Chief Marketing & Design Officer and key stakeholders to ensure our unique identity shines across all channels.

Key Responsibilities:

Creative Direction:

• Lead the creative vision for Happy Socks seasonal collections, collaborations and special projects,establishing overarching seasonal concepts and ensuring cohesive design direction.

• Create trend-setting, disruptive design ideas that elevate the brand’s identity and differentiate it from competitors, including one-off special projects for marketing materials.

• Research and interpret global fashion trends, translating them into forward-thinking collection concepts that resonate with our target audience.

• Partner with Head of Assortment to lead concept development for new categories, ensuring a bold, creative approach that remains true to the brand’s disruptive and entrepreneurial roots.

Team Leadership & Management:

• Manage, inspire, and mentor a team of product designers, ensuring their creative growth and alignment with the brand’s vision.

• Foster a collaborative, open, and innovative design culture, encouraging new ideas and experimentation.

• Ensure the design team delivers projects on time, within budget, and in line with the brand’s creative direction.

• Work cross-collaboratively with business stakeholders ranging from buyers to marketing and the executive team to ensure your design vision is aligned with business goals and product strategy.

Product Design & Development:

• Lead the design of all collections, from socks to future category expansions, ensuring products are unique, innovative, and trend-setting.

• Work closely with the product development team to oversee the entire design process—from initial concept through to final production.

• Ensure all designs meet brand standards for quality, creativity, and market relevance.

• Develop innovative patterns, materials, and techniques that enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the products.

• Lead efforts to incorporate sustainability and ethical design practices into product development, ensuring our collections are not only innovative but also responsible.

• Explore eco-friendly materials and processes that align with the brand’s future growth and consumer expectations.

Trend Forecasting & Innovation

• Stay ahead of industry trends, continually exploring new materials, technologies, and design techniques that can enhance the brand’s product offerings.

• Lead concept development for new categories, ensuring a bold, creative approach that remains true to the brand’s disruptive and entrepreneurial roots.

• Conduct regular competitor analysis and market research to inform and shape the design direction.

Who You Are:

With an eye for the future and a love for color and playfulness, you’re a seasoned design leader who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. You have a passion for setting trends and building products that bring happiness, all while fostering a team environment filled with creativity, collaboration, and of course, a dash of Happy Socks’ “creative weirdness.”

If this sounds like you, we’d love for you to help us take our design team – and our brand – to the next level. Join us, and let’s keep spreading happiness, one bold design at a time!