Ella Kirk

Experience

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  MML- Own Independent Label

  Jun 2008 - Jan 2013

  Print Designer/ Creative Driector

  • Trend prediction, research and application.• Composing project briefs, following contracts assigned by clients in order to produce both bespoke and commercial textile designs for men's and women's wear.• Time management skills- Setting personal deadlines.• Using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create digital design from scratch as well as to define and enhance illustrated and photographed artwork.• Using digital printing facilities and associated software, liaising with print manufacturers.• Finishing and embellishment (sewing, constructing, printing etc) items for sale.• Liaising with store managers, commercial employment managers and design teams. • Calculating income and outgoings (using excel).• Promoting business through online media (website, social networking sites and online store), creation of own website (www.milkmilklemonade.org), designing photoshoots and branding.• Freelance print design for design studios such as: ‘Longina Phillips Design Studio’ in Sydney, Australia (home-ware, fashion fabrics and accessories), ‘Corio Studios’, London, UK (fashion textiles) and greeting card design for ‘Tigerprint‘, UK (Hallmark). Show less

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  American Apparel

  Nov 2010 - Mar 2011

  In Store Visual Merchandising Manager

  • Creating visually pleasing windows and displays, outfitting mannequins, implementing floor sets, maintaining and developing store graphics and product placement.Achievement: The worldwide American Apparel online 'Retail Visual Guide' recently featured a window display I created.

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  American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

  Jul 2011 - Jun 2012

  Visual Merchandising Manager

  • Creating visually pleasing displays, outfitting mannequins, implementing floor sets, maintaining and developing store graphics and product placement.

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  Aritzia

  Oct 2013 - Aug 2014

  Textile Designer

  Textile Designer focussing on print and pattern design aimed at Women between 15-35 years. Responsible for trend forecasting, print design and development of textiles for junior and luxury brands in Vancouver, Canada. Responsibilities:• Market and trend research and analysis, forecasting and prediction- presentation of findings, ideas and concepts.• Designing- drawing, painting and digitally manipulating artwork using Photoshop and Illustrator- Creating repeats, colour ups and colour separating for print.• Reacting to sales and market analysis in a fast paced work environment.• Creating specification sheets for artwork. Uploading artwork to shared FTP.• Liaising with Production/ Sourcing departments to pass comments on submits received from vendors. • Ensuring print is of highest possible standard by suggesting/ commenting on print techniques/ wash finishes.• Signing off on bulk fabric, ensuring integrity of print on garment prototypes. Show less

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  Kit and Ace

  Aug 2014 - May 2016

  Textile Design Illustrator

  As Textile Design Illustrator at Kit & Ace I worked closely with Design in order to conceptualise and create Seasonal graphics and prints. Collaborating with Brand and Product Design as well as the Production and Sourcing Departments, I worked to generate applied graphics, illustrations, and all over prints at the highest possible quality level for all areas including Men's, Women's, Accessories, Foundations and Outerwear.Responsibilities:• Creating a seasonal graphics brief derived from themed creative inspiration, colour and trend research.• Selecting and managing Freelance graphic artists and interns on a seasonal basis.• Creating graphics for all areas including Men's, Women's and Accessories- drawing and digitally manipulating placement and all over graphic repeats.• Presenting seasonal graphic concepts and final collections.• Research and development in to print and graphic innovations and techniques in order to generate graphic capability advancements.• Use of WFX Product Life Management system to communicate strike off and knit down comments and changes. Spec creation and maintenance. Show less

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  Gentle Fawn

  May 2016 - Oct 2016

  Senior Textile Designer- Contract

  Responsible for creating exciting, feminine surface design for Women's apparel in Vancouver, BC. Responsibilities include:• Market and trend research and analysis, forecasting and prediction- presentation of findings, ideas and concepts.• Designing- drawing, painting and digitally manipulating artwork using Photoshop and Illustrator- Creating repeats, colour ups and colour separating for print.• Reacting to sales and market analysis in a fast paced work environment.• Creating specification sheets for artwork. • Liaising with overseas vendors. • Ensuring print is of highest possible standard by suggesting/ commenting on print techniques/ wash finishes.• Signing off on bulk fabric, ensuring integrity of print on garment prototypes. Show less

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  Sugoi Global Inc.

  Jun 2016 - Jun 2018

  Senior Colour & Graphics Artist

  Working with the Creative Director to create a cohesive colour palette and visual graphic story across several brands with a focus on biking and athletic apparel. Responsibilities include:• Championing the colour and graphic direction for Sugoi and Dorel’s apparel brands on a seasonal basis. • Creating seasonal inline prints for Bike, Training and Tri apparel.• Creating seasonal applied graphics to support Dorel’s global brands: Schwinn, Cannondale, Sugoi, GT, Guru and Mongoose.• Working closely with Product Managers and in-house design teams to ensure that graphics are globally relevant.• Working with global regions (Europe, UK, Japan and North America) to create regional specific prints for Bike, Training and Tri apparel.• Working with the in-line global design team to influence seasonal colour palette, as well as global colour concepts. • Researching style, colour and print trends at the retail level through travel, trade shows and online data.• Providing strong and influential direction to the Design team and ensuring colour and print deadlines and processes are executed effectively, efficiently and on-calendar.• Attending photo shoots, fashion shows, trade shows and sales meetings as required.• Implementing sublimated art on scale pattern pieces in Illustrator.• Building repeatable and colour separated artwork for a variety of application techniques in Adobe CC.• Colouring up Seasonal Line Plans- including fabric, print and trim colours. • Compiling and approving lab dips, trim colour qualities and graphics strike off's.• Liaising with vendors to achieve best possible standards for colour and graphics.• Working with vendors to assess capabilities and drive innovation for colour, trims and graphics. Show less

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  Free People

  Nov 2016 - Jan 2017

  Freelance Graphic Designer
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  Fabletics

  Sept 2017 - Dec 2017

  Freelance Textile Design
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  Adidas

  Jun 2018 - Oct 2018

  Contract Specialist

  Visual concept work based on consumer research in to digital innovation platforms.

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  Nike

  Oct 2018 - now

  Driving an emotional connection to color design through storytelling.Creating powerful concepts and Seasonal palettes through consumer insights.

  • Director Color Design, Global Women’s Lifestyle

    May 2024 - now

  • Senior Manager Color Design- Women’s

    Jan 2021 - May 2024

  • Color Designer II

    Oct 2018 - Aug 2021