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Katie is a Technical Designer and has been a part of two of Target’s brand launches:  Pillowfort and Cloud Island.  Read on to learn more!

What is your current role at Target and how long have you been doing this work?

I work in Product Design and Development (PD&D) as a Technical Designer for both Pillowfort and Cloud Island Bedding, Rugs, Window and Bath.  I have worked in PD&D for the past 10 years.

Tell us more about the Product Design & Development team.

The PD&D Team, beyond being a creative group, is inspirational and engaging.  Product Designers bring together highly skilled design engineers, illustrators, fabric specialists and chemists.  We are passionate about connecting with people in new ways and designing the best products for our guests, intersecting both aesthetic and quality with an affordable price point.  In most cases, we articulate to our vendors every detail from trims and fabrics to color and print and pattern to construction and dimensions.

What does a typical day look like for you (if there is such thing as a typical day)?

The first thing I usually do is follow up with emails from our vendors all over the world.  Then you may find me working with my designers to create objective packets (vendor design direction) to send to our vendor partners. I’m also checking in with our Product Safety and Quality Assurance Team constantly to insure our product follows the strictest standards in the market place. Then I review product round samples to insure they meet and/or exceed our standards, give product feedback to the vendor to make updates where needed and if all is good to go I will approve a final sample. I also partner with our Target.com team to respond to guest comments about particular products and address guest concerns or product complaints.

What makes you successful in your role?

I am detail oriented and utilize my partners to think outside the box.  I never pretend to know it all. I really partner with my vendors, fabric specialists and engineers to gain lots of different perspectives which help to make our products great.

What is the biggest win you’ve had?

Being an integral part of two of our biggest launches… Cloud Island Nursery and Pillowfort Kids Bedding.

What do you like best about working at Target?

The people!  It’s a great group of people who have fun with everything they do. I am proud to work for a company who also helps out tremendously in the community.

Fun fact about you?

I love to dance and have had the opportunity to perform at one of our Target Fall National Meetings with two of my best friends.