Afua McKinney
New York,USA
Summary
Artistic designer with experience in field. Highly adept in color theory and managing complex projects. Offers outstanding time management, organizational, and communication skills.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Designer - Mens
OVED/ 5 Star Group
New York, USA
04.2022 - Current
- Manage full garment production life cycle for Mens loungewear brand including research, design garment costing
- Develop and create CAD line sheets, style boards, using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to showcase colors, pattern and full product illustrations, recommend construction techniques in design meetings by building for in-house labels and relationship collaborating with alliance partners and high-net with clients including, Costco, Walmart, Kohl's, and other off price companies
- Conduct market and competitor research for targets, and new and emerging trends; help forecast; help new garment design trends and categorize demands from potential customers
- Arrange fabrics, color standards, trims, hang tags and retail samples packaged for artwork execution and garment construction in print and graphics proto sampling
- Manage communications with overseas vendors including ongoing production, fabrication, update trim, pattern, design approvals, fabric and color approvals to keep timelines and meet deadlines from client
- Established relationships with vendors to source fabrics and other materials for designs.
- Generated new concepts for apparel lines based on market research results.
- Monitored production timelines and quality control standards throughout the manufacturing process.
- Participated in brainstorming sessions with design teams to develop innovative concepts.
- Maintained accurate records of all design skhes, fabric selections., within an organized filing system.
- Created trend boards showcasing color palettes, textures, silhouettes., for upcoming collections.
- Developed mockups or product samples using digital or manual design equipment.
Associate Designer - Mens/ Boys/ Girls
ADTN Int'l
New York, USA
12.2021 - 01.2022
- Manage full garment production life cycle for Mens/ Boys sportswear and Girl's activewear brand including research, design garment costing
- Develop and create CAD line sheets, style boards, and packaging using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to showcase colors, pattern and full product illustrations, recommend construction techniques in design meetings by building for in-house labels and relationship collaborating with alliance partners and high-net with clients including, Stitch Fix, Costco, Walmart.com, Target, Boscov and Meijer
- Help manage full garment production life cycle of Activewear, sportswear and sleepwear including research, design, garment construction, prototype stage and garment costing for private label for mens, boys and girls apparel
- Created sample garments for review by senior design staff.
- Assisted in developing fabric and trim designs for in-progress pieces.
- Prepared hand sketches of potential designs using artistic skills and understanding of desired direction.
- Put together concept boards and mockups of form and color.
Associate/ Designer - Mens/ Boys/ Ladies
Mystic Apparel
New York, USA
12.2019 - 06.2020
- Manage full garment production life cycle for Mens/ Boys underwear and Mens/Ladies socks including research, design garment and footwear construction, prototype stage for under garments and socks
- Develop and create CAD line sheets, style boards, and packaging using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to showcase colors, pattern and full product illustrations, recommend construction techniques in design meetings by building relationships and collaborating with alliance partners and high-net with clients including, True Religion, Dickie's and Levis
Freelance Associate Designer- Mens/ Boys
USF Collections
New York, USA
08.2019 - 10.2019
- Manage full garment production life cycle for Mens/ Boys Streetwear Apparel including research, design garment prototype stage for garments and costing for apparel
- Develop and create CAD line sheets, style boards, and packaging using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to showcase colors, pattern and full product illustrations, recommend construction techniques in design meetings by building relationships and collaborating with alliance partners and high-net with clients including, Authentic Brands Group LLC (ABG)
- Manage communications with overseas vendors including ongoing production, fabrication, update trim, pattern, design approvals, fabric and color approvals to keep timelines and meet deadlines from client
- Developed skhes and technical flats for upcoming collections.
- Analyzed fashion trends and incorporated them into designs.
- Created fabric swatches, color palettes, and trim details.
