Job Description – Senior Carpet & Rug Designer 1. Position Details Particular Details Position Senior Carpet & Rug Designer Department Design / R&D Reports To Head of Design / Design & R&D Head Location RMC Collection Experience 5–10+ years in carpet/rug design, preferably handmade rugs Employment Type Full-time Team Responsibility Designers / Cadding & Sampling team, as applicable 2. Job Purpose To lead the development of commercially relevant, technically feasible and production-ready carpet and rug designs for domestic and international markets. The Senior Carpet & Rug Designer will convert market, buyer and brand requirements into original rug concepts, detailed design specifications and production-ready design packs while maintaining RMC’s quality, aesthetic and commercial standards. 3. Key Responsibilities A. Design Development 1. Develop original carpet and rug designs across contemporary, traditional, transitional, modern, abstract and customised styles. 2. Translate buyer briefs, design references, market trends and internal concepts into commercially viable rug designs. 3. Develop design concepts, motifs, layouts, borders, colourways, textures and pattern variations. 4. Create multiple design options and variations based on commercial requirements. 5. Ensure designs are appropriate for the intended construction, material, technique, size and price segment. 6. Maintain a strong balance between creativity, manufacturability and commercial viability. B. Design & Cadding / Production Readiness 1. Convert approved concepts into accurate digital/production-ready designs. 2. Prepare design specifications, including dimensions, repeat, layout, colours, construction and other relevant technical details. 3. Coordinate with cadding, sampling and production teams to ensure accurate interpretation of designs. 4. Check design proportions, scale, symmetry, colour placement and construction feasibility before sampling. 5. Identify and resolve design issues that may affect production, quality or cost. 6. Ensure approved designs and revisions are properly documented and version controlled. C. Colour & Material Development 1. Develop appropriate colour palettes for each design and target market. 2. Create colourways based on buyer requirements, current market trends and RMC design direction. 3. Work with R&D and sampling teams on yarn, material, texture and construction experimentation. 4. Evaluate how colours and materials will translate from digital artwork to physical rugs. 5. Make necessary adjustments after reviewing physical samples. D. Market & Trend Research 1. Continuously research global carpet and interior design trends. 2. Study competitor products, international collections, exhibitions, design publications and market developments. 3. Identify emerging patterns, colours, textures, materials and construction techniques. 4. Convert relevant research into actionable design concepts for RMC. 5. Maintain a structured library of references, inspirations and commercially relevant design directions. E. Buyer & Merchandising Support 1. Work closely with Merchandising to understand buyer briefs and customer expectations. 2. Develop customised designs based on buyer specifications. 3. Respond to design amendments and buyer feedback within agreed timelines. 4. Support Merchandising during buyer presentations, sampling and design approvals. 5. Ensure design commitments made to buyers are technically and commercially achievable. F. Sampling & R&D Coordination 1. Coordinate with R&D and sampling teams for development of new designs and constructions. 2. Review first samples against approved design specifications. 3. Identify gaps between approved artwork and physical output. 4. Recommend corrections to colour, scale, construction, texture and detailing. 5. Participate in sample evaluation and approval processes. 6. Capture learning from sampling and incorporate it into future designs. G. Quality & Design Accuracy 1. Ensure all designs meet RMC’s defined design and technical standards. 2. Conduct systematic design checks before releasing designs for sampling/production. 3. Minimise errors in artwork, dimensions, colour references, repeats and technical specifications. 4. Coordinate with QA when design-related issues arise during production. 5. Analyse recurring design-related defects and implement preventive improvements. H. Team Leadership & Mentoring 1. Guide junior designers and support their technical and creative development. 2. Review designs produced by team members and provide constructive feedback. 3. Establish design quality standards and best practices within the team. 4. Help allocate design work according to priorities, capabilities and deadlines. 5. Train team members on design processes, documentation and production feasibility. 6. Encourage innovation while maintaining discipline around timelines and specifications. 4. Key KRAs KRA Expected Outcome Design Development Consistent pipeline of original, commercially relevant designs Design Quality Accurate, aesthetically strong and production-feasible designs Design-to-Sample Accuracy Minimum deviation between approved artwork and physical sample Turnaround Time Designs and revisions completed within agreed timelines Buyer Customisation Accurate and timely response to buyer-specific requirements Innovation New patterns, colourways, constructions and design directions Commercial Viability Designs aligned with target market, cost and manufacturing capability Team Development Improved capability and output quality of junior designers Documentation Complete and accurate Design Spec Packs and design records 5. Suggested KPIs % of design projects completed within agreed timelines Number of new commercially approved designs developed per month/quarter Buyer/design approval rate First-sample approval rate Design-to-sample accuracy Number of design-related production corrections/rejections % reduction in design errors and rework Number of successful buyer-customised designs New design/construction concepts developed Junior designer productivity and quality improvement Design library / trend research updates completed as scheduled 6. Required Skills & Competencies Technical Skills Strong knowledge of handmade carpet and rug design. Excellent understanding of rug proportions, scale, repeat and composition. Strong colour sense and colourway development capability. Understanding of different rug constructions, materials and techniques. Proficiency in relevant design and CAD/cadding software. Ability to create production-oriented technical design documentation. Understanding of how artwork translates into physical handmade rugs. Creative Skills Strong visualisation and conceptualisation ability. Strong understanding of international interior and rug aesthetics. Ability to create both trend-led and timeless designs. Ability to adapt designs for different markets and customer profiles. Strong attention to detail. Leadership Skills Ability to mentor and review junior designers. Strong coordination with Merchandising, R&D, Production and QA. Ownership of deadlines and deliverables. Problem-solving and decision-making ability. Ability to work under buyer-driven timelines. 7. Educational Qualification Degree/Diploma in Textile Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Fine Arts, Product Design or a related discipline preferred. Relevant professional experience in carpet/rug design may be considered in place of formal qualification. 8. Preferred Industry Experience Experience in one or more of the following is preferred: Handmade carpets and rugs Hand tufted / hand knotted / flatwoven rugs Textile design Home furnishings Interior products Export-oriented rug manufacturing Custom rug development for international buyers 9. Key Interfaces The Senior Carpet & Rug Designer will work closely with: Design → Cadding → R&D → Merchandising → Sampling → Production → QA → Finishing → Export The role is expected to ensure that the design intent remains clear and controlled as the product moves from concept to physical sample and, ultimately, production. 10. Accountability The Senior Carpet & Rug Designer is accountable for: 1. Quality and originality of assigned designs. 2. Accuracy of design specifications. 3. Timely completion of design and revision activities. 4. Production feasibility of proposed designs. 5. Reduction of design-related sampling and production errors. 6. Effective conversion of buyer briefs into approved designs. 7. Continuous development of commercially relevant design collections. 8. Development and mentoring of junior design resources. 11. Ideal Candidate Profile A commercially minded creative professional who combines strong rug-design aesthetics with practical knowledge of handmade carpet manufacturing.
Pay: Up to ₹840,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
