Professional Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline

KIRA COLE

MacKenzie-Childs
ITHACA
25
years of professional experience

Innovative design leader with extensive experience in managing collaborative teams and driving creative strategies. Skilled in relationship building and market analysis, consistently delivering cohesive product collections that align with brand vision and meet market demands.

Work History

Product Collaboration Director

7 Months
MacKenzie-Childs | 01.2026 - Current
  • Spearheaded design and implementation of brand partnership initiatives to elevate brand impact.
  • Facilitated collaboration with cross-functional teams to align multi-brand vision and production capabilities.
  • Established consensus-driven processes to develop infrastructure for new business division.
  • Developed and delivered compelling presentations to effectively communicate design concepts to internal teams and external partners.
  • Managed collaborative discussions to gather and integrate design feedback from multiple brands for prominent collections.
  • Directed project management, design facilitation, and coordination of all facets within this expanding segment of the design organization.

Design Director

5 Years 11 Months
MacKenzie-Childs | 01.2020 - 12.2025
  • Led design strategy to enhance product lines and align with brand vision.
  • Oversaw creative direction for seasonal collections, ensuring cohesive aesthetics.
  • Mentored and empowered designers, fostering skill development and creative exploration.
  • Conducted market research to identify trends and inform design decisions.
  • Streamlined design processes, improving efficiency in project delivery timelines.
  • Established design guidelines that ensured consistency across all product categories.
  • Presented design concepts to stakeholders, securing buy-in for new initiatives.
  • Managed projects from concept to completion, ensuring timely delivery within budget and scope constraints.
  • Trained team, delegating tasks and offering insight to help meet tight deadlines.
  • Increased design team efficiency by implementing streamlined workflows and enhanced cross-functional collaboration.
  • Mentored each designer to promote confidence and productivity, which encouraged new ideas and fostered positive working relationships.
  • Cultivated a culture of innovation within the design team by encouraging experimentation and embracing new approaches to problem solving.
  • Managed workloads of designers to optimize productivity and timeliness of task completion.
  • Developed and managed design briefs and trend reports to ensure clear communication of vision to creative teams throughout the project lifecycle.

Design Manager

1 Year 6 Months
MacKenzie-Childs | 07.2018 - 01.2020
  • Led design team in creating innovative product lines aligned with brand aesthetics.
  • Developed and implemented creative briefs seasonally, to enhance cohesion and stakeholder alignment.
  • Mentored designers, fostering skill development and promoting a collaborative work environment.
  • Streamlined design processes, reducing bottlenecks for new collections through effective project management.
  • Hired and mentored junior designers, providing guidance on design principles, techniques, and best practices to enhance their skill set and brand knowledge.
  • Spearheaded design process to align with company goals and standards.
  • Streamlined creative review process by implementing a centralized feedback system that increased productivity across the team.
  • Established performance standards for the design team that fostered accountability and improved overall results.
  • Built strong relationships with designers through active listening, collaboration, and clear communication of design objectives.
  • Implemented an effective onboarding program for new hires that reduced training time while maintaining quality standards.
  • Optimized internal processes by establishing clear guidelines for file organization, and asset management.
  • Enhanced design team efficiency by streamlining workflows and implementing project management tools.
  • Facilitated design team meetings and issued action items.
  • Coordinated with cross-functional teams to ensure design specifications were aligned with production capabilities.

Textiles Designer

10 Months
MacKenzie-Childs | 09.2017 - 07.2018
  • Developed innovative textile patterns that enhanced product lines and brand identity.
  • Conducted trend research to inform seasonal collections and align with market demands.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to execute design concepts and ensure production feasibility.
  • Led design review sessions, providing constructive feedback to junior designers for skill development.
  • Created detailed technical specifications for textile production, ensuring accuracy and quality standards were met.
  • Optimized textile costings by negotiating with suppliers for lower material costs without compromising quality.
  • Incorporated out-of-the-box thinking to create new designs for Soft Home and Upholstered Furniture projects.
  • Attended industry trade shows to source new materials, stay current on trends, materials, and technologies, informing future design strategies and collections.
  • Managed multiple projects simultaneously while adhering to strict deadlines, resulting in high-quality work delivered on time.

Core Concept Leader

4 Years 2 Months
Eileen Fisher | 07.2013 - 09.2017
  • Led cross-functional teams to implement seasonal collections aligned with company direction, foundational brand concepts and core values.
  • Developed and executed conceptual training programs to align teams with core brand values and improve performance.
  • Fostered culture of sustainability by promoting eco-friendly practices across all department operations.
  • Trained employees across the company on core product concept and brand design language.
  • Increased team productivity by streamlining communication and implementing effective project management strategies.
  • Trained employees on core product concepts and brand design language to ensure consistent understanding and application.
  • Fostered a culture of sustainability, promoting eco-friendly practices within all department operations.
  • Analyzed and archived brand history to inform current and future product development strategies, ensuring alignment with core brand aesthetics and values.
  • Mentored and empowered junior staff members, helping them develop leadership skills and advance their careers within the organization.

Core Concept Team Member

16 Years 7 Months
Eileen Fisher | 02.2001 - 09.2017
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to conceptualize and develop innovative design solutions.
  • Led design reviews, providing constructive feedback to enhance project outcomes and cohesive product outcomes.
  • Conducted market and brand research to inform design strategies and align projects with brand guidelines.
  • Implemented conceptual improvements that streamlined cohesion across product lines.
  • Played a key role in ensuring new collections were executed according to brand values, showcasing Eileen's founding principles.
  • Actively participated in continuous learning opportunities, such as workshops or conferences, staying updated on industry trends and advancements, as well as innovative leadership training and facilitation skills.

Leather and Knits Designer

10 Years
Eileen Fisher | 07.2007 - 07.2017
  • Led design projects from concept to completion, ensuring alignment with brand vision and values.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop cohesive product lines, enhancing customer engagement.
  • Presented design concepts to stakeholders, articulating vision and receiving constructive feedback for refinement.
  • Managed timelines and deliverables for multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring adherence to deadlines.
  • Created detailed specifications for production teams, ensuring accuracy and quality in final products.
  • Managed multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery within budget constraints.
  • Developed innovative design concepts for improved brand recognition and customer engagement.

Education

No Degree - Fashion Design

Parson's - The New School | New York, NY

No Degree - Collaborative Leadership Studies

Naropa Institute | Boulder, CO

Skills

Team management
Creativity and innovation
Strategic decisions
Market analysis
Cross-functional collaboration
Design thinking
Relationship building

Timeline

Product Collaboration Director

MacKenzie-Childs
01.2026 - CurrentRead More

Design Director

MacKenzie-Childs
01.2020 - 12.2025Read More

Design Manager

MacKenzie-Childs
07.2018 - 01.2020Read More

Textiles Designer

MacKenzie-Childs
09.2017 - 07.2018Read More

Core Concept Leader

Eileen Fisher
07.2013 - 09.2017Read More

Leather and Knits Designer

Eileen Fisher
07.2007 - 07.2017Read More

Core Concept Team Member

Eileen Fisher
02.2001 - 09.2017Read More

Parson's - The New School

No Degree from Fashion Design
Read More

Naropa Institute

No Degree from Collaborative Leadership Studies
Read More
KIRA COLE