Associate Designer - Mens/ Boys
ATHLUX DESIGN APPAREL
Brooklyn, USA
12.2017 - 01.2019
- Manage full garment production life cycle for Mens/ Boys Streetwear Apparel including research, design garment prototype stage for garments and costing for Mens/Boys activewear and swim-shorts for boys apparel
- Develop and create CAD line sheets, style boards, and packaging using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to showcase colors, pattern and full product illustrations, recommend construction techniques in design meetings by building relationships and collaborating with alliance partners and high-net with clients including,Walmart, Walmart.com, Canada, JC Penney's Foundry brand and Sam's Club, and Marker's Row
- Strong experience in conceptual, design, color combination CAD and hand sketching
Assistant Designer - Mens
MACY'S MERCHANDISING GROUP
New York, USA
07.2010 - 02.2011
- Successfully created catalogs, line sheets, brand right designs that were featured and used by Macy's Greg Norman and Tasso Elba brands in Macy's stores
- Generated concepts and made image recommendations for mood boards detailing color standards, patterns, fabrics and trims on CAD, and arranged riggings for merchandisers, concept meetings and trend presentations
GAP, INC
New York, USA
08.2003 - 06.2008
- Hand sketched rough and detailed drawings of apparel and accessories, and wrote color scheme, construction, material specifications for each illustration
- Assisted senior and technical designers to ensure proper construction and fit of designed garments, cut and measured patterns for floor display
- Attended New York and San Francisco merchandisers meetings to review colors, styles and fittings for seasonal sample designs
- Created and organized line sheets, mood boards, fabric cards, and trims; created CAD illustrations of Men's woven tops & outerwear, and worked with denim wash technician to create outerwear technical finish, and assign resin and colors to seasonal silhouettes
- Maintained PLM systems of product loggings, specs and manage schedules and status updates; reviewed and monitored bills and materials' invoices
- Assisted senior VP with concept and design of special edition styles including RED and 1969 denim and outerwear campaigns, researched trim including shanks, rivets, stitch techniques for 1969, and researched design concepts, helped develop colorways, graphic placement and promotional styles for RED
PLM Design Support - Mens
Hanes Brand
New York, USA
- Assisted in the increase of all productivity for various applications for product including lab dips for bulk fabrics and design artwork
- Collaborate with all PLM software applications suppliers and assist in configuration of appropriate supplier relationship management solution
- Coordinate with suppliers to maintain on all specifications
- Revised CAD line sheets and style boards using Adobe Illustrator to showcase colors, and full product illustrations for Champion Mens brand
Product Development / Design Assistant -Mens/ Boys
CASTLEWOOD APPAREL
New York, USA
- Conducted market research for new trends, seasonal influences and directions, themes, silhouettes, and techniques; made recommendations on fabrications of yarn/denim (y/d) knits, color, stripe and argyle patterns for knit and woven attire
- Organized and coordinated showrooms for buyer review; assisted in designing, hanging and dressing mannequins in seasonal samples for merchandiser showcase
- Worked closely with designers to design and prepare artwork and tech packs for seasonal collection, and knit and woven styles
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) - Fashion Design
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
NewYork, NY05.2001
Skills
- Garment Construction
- Fabrication
- Trim Knowledge
- Adobe Illustrator
- Photoshop
- Microsoft Office
- Word
- Excel
- Product Line Management Systems
- MAC
- PC
- Sketching abilities
- Tech-Savvy
- Collaboration skills
- Design Research
- Creative and artistic
- Technical drawing
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Fashion trends
- Concept Development
Timeline
Designer - Mens
OVED/ 5 Star Group
04.2022 - Current
Associate Designer - Mens/ Boys/ Girls
ADTN Int'l
12.2021 - 01.2022
Associate/ Designer - Mens/ Boys/ Ladies
Mystic Apparel
12.2019 - 06.2020
Freelance Associate Designer- Mens/ Boys
USF Collections
08.2019 - 10.2019
Associate Designer - Mens/ Boys
ATHLUX DESIGN APPAREL
12.2017 - 01.2019
Assistant Designer - Mens
MACY'S MERCHANDISING GROUP
07.2010 - 02.2011
GAP, INC
08.2003 - 06.2008
PLM Design Support - Mens
Hanes Brand
Product Development / Design Assistant -Mens/ Boys
CASTLEWOOD APPAREL
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) - Fashion Design
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN