# Kristina Casarez > Senior Design Manager, Accessories & Footwear - Textile, Concept + Color Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/kristinacasarez Trusted business partner working closely with leadership to provide creative direction and insight from concept to production and launch of a wide range of product lines, expanding global market share, and driving profitability. Consistent record of building and leading cross-functional teams that execute strategies to connect customers to great products. Strategic in managing change, recommending process improvements, retaining top talent, and identifying significant cost savings. AREAS OF EXPERTISE : Strategic Planning | Product Development | Team Leadership | Budgeting | Project Management | Brand Development | Leadership Development | Creative Strategy | Art Direction ## Work Experience ### Senior Design Manager - Footwear & Accessories, Concept + Color @ Rothy's Jan 2021 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area ### Freelance Creative Director @ YOO + MEE Design Studio Jan 2019 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area Clients include - ROTHY'S, Everlane, UGG ~ Decker Brand, PJCC, Peek Kids Industries : Fashion Lifestyle, Accessories, Kids + Baby, Non-profit Specializations : Trend & Concept, Color Forecasting, Textile & Print Design, Marketing, Graphic & Web Design Both a strategic and creative consultant through exploration and elaborating on design solutions to support the direction and focus for individual projects. Help co-create a unique visual language and one-of- a-kind art direction for product development. • High level, strategic focus including big picture problem solving, workflow refinements, and staffing projections and planning. • Partner with key stakeholders to distill the scope of work and create strategies to meet business needs. Establish best practices, document and practice them. • Represent studio team by attending kick-offs, creative hand-offs, manager meetings, forecasting meetings, and database development and strategy sessions. Advocate for process, timing, and resources to produce accurate and quality work. • Oversee the production phase of all print deliverables. Ensure quality control over the body of work. • Contribute to definition and discussion of design and artwork solutions. ### Creative Consultant - MARCOM @ Apple Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 | San Francisco Bay Area Both a strategic and creative consultant through exploration and elaborating on design solutions to support the direction and focus for individual projects. Help co-create a unique visual language and one-of- a-kind art direction for product development. • High level, strategic focus including big picture problem solving, workflow refinements, and staffing projections and planning. • Partner with key stakeholders to distill the scope of work and create strategies to meet business needs. Establish best practices, document and practice them. • Represent studio team by attending kick-offs, creative hand-offs, manager meetings, forecasting meetings, and database development and strategy sessions. Advocate for process, timing, and resources to produce accurate and quality work. • Oversee the production phase of all print deliverables. Ensure quality control over the body of work. • Contribute to definition and discussion of design and artwork solutions. ### Senior Creative Director @ Gap Inc./Old Navy Jan 2014 – Jan 2018 Provided creative direction and leadership for a team of 25 designers with 6 direct reports. Defined consumer-centric aesthetics and outlined brand building strategy to drive market growth globally for color, print, and pattern. 
 - Increased global market share and profitability by aligning team to brand goals and increasing output. - Restructured brand visual guides, providing cross-functional teams with optimal resources throughout product development lifecycle. - Worked closely with Director of Strategy and HR on department re-organization initiative and re-aligned team members with optimal responsibilities, reducing overdevelopment 20% and securing significant cost savings. - Retained top talent by re-defining roles and responsibilities, providing team members with clear guidelines and performance goals, enhancing succession planning, and boosting collaboration and morale. ### Global Design Director - Women's Division @ Gap Inc. Jan 2010 – Jan 2016 Managed team of designers with 4 direct reports and provided creative direction and leadership across 8 categories. Identified and established creative partnerships and recommended improvements for workflow efficiencies. - Increased department productivity by establishing critical deadlines and streamlining art approval processes. - Received President’s Stock Award for implementing standardization processes across design teams and product performance excellence. - Ensured all creative output met the brand filters and built solid partnerships with outside art studios. - Facilitated design classes for multiple functional levels across Gap. Inc, (Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Old Navy) through Merchant University program ### Senior Textile/Print Designer @ Old Navy Jan 2006 – Jan 2010 Collaborated with senior leadership and key design team. Established strong artwork points of view, incorporated trend and product filters, and presented story boards and concepts to design teams. - Provided clear direction and creative briefs to artists and freelance team, resulting in significant cost savings and overdevelopment. - Drove product execution and cost savings by fostering a culture of deep attention to detail throughout creation and production processes. ### Print Designer @ Talbots Jan 2005 – Jan 2006 - Responsible for the “in-house” production of print and pattern art as well as visual tools throughout the product development process - Responsible for the design and production of original art, re-colorations, and repeats supporting a portion of the seasonal product development needs. - Research print & pattern trends, incorporating into seasonal presentations given to merchandising ### Associate Designer @ Apparel Holdings Group Jan 2004 – Jan 2005 Coordinated and work with Art Studios, Freelance artists, Merchandising and CAD teams to establish priorities and timely execution of product development. Sketched flats for tech packages Created boards for sales presentation Provided design input on line development Communicated with production in sourcing of new fabric developments Cleaned and recolored artwork using U4ia Assistant Stylist (Men's Division) Responsible for preparing and sending complete mill-ready artwork and color standards to vendors Communicated daily with vendors and mills to assure receipt and full understanding of engraving/color-matching instructions Communicated with senior colorist weekly and meet with production to ensure s/o approvals for time sensitive deliveries Worked together with Art Director to improve and maintain departmental procedures for efficient and accurate workflow and record keeping Maintained records, artwork library and line reports ### Print Stylist @ Apparel Holdings Group / Carribean Joe Jan 2004 – Jan 2005 Responsible for preparing and sending complete mill-ready artwork and color standards to vendors Communicated daily with vendors and mills to assure receipt and full understanding of engraving/color-matching instructions Communicated with senior colorist weekly and meet with production to ensure s/o approvals for time sensitive deliveries Worked together with Art Director to improve and maintain departmental procedures for efficient and accurate workflow and record keeping Maintained records, artwork library and line reports ### Freelance CAD Artist @ Carol Hochman Jan 2004 – Jan 2004 Clients included: Esprit, GAP, Levi – Docker, Tommy Hilfiger Conceptualized & designed art for fleece, active wear, swim, accessories & paper marketing. Worked with product development team on new applications & techniques . Assembled seasonal boards for presentations to the CEO and GMs, Design and Merch teams ### Design/Showroom Assistant @ Artistic Frame Jan 2003 – Jan 2004 Create original CAD illustrations for company website and catalog Input sales quotes and designer profiles into company database Assist designers in selecting home furnishings for the clients Helped setup window display and source and file ### Design Assistant @ San Jose Opera Jan 2002 – Jan 2003 Produced sample garments that were constructed and tested for fit by performers Created a variety of concept boards and fabric boards for design presentation Selected fabrics and created original fabric designs using dye and silk printing techniques ## Education ### Bachelor of Arts - BA in Textile and Surface Design Fashion Institute of Technology ### Associate of Arts and Sciences - AAS in Fashion Design West Valley College ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kristina-m-casarez - Portfolio: https://www.kristinacasarez.com/ --- Source: https://flows.cv/kristinacasarez JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/kristinacasarez/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13