Role Overview
We are looking for a Senior Designer to lead the design vision for our Mookuthi collection and see it through to a sellable, production-ready product. This is a hands-on role that owns the full journey — from research and inspiration through to a finished piece in the hands of our artisans and manufacturing partners. The ideal candidate is detail-obsessed, self-driven, and equally comfortable presenting concepts to the founder, sketching and building mood boards, and working directly on an artisan's workshop floor.
Key Responsibilities
- Source inspiration from traditional South Indian temple jewellery, contemporary references, textiles, architecture, and nature.
- Research the theme, history, and cultural significance of Mookuthi, including time spent with artisans to study traditional techniques and regional detailing.
- Build structured mood boards that capture the story, motif language, and material palette of a collection.
- Explore early form generation, rough sketches, and silhouette studies that translate mood boards into wearable directions.
- Create detailed design documentation that captures every minute detail of the concept, so it can be handed off cleanly at any later stage.
- Develop original, refined Mookuthi design concepts that reflect the brand's identity
- Prepare clean, presentable design decks for internal review.
- Present design concepts and mood boards to the founder for review, incorporate feedback, and secure final approval before any design moves forward.
- Balance brand aesthetic with what's commercially and technically feasible.
- Work with the CAD Designer to pressure-test construction feasibility and refine technical drawings.
- Resolve design-to-manufacture gaps before a piece goes to artisans - fit, weight, stone placement, mechanism.
- Keep design files and specs updated as the piece evolves through this stage.
- Own the path to execution end-to-end: travel to artisan workshops as needed, and brief karigars and manufacturing partners with complete specs (SKU, collection, screw, wire, stone details).
- Review prototypes and samples against the original design intent and flag deviations.
- Coordinate with QC on approvals, rework, and re-inventory of repaired pieces.
- Maintain design and merchandising consistency across the Mookuthi line, ensuring every product aligns with overall brand positioning.
Required Skills
- Strong understanding of traditional and contemporary jewellery design.
- Ability to independently originate design concepts consistent with the brand's identity, from research through to a production-ready spec.
- Genuine ease working with artisans, able to build trust, ask the right questions, and translate craft knowledge into design language.
- Meticulous, detail-oriented approach, able to capture minute design elements accurately in documentation.
- Working knowledge of CAD tools for jewellery
- Commercial instinct: understanding of pricing, positioning, and assortment planning.
- Comfortable with digital design tools for mood boards and presentation decks.
- Excellent visual communication and presentation skills.
- High sense of ownership, initiative, and accountability from concept through to production.
Preferred Qualifications
- Degree/diploma in Jewellery Design, Product Design, Fashion Design, or a related field.
- 4–6 years of relevant experience in artisan design, with a portfolio demonstrating range and depth — ideally including fine or traditional South Indian jewellery.
- Prior experience working directly with artisans, karigars, and briefing CAD designers.
- Prior experience presenting design concepts to founders or creative leadership for approval.
- Prior experience with screw/wire mechanisms used in nose jewellery specifically is a strong plus.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted design tools is a strong plus.
Pay: ₹20,000.00 - ₹65,000.00 per month
Work Location: In person
