Connie Dawson
Aliso Viejo,CA
Summary
Textile Design Director guiding 60+ collections per year across multiple product lines, seasonal print, color, and collection direction. Directs brand strategy from concept through production, aligns design decisions with revenue goals, and partners with overseas manufacturing teams to resolve quality issues before launch. Leads a creative team through overlapping deadlines while keeping commercial assortments on brand.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Art Director, Textiles
Rube P. Hoffman California Fabrics
06.2015 - Current
- Direct 50 collections annually while guiding concept development, brand alignment, and final production across product lines.
- Manage full P&L for seasonal collections, balancing creative ambition with revenue targets and production costs.
- Lead a 6-person in-house creative team and outside guest designers, mentoring them through overlapping deadlines and product lines.
- Oversee 500 batik SKUs annually, maintaining consistency across designs and production-ready artwork for multiple product lines.
- Partner with manufacturing teams in Japan, Korea, and Indonesia to resolve quality issues before production.
- Communicate trend insights and brand performance to senior leadership and cross-functional teams, informing merchandising strategy.
- Establish best practices that improve creative workflow efficiency across overlapping deadlines and product launches.
Designer, Retail Division
Rube P. Hoffman California Fabrics
12.2010 - 06.2015
- Tracked 12 projects monthly while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced production calendar.
- Managed 50 seasonal design concepts weekly across retail collections, from sketch to production.
- Created original patterns and color stories for seasonal product lines.
- Managed each collection through production, coordinating handoffs and revisions with cross-functional creative teams.
- Delivered multiple projects on schedule in a fast-paced environment, balancing shifting priorities without sacrificing quality.
- Developed original design concepts independently and collaboratively, adapting ideas to support sales strategy and retail goals.
- Used Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to refine layouts, mockups, and presentation-ready creative assets.
Art Production Assistant, Retail Division
Rube P. Hoffman California Fabrics
05.2006 - 12.2010
- Maintained 10 spreadsheets weekly to keep design records organized and current.
- Managed daily paperwork and filing to keep design team operations running smoothly.
- Coordinated organization tasks across the art production workflow to maintain clear department routines.
- Supported cross-functional collaboration with the design team on day-to-day production needs.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Art History
California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach, CA05.2010
Skills
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Ai-assisted writing tools
- Cross-functional creative collaboration
- Creative direction
- Textile design
- Brand strategy
- Team leadership
- P&L management
Timeline
Art Director, Textiles
Rube P. Hoffman California Fabrics
06.2015 - Current
Designer, Retail Division
Rube P. Hoffman California Fabrics
12.2010 - 06.2015
Art Production Assistant, Retail Division
Rube P. Hoffman California Fabrics
05.2006 - 12.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Art History
California State University, Long Beach