# James Thai James Thai is a remote worker on Himalayas, Freelance at Gap Inc., based in United States. Source: https://himalayas.app/@jamesthai ```text Design strategist at Pair Eyewear who shaped seasonal collections and storytelling across DTC and wholesale. ``` | Detail | Value | | --- | --- | | Availability | Looking for a job | | Location | United States | | Authorized to work in | United States | | Salary expectations | 120k+ USD | | Job categories | Print and Pattern Designer, Brand Director, Director of Product | | Skills | Design Strategy, Creative Direction, Product Design, Print Design, Textile Design, Surface Design, Brand Strategy, Brand storytelling, Merchandising Strategy, Collection Planning, trend forecasting, Trend Analysis, Licensing And Partnerships, Illustration, Color Concept | | LinkedIn | https://linkedin.com/in/james-a-thai | ## What I'm looking for ```text 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. ``` ## About ```text 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 ### Freelance (current) [Gap Inc.](https://himalayas.app/companies/gap-inc). Feb 2026 - Present ```text Worked as Freelance at Gap Inc.. ``` ### Senior Manager of Design & Merchandising [Pair Eyewear](https://himalayas.app/companies/pair-eyewear). Jan 2022 - Jan 2025 ```text 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 ``` Skills: 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 LeSportsac. Jan 2021 - Jan 2025 ```text Worked as Freelance at LeSportsac. ``` Skills: Design-Management, Trend-Analysis, Illustration, User-Centered-Design, International-Development, Storytelling, Recoloring-and-Repeats, Color-Concept, Accessories-Design, Fashion-Consulting, Art-Curation, Project-Management, Licensing-And-Partnerships, Branding-and-Identity, Merchandising-Strategy, Empowering-Others, Creative-Direction, Strategy, Photoshop, Product-Positioning, Conceptual-Design, Vendor-Management, Fashion-Industry-Trends, Competitive-Analysis, Decks, Brand-Strategy, Concept-Development, Print-Design, Strategic-Thinking ### Freelance Steve Madden. Jan 2021 - Jan 2023 ```text 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 ``` Skills: 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 ```text 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 ```text 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 ``` Skills: Trend-Analysis, Revenue-Growth, Illustration, User-Centered-Design, Collection-Planning, Futures-Thinking, Concept-Design, Merchandising, trend-forecasting, Recoloring-and-Repeats, Briefing-Senior-Stakeholders, Color-Concept, Apparel, Graphic-Design, Art-Curation, Licensing-And-Partnerships, Presentation-Skills, Merchandising-Strategy, Empowering-Others, Creative-Direction, Constructive-feedback, Management, Strategy, Photoshop, Cross-Cultural-Leadership, Product-Positioning, Talent-Development, Team-Leadership, Visual-Merchandising, Cross-functional-Leadership, Idea-Validation, Vendor-Management, Fashion-Industry-Trends, Competitive-Analysis, Decks, Brand-Strategy, Concept-Development, Creative-Workflow-Development, Print-Design, Brand-storytelling, Strategic-Thinking ### Senior Textile Artist [Simply Vera Vera Wang](https://himalayas.app/companies/kohl-s). Jan 2014 - Jun 2017 ```text 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, ``` Skills: Trend-Analysis, Revenue-Growth, Illustration, Collection-Planning, Merchandising, trend-forecasting, Recoloring-and-Repeats, Briefing-Senior-Stakeholders, Color-Concept, Apparel, Graphic-Design, Art-Curation, Presentation-Skills, Empowering-Others, Creative-Direction, Management, Strategy, Photoshop, Team-Leadership, Cross-functional-Leadership, Vendor-Management, Fashion-Industry-Trends, Competitive-Analysis, Brand-Strategy, Concept-Development, Print-Design, Brand-storytelling, Strategic-Thinking ### Design Intern HELMUT LANG. Oct 2013 - Jan 2014 ```text Worked as Design Intern at HELMUT LANG. ``` Skills: Illustration, trend-forecasting, Recoloring-and-Repeats, Apparel, Empowering-Others, Fashion-Industry-Trends, Print-Design ### Print/Embroidery Intern 3.1 Phillip Lim. Aug 2013 - Oct 2013 ```text Worked as Print/Embroidery Intern at 3.1 Phillip Lim. ``` Skills: Illustration, Apparel ### Lab Technician [Academy of Art University](https://himalayas.app/companies/academy-of-art-university). Sep 2012 - May 2013 ```text Worked as Lab Technician at Academy of Art University. ``` ### Product Developement Intern Ralph Lauren. Jun 2011 - Aug 2011 ```text Worked as Product Developement Intern at Ralph Lauren. ``` ## Education ### Academy of Art University Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Apparel and Textiles ### Google Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate ```text Issued Aug 2025 ``` ## Tech stack - Figma - Adobe Photoshop - Miro To contact James, message them from this profile with a Himalayas employer account: [Hire on Himalayas](https://himalayas.app/hire). ## People also viewed - [nancy osorio](https://himalayas.app/@nancyosorio): Art Director, Cabi - [Darya Anokhina](https://himalayas.app/@daryaanokhina): Lead designer, DARYA ANOKHINA - [Daisha Perez](https://himalayas.app/@daishaperez): Visual Merchandising Manager, The Paper Store - [Brandon Cortes](https://himalayas.app/@brandoncortes): Graphic & Print Designer, G III Apparel Converse - [Alan Boccadoro](https://himalayas.app/@alanboccadoro): Senior Graphic Designer, Pair Eyewear - [Tajiya Holland](https://himalayas.app/@tajiyaholland): Freelance Print Designer, Freelance - [michaela User](https://himalayas.app/@michaelauser): Lead Global Hardgoods Designer, Speedo (Pentlands Brand) - [Emily Du](https://himalayas.app/@emilydu): Associate Manager, Visual Design, Poshmark - [courtneykoken User](https://himalayas.app/@courtneykoken): Marketing & Creative Manager, Knuth's - [Nidhi Nischal](https://himalayas.app/@nidhinischal): Textile/ Print Designer, Pink Rose Clothing