DONALD GUADELOUPE
New York,NY
Summary
Technic Designer with experience in draping, pattern making, garment finishes, and sewing techniques. Proven expertise in the concept development of brands, providing direction to teams and internal partners, identifying and solving fit problems across all categories. Demonstrated stellar technical ability in construction, fit and creating tech packs. Proven experience directing design operations while providing strategic consulting and effective procedural evaluation to make recommendations leading to improvement, ensuring effectiveness, performance, and productivity. Demonstrated experience contributing insightful creativity, context, and strategic approach, affecting change on business processes and outcomes.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
SENIOR TECHNICAL DESIGNER
Michael Kors Collection
02.2025 - 11.2025
- Developed technical specifications for design projects, ensuring alignment with client requirements.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to enhance product development processes and address design challenges.
- Utilized CAD software to create detailed information and prototypes, improving design accuracy.
- Analyzed product performance data to recommend design modifications for increased functionality.
- Reviewed and provided feedback on technical drawings, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Managed project timelines and deliverables, ensuring timely completion of design phases in collaboration with factories.
SENIOR TECHNICAL DESIGNER / DIRECTOR
Eshakti.com LLC
08.2018 - 04.2020
- Led a design team of 11 in-house designer, 1 CAD artist, 2 design assistants, and 1 merchandiser in executing specific design development projects as assigned by senior leadership, accurately organized spec sheets for designs. Collaborated with the team to create time and action calendars, fit design corrections tech packs for final design approval. Able to motivate a team when in crisis mode to complete urgent tasks.
- Assessed market trends to develop over 100 styles of contemporary to moderate pieces with 80% of the collection being comprised of dresses ranging from sweater designs to cut and sew knits including woven tops and bottoms.
- Instrumental in launching a new knitwear division, developed swatches with Stroll technology to create new swatches and knit patterns utilized for designs.
- Designed pieces with customized sizing, ranging from size 4 to 36, providing customers with solutions to customize apparel that fits lifestyle from hemline to neckline.
- Responded to business objectives with creative, innovative, and cost-effective design solutions increased monthly sales from 4% to 8%.
- KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Exceeded initial goal of creating 30 new designs per month, by implementing best practices, exceeded the goal of creating 30 new designs per month to 50 new designs per month with a sale rating of 90%: to increasing 100 styles per month within one year.
SENIOR TECHNICAL DESIGNER
LORD & TAYLOR
06.2014 - 07.2018
- Led a team of 4 in creating storyboards including design concepts, yarns, swatches, and tear sheets to reach organizational outcomes and performance goals. Collaborated with internal and external constituents to gather information pertinent to top proposals, briefed designers on creative elements, assisted in budget creation and execution. Established the pace for developing the line for each season inclusive of color concepts to trend direction. Lead the team in developing new color and knit swatches for design groups, led a weekly meeting with the design team, trend director, and lead merchandiser to track the progress of line development and style adoption for the collection.
- Developed multiple design tech packs, 80 to 150 samples, through concept, color, yarn, pattern stitches within three design categories, resulting in increased knitwear sales by 30%.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with contemporary/updated missy and plus size departments to provide end-users with various solutions and apparel options.
- Spearheaded trend direction for the entire line, identified competitive markets while adopting a strong sense of style across all brands.
- Oversaw Time and Action calendar including Europe, Asia, and South America, as well as domestic markets to manage timelines in support of strategic organizational goal attainment.
- Developed a line of contemporary sweater programs for in-house brands, creating multiple design groups ranging from 50 to 100 styles per season.
- Collaborated with a team to develop a tech pack of each design with size spec and trim detail from conceptual drawing to pre-production sample, strategically communicating with global factories to develop design product for each sweater brand.
- Traveled to Europe bi-annually to identify and research emerging trends that would translate to the existing client base.
DESIGN DIRECTOR
BASK ATELIER
11.2009 - 04.2014
- Led the production of inspirational boards, key design elements of illustration, trims, and seasonal direction overviews. Instrumental in gathering requirements, determining scope, creating specifications, and managing deliverables to projects that successfully impact business units and end-users.
- Expanded knit program product line for high-profile brands resulting in increased revenue attainment by 20% over 2 years.
- Implemented the sweater line of contemporary sweaters made from hand knits, fine gage, and cut and Sew knits.
- Designed and evaluated fit and construction, while strategically communicating all corrections via tech pack to meet urgent deadlines.
- Managed vendor relations by strategically communicating daily with factories in China, directed all aspects of design including specification, grading, and silhouette fitting.
- Attained production goals by consulting with the team, ensured cost-effective product parameters were met and achieved.
DESIGN DIRECTOR / MANAGER
EXCLUSIVELY MISOOK
02.2006 - 11.2009
- Managed a team of 4, actively developing a time and action calendar to track projects and deliverables. Developed new swatch patterns, trend boards, and color direction. Worked exclusively with Nordstrom and Dillard’s to create private label programs, helped increase annual sales by 30%.
- Led design efforts for a line of sweater dressing for an updated missy collection.
- Developed special customer-based programs in alignment with certain demographics, collaborated directly with a factory in Korea to develop new intarsia pattern and size charts for the petite, medium, and plus size programs.
- Anticipated challenges, utilizing best practices, and industry-standard methodologies to create and implement solutions.
- Directed design strategy to align with brand vision and market trends.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to enhance product development efficiency.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Apparel/Fashion Design
Fashion Institute of Technology
Skills
- Technical Skills: MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel), Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, CAD
Timeline
SENIOR TECHNICAL DESIGNER
Michael Kors Collection
02.2025 - 11.2025
SENIOR TECHNICAL DESIGNER / DIRECTOR
Eshakti.com LLC
08.2018 - 04.2020
SENIOR TECHNICAL DESIGNER
LORD & TAYLOR
06.2014 - 07.2018
DESIGN DIRECTOR
BASK ATELIER
11.2009 - 04.2014
DESIGN DIRECTOR / MANAGER
EXCLUSIVELY MISOOK
02.2006 - 11.2009
Bachelor's Degree - Apparel/Fashion Design
Fashion Institute of Technology
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Apparel Design, Concept Development, Vendor Management, Cost Control, Process Improvement, Strategic Development, Process Analysis, Strategic Communication, Client Relationship Management, Training & Development, Market Research, Strategic Planning, Product Management, Brand Design, Brand Management, Client Relations, Project Management