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Nicolette Lara
40 A Heather Ave
San Francisco, CA
94118
415.238.2513

WORK HISTORY

2010-Present Pottery Barn Teen, San Francisco, CA. Senior Designer
Pottery Barn kids is a leading specialty retailer for the home industry.
I have responsibility to:

•Provide a clear roadmap of my aesthetic vision for PBT boy and PBT Dorm girl and boy textile divisions.
•Revamp, define and expand the aesthetic of the PBT Dorm offering for PBT girl and boy.
•Bring quality, innovation and “newness” to new product in PBT boys through relentless exploration of new weaves, texture, fabrication, printing methods and design construction.
•Continual expansion and growth of the business. Successfully expanded the PBT boy bedding business by 20% within first year working for PBT.
•Provide art direction, mentorship and constructive leadership for Associate designers and Temp designers.

2009 Nicolette Lara INC, San Francisco, CA. Owner
Nicolette Lara INC specialized in creative consultation, trend analysis, product design and brand development.
I had responsibility to:

•Conceptual development and design of large-scale programs for specialty and mass retailers.
•Provide trend analysis focused in; brand identity, color, graphics, product design and textiles, for the home fashion and apparel industries.
•Creatively direct and managed textile, industrial and graphic designers to create dynamic design and presentation for clients.

11/06-4/09 Th.inc, San Francisco, CA. Design Director
Th.inc is a creative firm that specializes in product and brand development for national retailers.
I had responsibility to:

•Partner directly with Chief Creative Officer with new business development.
•Conceptual development of large-scale programs for specialty and mass retailers, with an emphasis on licensed personality brands and brand extensions.
•Act as a “hands on” Senior Creative Director for home fashion and brand divisions.
•Manage and mentor the design team members including graphic designers, industrial designers, and outside contractors.
•Provide trend, fabrication and color expertise for all divisions of the company.
•Frequent trade shows in Europe for trend research as well as shop London, Paris, and New York.

2006 Pacific Trade International (PTI), Rockville, MD. Senior Designer
PTI is an international home product manufacturer/retailer that is
involved in the US and Chinese market. Bliss Living Home brand was launched in late 2005.
I had responsibility to:

•Provide creative direction for the Bliss Living Home brand in several
departments; product development, sourcing, marketing, store
planning, and special events.
•Art direct a team of Chinese and French designers that are based
overseas.
•Train Product Development Managers and designers (in China) to
assure understanding of the line development and creative process.
•Meet with vendors overseas for sourcing of fabric and trim
•Travel to factories to facilitate production of goods and for
product approvals.
•Frequent trade shows in Europe for trend and product research as well as shop Shanghai, London, Paris, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
•Design original print designs for soft home.

10/02-1/06 Th.inc, San Francisco, CA. Designer
I had responsibility to:

•Create original products and print designs for the home
industry for retailers including Wal-mart, Target, LNT,
Home Depot, and others.
•Travel to Maison Objet, Heimtextil, and Ambiente to provide leadership as the company color and trend specialist.
•Act as lead designer for the Nate Berkus home line launched in
Fall 05, the largest brand launch in LNT history.
•Frequently travel to meet with clients to discuss needs and
make presentations on new collections.
•Art direct a team of Illustrators and Graphic Designers to
carry through various projects.

2/03- 6/03 Pottery Barn Kids, San Francisco, CA. Freelance Designer
Pottery Barn kids is a leading specialty retailer for the home industry.
I had responsibility to:

•Hand-paint original print designs for Fall 2004.
•Develop repeats and create new color-ways for prints using
Photoshop.

3/02-10/02 La Belle Fashion, Los Angeles, CA. Assistant Designer
La Belle Fashion is an L.A. based clothing manufacture that sells their
clothing to major department and specialty stores.
I had responsibility to:

•Hand draw original screen print designs.
•Select the appropriate fabric prints and trims for the current
line being developed.
•Dye trims to match fabrics.
•Generate fabric sheets.
•Communicate with pattern maker and sewers to ensure clothing
samples were made correctly.

2000-2001 American Design Intelligence Group, San Francisco, CA.
Assistant Designer
A.D.I.G is a design firm specializing in the apparel industry.
I had responsibility to:

•Logo Art.
•Create CAD sketches and colored silhouettes in Freehand and
Illustrator.
•Design print patterns for silhouettes.
•Generate prints and plaids in Photoshop and Freehand.
•Fashion illustrations.
•Design presentations.
•Research color and trend.

EDUCATION:
The Fashion Institute Of Design and Merchandising, San Francisco, CA.
June 2000
Major: Fashion Design
Degree: Associate of Arts