Design · Saigon, Vietnam · Full-time · On-site

Senior Designer - Backpacks and Accessories

Lead client bag and accessory programs from concept through production-ready commercialization in Saigon, Vietnam.

UNCVRD is hiring a full-time Senior Designer - Backpacks and Accessories to lead client programs from early concept through commercialization. The work turns briefs, brand DNA, user needs, and commercial targets into strong bag, carry goods, and accessory ranges that are ready to cost, sample, refine, and manufacture.

This is a hands-on senior role covering design direction, construction intent, technical specifications, tech packs, and development decisions across backpacks, daypacks, slings, totes, travel bags, wallets, and related soft goods. It works closely with the Creative Director on approved design direction and with Product Development, Sourcing, factories, and clients through production-ready approval. Reports to the Merchandising Director.

Concept, range and product direction

  • Translate client briefs, brand strategy, consumer insight, price architecture, and seasonal priorities into clear product opportunities and cohesive bag and accessory ranges.
  • Lead research into carry systems, travel behavior, materials, hardware, functional details, silhouettes, color, and market direction, turning insights into focused concepts and review-ready presentations.
  • Develop concepts, sketches, colorways, material direction, component stories, and range architecture that balance user benefit, brand expression, manufacturability, and target cost.
  • Present concepts and revisions to internal and client stakeholders, converting approved feedback into clear decisions and a practical next development step.

Technical design and tech packs

  • Create complete, production-ready tech packs for assigned styles, including technical flats, detail and exploded views, component maps, construction notes, points of measurement, artwork placement, labeling, packaging, and sample requirements.
  • Build and maintain accurate bills of materials with material, trim, hardware, color, finish, supplier reference, and usage information for sampling, costing, and production handoff.
  • Specify functional construction decisions including material build-ups, reinforcement, foam and padding, webbing, binding, zippers, pockets, straps, closures, lining, stitch details, and hardware interfaces.
  • Maintain disciplined file structure and version control in UNCVRD OS and Google Drive so factories and internal teams always work from the current, approved documentation.

Development, sampling and commercialization

  • Prepare styles for fast, well-directed sampling and communicate design intent, key risk areas, material references, and construction priorities to factories, mills, and hardware suppliers.
  • Review flash costing, supplier feedback, and prototype samples against product intent, target cost, quality, durability, functionality, comfort, weight, and production feasibility, proposing practical solutions when trade-offs are required.
  • Lead structured sample reviews covering fit, carry, load, access, organization, closure performance, ergonomics, finishing, and detail accuracy, recording decisions and updating tech packs and BOMs for every approved round.
  • Partner with Product Development to resolve material, construction, costing, and timing issues before bulk production, escalating risks early and protecting the approved client direction.

Collaboration and leadership

  • Act as the senior design lead across assigned programs, partnering with the Creative Director, Product Developers, Sourcing, technical team, factories, and clients from kickoff through production handoff.
  • Give clear, actionable direction to technical and design teammates supporting your programs and review their work for accuracy, consistency, and alignment with approved product intent.
  • Build productive factory relationships and communicate directly, respectfully, and decisively with suppliers in Vietnam and across Asia.
  • Use approved AI and automation tools thoughtfully for research, ideation, drafting, translation, file preparation, and reporting while protecting client and company information.

Tools

  • Design: Adobe Illustrator (essential) and Adobe Photoshop for concept work, technical drawing, tech packs, graphics, and presentation assets.
  • Technical documentation: Adobe Illustrator, UNCVRD OS (PLM), and Google Drive for tech packs, BOMs, version control, and product documentation.
  • Communication and files: Slack, Gmail, WhatsApp, Zalo, WeChat, and Google Drive.
  • AI: Claude and ChatGPT for company-approved research, drafting, summarizing, translation, file preparation, and reporting.

What you bring

  • 7+ years of bag, carry goods, luggage, footwear, or soft-goods design experience, with a demonstrated record of taking products from concept through factory commercialization.
  • A portfolio showing original concept development, strong bag construction thinking, technical flats, detailed tech packs, BOMs, prototypes, and finished commercial product.
  • Advanced Adobe Illustrator skills and proven ability to create precise, factory-ready technical documentation without relying on a separate technical design function for the basics.
  • Deep knowledge of bag materials, trims, hardware, construction methods, testing considerations, and the trade-offs among function, durability, aesthetics, timing, and cost.
  • Practical experience working directly with bag and backpack factories, including interpreting factory feedback, resolving development issues, and maintaining momentum through sample rounds.
  • Commercial instincts: able to make and explain product decisions using client price targets, supplier input, margin logic, and user value, not trend alone.
  • Comfort operating with autonomy, a high standard of organization, and a collaborative, low-ego working style across time zones and functions.
  • Excellent spoken and written English. Vietnamese and established relationships with Asian bag factories are valued but not required.

Engagement and operating details

  • Commitment: Full-time, salaried position.
  • Location: Thao Dien, Saigon, Vietnam.
  • Reports to: Merchandising Director, working closely with the Creative Director on client and brand direction.
  • Collaborates with: Creative, Technical Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Quality, factory, and client teams.
  • Scope: Leads assigned bag and accessory programs from concept, technical documentation, and sample review through production-ready commercialization.
  • Travel: Regular local factory, sample, and material visits, with occasional domestic travel on reasonable notice.