Design Director

Job description

We are looking for a Design Director to join our Nordic Knots team in Stockholm. We are searching for an experienced product design leader with a strong creative and technical foundation, excellent people leadership skills and the ability to bring structure, clarity and momentum to a fast-moving design organisation In this role, you will help shape the future of the Nordic Knots product universe, translating creative vision into collections across rugs, textiles and selected home categories that strengthen the brand and create long-term commercial value. You should be highly collaborative, detail-oriented and confident balancing creative ambition with business priorities, timelines and production requirements. The Role As Design Director, you will lead and develop the design function across rugs, textiles and selected home categories. You will play a central role in ensuring a structured, efficient and high-quality design process from research and concept to production-ready handover. This role acts as the Creative Director’s extension into the team and holds the day-to-day leadership responsibility for the design function. You will lead the team operationally and, working in close partnership with the Creative Director, help translate creative vision into a structured design process and successful product launches, while final approval on design direction remains with the Creative Director. This role combines team leadership, design process ownership and technical oversight. You will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure design work is aligned with brand direction, assortment strategy, feasibility, timelines and commercial objectives. This role reports to the Creative Director. Your Responsibilities • Lead and develop the design team, building a high-performing, collaborative and trust-based team culture • Drive the full design and development process from research and concept through to production-ready handover • Help shape the future of the Nordic Knots product universe by translating creative vision into strong, commercially relevant collections • Create structure, pace and clarity across the design function, ensuring clear priorities and smooth execution from concept to launch • Prepare strong decision support material for the Creative Director and other stakeholders • Ensure high technical quality across documentation, CAD development, design briefs, renderings and handover materials • Work closely with cross-functional teams and external suppliers to move collections and product development forward effectively • Balance creative ambition with commercial priorities, business needs, feasibility, production requirements and deadlines • Contribute to collection planning, category development, product pipeline management and the continued evolution of the assortment • Contribute to a low-prestige, high-standards culture where accountability, trust and collaboration are central About You • You are a strong and thoughtful design leader with the ability to bring clarity, structure and momentum to a creative environment • You have strong leadership and people development skills • You are highly structured and organised, with the ability to create clarity in a fast-moving organisation • You have strong design judgement and a highly developed aesthetic sensibility, with the ability to evaluate design work against both brand standards and commercial objectives • You combine creative sensitivity with technical understanding and strong execution skills • You have a strong commercial mindset and understand priorities, timelines, production requirements and broader business needs • You are a clear communicator with high attention to detail and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset • You collaborate well across functions and build trust through a low-prestige and hands-on way of working Experience • 6–8+ years of experience in product, textile, rug, homeware, furniture or collection design within premium or design-driven brands, including significant experience leading design teams • Strong experience across the full design and development process, from concept and research to production-ready handover across multiple product types • Experience leading designers and building strong creative teams • Strong technical design knowledge, including documentation, specifications, digital renderings and CAD • Experience working closely with cross-functional stakeholders and external suppliers • Experience contributing to collection planning, category development, product pipeline management or assortment evolution is a strong plus • Experience from a premium or design-driven brand is a plus Nordic Knots Nordic Knots was founded in 2016 by Liza Laserow, Fabian Berglund and Felix Berglund. We are a fast-growing direct-to-consumer Scandinavian interior design brand with the USA as our major market. Nordic Knots was born from a culture of thoughtful design that lasts beyond seasons and trends. Fusing function and aesthetics with a Scandinavian sensibility, we craft timeless textiles for the modern home. We believe that great textiles are foundational and can transform a house into a harmonious home, framing the most beautifully curated lives. The head office, as well as the flagship store, is located at Birger Jarlsgatan in central Stockholm. We have a constantly growing team in both Sweden and the USA. What We Offer We are a driven team with high ambitions and an entrepreneurial, open-minded culture where new ideas and initiatives are encouraged. At Nordic Knots, everyone plays a meaningful role in contributing to our continued growth. We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who bring different perspectives, experiences and ideas to our team. Location This position is based at our Stockholm headquarters. Please note that we are currently in the middle of the Swedish summer holiday period, so response times may be slightly longer than usual. We will review applications on an ongoing basis and get back to you as soon as possible.