Lesley Brooks Senior Textiles Designer and Fabric Speicialist

Lesley Brooks

315-***-****

*************@*******.***

Qualifications for Executive-Level Manager and Home Product Development Designer

Senior-level Creative Executive and Product Development Designer offering more than 20 years of experience in hard and soft goods manufacture, global sourcing, printing, packaging, licensing and product design. Unique and highly sophisticated level of taste with understanding of salability for each specific market. Creates initial line plans with trends, color and product sensibilities. An Artist with expertise in CAD and graphics technology, including Nedgraphics Delta and Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Coordinates design project functions including creative, sales, and client relationship with significant cost savings, manages design team to meet deadlines.

Career Highlights

• Developed product lines and collections that met the needs and desires of the core customers for the client.

• Improved existing computer systems, reducing freelance design expenses by $100K within one year.

• Arranged for the completion of design work to be done in-house, saving $85K within six months.

• Coordinated the manufacture, of Wall Décor, packaging and sample production of Bedding, Tabletop, and Rugs from International Sources in a timely and cost efficient manner.

• Extensive Mill experience both Domestic and Global. Knowledge of Engraving and Print techniques, piece-dye, yarn dyes, spinning and weaving. Manufacturing and product specifications. Expert in Fabric manufacture and treatments.

• Collaborated with renowned artist, Jay Yang in conjunction with the Color Association to establish color trends and projections for the American market.

• Recognized with numerous Hallmark and Scholastic Honor awards in painting and illustration.

Professional Experience

SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION HOME FASHIONS / Fabric Specialist; 2006 to present

Use design and manufacturing expertise to assist Design and Sourcing in new product. Direct designers to maintain standards for manufacture. Analysis of current merchandise, extensive contact with Vendors. Work with Branding and Marketing to educate consumers for point-of-purchase.

Senior Designer

Work in conjunction with Design to create original designs for Bedding, Bath, Ceramics, Kitchen towels, beach towels. Travel to Trade shows and Market to keep current on Color, Design and Trend. New Product development. Work closely with Buyers to design saleable product.

PERFECT ART / Head Designer; 2005 to 2006

Creative Development for Wall Décor. Selection of Print, matte, molding and silhouette for new product.

Co-ordinates art direction of marketing materials, cost and materials management, packaging and showroom display. Co-ordinates color and product for the Home Furnishing and Furniture markets.

Design Consultant / 2002 to 2005

Designs licensed products and packaging including bed and bath coordinated collection, juvenile bedding and kitchen collection. Designs include sheets, top-of-the bed, drapes, duster, decorative pillows, and shower curtain, rugs, towels and ceramic accessories. Experience in global sourcing, coordinates the importation of products and materials from India, Pakistan, Belgium, Egypt and China. Recently handled bedding project with Garden Ridge for multi container printed bed-in-bags out of Pakistan. Design of both prints and wovens.

ARLEY CORPORATION / Design Director, 2000-2002

Created master bedroom and juvenile designs for licensed bedding and catalogue. Identified reliable international sourcing of print, jacquards, and trim in conjunction with product specifications. Customized print for imported bed-in-a-bag programs. Conducted presentations for clients and special projects, including Sears, Spiegel, Domestications, Brylane, World Wild Life Federation, and JC Penney. Managed both in-house design team and free lanced designers.

DAVIDSON COTTON CO / Design Director, 1998-2000

Developed licensed bedding and bath coordinated collection for Joseph Abboud, Eileen West, and Save the Children. Provided trend analysis and forecasting and color direction for bed and bath. Collections included sheet, top-of-the bed, drapes, duster, decorative pillow, shower curtain, rugs, towels and ceramic

Accessories. Product printed and manufactured at Atrium in Spain. Designed textile graphics and packaging as well as a unique color line for chenille throws imported from India.

DCI ADVERTISING / Art Director, 1989-1998

Created and designed a consistent marketing strategy that articulated the nuances of each individual property. Created print media including brochures, floor plans, signage and advertising. Wrote copy, designed ads and coordinated placement of ads. Submitted to News agencies: NY Times, NY Post, The Daily News and Wall Street Journal.

BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES / Director of Sales Promotion, 1980-1988

Coordinated advertising and packaging for Burlington Menswear and Burlington Ms. Created a living image of the product line for each season. Created theme concepts including logo design, graphics, mailers, sample cards, showroom presentation display and visual presentations. Planned budgeting to include outside vendors.

Education & Affiliations

Bachelor of Fine Art, Painting and Illustration, PRATT INSTITUTE

Advanced Conversational French, CERCLE FRANCO AMERICAN

Window Display & Interior Space Planning, THE NEW SCHOOL

Member, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF GRAPHIC ARTS (AIGA)

Multiple Computer Design Certifications

New York City Marathon