Work Preference
Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Interests
Languages
Timeline
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Katie Thompson
Open To Work

Katie Thompson

Huntington Beach

Work Preference

Job Search Status

Open to work
Desired start date: Immediately

Desired Job Title

Freelance DesignCreative DirectorDesign DirectorSenior Apparel Designer/MerchandiserWomen's Design Manager/Senior Designer

Work Type

Full TimePart TimeContract WorkConsulting

Location Preference

On-SiteRemoteHybrid
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Open to relocation: Yes

Salary Range

$100000/yr - $0/yr

Important To Me

Work-life balanceCareer advancementCompany Culture

Summary

Dynamic design professional who is highly creative in all aspects of life. Extensive experience in brand growth across diverse sectors including golf, active, lifestyle, swim, team sports, technical outerwear, skate, and fully-fashioned knits. Skilled in developing and executing apparel designs that elevate brand presence and drive revenue. Track record of successfully launching products that resonate with target audience and foster brand loyalty.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Freelance Design

ASICS/Nils/Crown Jewel/Hybrid
01.2012 - Current
  • Collaborated remotely and in-house on color palettes, fabric selection, conceptual design, tech-packs, specs, and packaging for diverse apparel lines.
  • Designed for categories including women's swim, men's and women's run, seamless, team-sport, active, lifestyle apparel, and women's technical outerwear.

Creative Director

Island World
Los Alamitos
01.2018 - 01.2025
  • Managed all aspects of design, print creation, and production for two swimwear collections.
  • Sourced high-quality materials and new factory to enhance product offerings
  • Created product catalogs for marketing
  • Executed innovative merchandising strategies to maximize product assortment
  • Coordinated photo shoots to capture compelling product images for marketing materials
  • Participated in trade shows to promote and sell products to new and existing customers

Design Director

Junk Food
Cypress
01.2017 - 01.2018
  • Designed lifestyle apparel collections for men, women, toddlers, and babies for Target, enhancing brand identity.
  • Led conceptual design, fabric selection, color and graphic placement, fit, and tech pack development; trained and mentored junior designers.
  • Developed 4 - 6 seasonal capsules annually, aligning designs with market trends and consumer preferences.

Senior Apparel Designer/Merchandiser

C1RCA
San Clemente
01.2011 - 01.2012
  • Designed all aspects of three Men's collections (including pro-rider styles) and one Women's collection per season.
  • Created technical specs, coordinated model fittings with developer, and streamlined fits to enhance product cohesion for customers.
  • Created visual line plans, style counts, and selected appropriate styles for each season.

Women's Design Manager/Senior Designer

Oakley
Foothill Ranch
01.2006 - 01.2011
  • Mentored and developed five designers, from assistant to senior level, while designing and managing 130 styles per season to enhance design quality and team skill set.
  • Conceptualized design and aesthetic of the lines, including hand sketching, storyboards, fabric selection, illustrations, critical measurements, trims, color, and fittings.
  • Categories - Men's and Women's Golf, all Special Make Ups, Vault Line, Women's Training, Fleece, Lifestyle and Swim.
  • Strategic Planning - Collaborated with President, VP, Directors, and Merchandising on future seasons.
  • Presented styles to internal teams and key accounts at sales meetings.
  • Creative approaches to illustrate fit and fabric attributes for hang tags and sales personnel.
  • Conducted field testing with athletes, sales team, and key accounts to assess garment needs, fit, and functionality, ensuring products met performance standards.

Education

Associate of Arts - Fashion Design

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
LA, CA

Associate of Science - Psychology

Mesa Community College
Mesa, AZ

Skills

  • Conceptual Design
  • Trend analysis
  • Theme creation
  • Hand sketching
  • Illustrator/Adobe CS
  • Excellent communication
  • Fit expertise
  • Fabric development
  • Color assortment
  • Critical thinking and adaptability
  • Time management and calendar adherence
  • Product catalog creation
  • Merchandising designs
  • Mentoring
  • Presentation and sales
  • Field testing

Websites

Interests

  • Travel
  • Food
  • Art
  • Sustainability
  • Yoga
  • Running
  • Skiing
  • Snorkeling
  • Movies

Languages

  • English, primary language
  • Spanish, working proficiency
  • German, elementary proficiency

Timeline

Creative Director

Island World
01.2018 - 01.2025

Design Director

Junk Food
01.2017 - 01.2018

Freelance Design

ASICS/Nils/Crown Jewel/Hybrid
01.2012 - Current

Senior Apparel Designer/Merchandiser

C1RCA
01.2011 - 01.2012

Women's Design Manager/Senior Designer

Oakley
01.2006 - 01.2011

Associate of Arts - Fashion Design

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

Associate of Science - Psychology

Mesa Community College

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Katie Thompson