Design Director, Resilient & Laminate

Position Summary 

The Design Director, Resilient & Laminate is responsible for leading the design strategy, portfolio development, and creative direction for Shaw's resilient and laminate categories across residential brands and channels. This role drives product differentiation, channel growth, and speed-to-market by translating consumer insights into commercially successful collections and product platforms. The role works in close partnership with the Design Studio to accelerate innovation, develop regional and channel-focused solutions, and maintain a pipeline of market-ready concepts that create competitive advantage.  

Key Responsibilities 

Category Strategy & Leadership 

• Own the long-term design vision and strategy for the Residential Resilient & Laminate categories. 

• Develop category roadmaps that align with consumer trends, business objectives, and growth opportunities. 

• Monitor emerging trends, competitive activity, and consumer preferences to identify future opportunities and innovation spaces. 

• Balance consumer insights, market trends, channel needs, regional preferences, sourcing capabilities, and business objectives to create products that win in the marketplace. 

• Responsible for eloquent execution of New Product Development and New Product Introduction initiatives and Design KPIs.  

Product Differentiation 

• Own the design differentiation strategy across all assigned brands, ensuring each brand has a distinct design point of view, target consumer, and role within the portfolio. 

• Create clear separation between brands by avoiding duplicate visuals, color stories, collection concepts, and product positioning. 

• Partner with Product and Brand teams to ensure every collection has a compelling design story and a clear reason for customers to choose it. 

Customer & Market Focus 

• Participate in customer visits, dealer councils, Voice of Customer reviews, and market research activities. 

• Translate customer insights into actionable product and design strategies. 

• Stay closely connected to competitive activity, emerging trends, and evolving consumer preferences. 

Channel & Geographic Expertise 

• Develop a deep understanding of channel-specific and regional design preferences, including Retail, Builder/Multifamily, and Home Center. 

• Understand how consumer preferences, competitive landscapes, price points, and aesthetics vary across geographies and channels. 

• Apply channel and regional insights to create products and collections that are relevant to specific customers, markets, and growth opportunities. 

Collaboration 

• Collaborate closely with Product, Marketing, Sales, Innovation, Manufacturing, and Sourcing teams to develop successful product strategies and launches. 

• Build strong relationships across the organization and actively seek input from key stakeholders throughout the design and development process. 

• Serve as the design leader for the category, aligning teams around a shared product vision and helping drive business growth through design. 

• Collaborate with the Design Studio to prioritize future design development, Voice of Customer testing, and regional assortment strategies that support category growth objectives. 

Team Development 

• Lead, coach, and develop category collection designers. 

• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, consumer-focused thinking, and continuous learning. 

• Build organizational capability and future design talent. 

Position Qualifications: 

• An ideal candidate will possess proven experience in design leadership, preferably in the hard surface flooring, soft surface flooring, or tile industry  

• Strong portfolio showcasing a track record of successful product design and team leadership  

• Excellent collaborative skills to work with cross-functional teams and stakeholders  

• Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Fine Arts, Textile Design, or related field; advanced degree or specialized design certifications desirable  

• 5+ Years product design experience  

Requirements:   

• Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Fine Arts, Textile Design, or related field; advanced degree or specialized design certifications desirable  

• AVA CAD/CAM skills are desired, but not required   

• Experience with brand strategy is preferred and will be an important part of the position   

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with the ability to work globally  

• Innate aesthetic sense and intuitive understanding of color and design principles   

Example KPIs:  

• Consistency and coherence of design language across all product lines   

• Timely delivery of design projects aligned with product launch dates   

• Positive market reception and customer feedback on new designs  

• Contribution of design innovations to overall brand growth and market share  

Competencies:   

• Deliver Compelling Communication   

• Initiate Action   

• Drive Execution 

• Innovate   

• Build Trusting Relationships   

• Create Strategic Plan   

• Demonstrate Customer Orientation   

• Delegate Authority 

• Thought Leadership