Looking for a job

James Thai

@jamesthai

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Design strategist at Pair Eyewear who shaped seasonal collections and storytelling across DTC and wholesale.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I’m open to freelance, full-time, or consulting opportunities in brand and product leadership, especially with teams looking to elevate their creative process or bring new energy into their storytelling.

At Pair Eyewear, I led creative strategy, product design, and merchandising across DTC and wholesale. I developed seasonal design stories, color strategies, and licensed narratives with partners including Disney, Warner Bros., The Met, and Pokémon.

At Joe Fresh, I led the creative relaunch of the Sleepwear line, developing a new print identity that contributed to category growth. I also introduced a more rigorous approach to print testing and approvals, reducing revisions and improving speed-to-market.

At Simply Vera Vera Wang, I developed original textile artwork and print narratives, working directly with Vera Wang on artwork reviews and seasonal presentations. I managed print development from concept through production across apparel, handbags, scarves, and leggings.

Across my work at LeSportsac and Steve Madden, I created artwork, repeat patterns, and print direction for seasonal collections and collaborations. I’m currently open to freelance, full-time, or consulting opportunities in brand and product leadership, especially with teams looking to elevate their creative process or storytelling.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Freelance

Current

Gap Inc.

Feb 2026 - Present (7 months)

Worked as Freelance at Gap Inc..

Senior Manager of Design & Merchandising

Pair Eyewear

Jan 2022 - Jan 2025 (3 years)

Led creative strategy, product design, and merchandising across DTC and wholesale channels for a rapidly scaling eyewear brand. Owned trend forecasting, seasonal line planning, and storytelling across physical and digital touchpoints—delivering culturally relevant, high-performing collections that drove revenue growth and brand affinity.

- Developed macro/micro design stories, color strategies, a

Trend Analysis Revenue Growth Creative Brainstorming Concept Design Remote Team Leadership Product Design Team Resourcing Illustration Platform Thinking User Centered Design Collection Planning Empathetic People Management Futures Thinking DTC Strategy Mentorship Merchandising trend forecasting Change Management Recoloring and Repeats Creative A B Testing Cross functional Leadership Briefing Senior Stakeholders Content Management Color Concept Accessories Design Figma Graphic Design Innovation Strategy Art Curation Licensing And Partnerships Trend Mapping Presentation Skills Merchandising Strategy Empowering Others AI Augmented Creative Workflows Creative Direction Constructive feedback Management Strategy Photoshop Budget Oversight Product Positioning Talent Development Team Leadership Miro Visual Design Visual Merchandising Startups Idea Validation Vendor Management Brand Ecosystem KPI development Fashion Industry Trends Content Strategy Competitive Analysis Decks Brand Strategy Lifestyle Branding Concept Development Consumer Journey Mapping Hiring and Onboarding Creative Workflow Development Print Design Brand storytelling Brand Voice Development Eyewear Design Strategic Thinking

Freelance

Steve Madden

Jan 2021 - Jan 2023 (2 years)

Created custom artwork, surface design, and print direction for seasonal collections and brand campaigns across accessories and fashion.

- Developed hand-drawn and digital artwork for handbags, apparel, and soft goods

- Aligned visual design with brand identity, merchandising goals, and seasonal strategies

- Researched market trends and supported creative ideation from concept through final art

Trend Analysis Illustration Recoloring and Repeats Fashion Consulting Art Curation Empowering Others Strategy Photoshop Product Positioning Vendor Management Fashion Industry Trends Competitive Analysis Decks Concept Development Creative Workflow Development Print Design Strategic Thinking

Graphic Design Artist

LeSportsac

Jan 2020 - Jan 2021 (1 year)

Created original artwork, repeat patterns, and placement graphics for seasonal collections and global collaborations. Blended hand-drawn and digital techniques to develop visually compelling, on-brand designs across core product and capsule collections.

- Designed prints and assets for licensed collaborations with Pokémon, Lanvin, Basquiat, and Harry Potter, Kelloggs ensuring brand alignment and

Artwork Manager

Joe Fresh

Jan 2017 - Jan 2020 (3 years)

Oversaw print and surface design across women’s collections, translating seasonal narratives into compelling visual identities that elevated brand perception and sales. Played a pivotal role in transforming the creative process—introducing strategic storytelling, elevating print quality, and improving cross-functional workflows.

- Led the rebrand and creative relaunch of the Joe Fresh Sleepwear l

Senior Textile Artist

Simply Vera Vera Wang

Jan 2014 - Jun 2017 (3 years 5 months)

Led concept development and original artwork creation for the Simply Vera Vera Wang collection, blending fine art techniques with commercial design sensibilities to shape the brand’s seasonal direction. Developed print narratives and visual strategies that aligned with Vera Wang’s vision while meeting business and production goals.

- Created original textile artwork using watercolor, photography,