Available to hire
Hi, I’m Karen Von Clezie Thornton. I’m a seasoned product designer and developer who specializes in consumer soft goods, leveraging deep experience to enhance user experiences and build strong vendor partnerships.
I translate complex subjects into tangible designs for a wide range of lifestyle bags, personal accessories, backpacks, business cases, soft coolers, pet accessories and luggage. I thrive in collaborative environments, driving product lifecycles and design changes by communicating clearly with cross-functional teams.
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Canine Accessories Product Designer | Developer at PETWISE
April 30, 2023 - October 13, 2025New product design and development for canine travel accessories with the Sherpa Pet and Trusty Pup brands. Designed and developed up to 30 products for re-branding; improved FOB performance with suppliers.
Senior Product Developer at Eagle Creek, A VF Corporation
December 31, 2020 - October 13, 2025Led the Vietnam development team and mentored JanSport and Eagle Creek in temporary offices; contributed prototypes for new product initiatives including PPE during COVID-19; supported 2019-2021 product lines.
Senior Product Developer, Soft Goods at Hydro Flask, A Division of Helen of Troy
December 31, 2018 - October 13, 2025Managed development of all new welded coolers and backpacks; implemented lab-dip management and established supplier relations for new materials.
Senior Product Developer/Designer at Samsonite
December 31, 2017 - October 13, 2025Created and managed product design packages; lab-dip management; print development; conducted trend analysis and sales validation; partnered with vendors and expanded supplier relationships.
Senior Product Designer/Developer at Nathan Outdoor, A Division of Penguin Brands
December 31, 2012 - October 13, 2025Product design for hydration packs and reflective safety categories; oversaw colors, materials, trim, lab-dip management, and new factory sourcing; PLM system implementation and team training.
Canine Accessories Product Designer | Developer at PETWISE
April 1, 2023 - October 13, 2025New product design and development for canine travel accessories with the Sherpa Pet and Trusty Pup brands. Designed and developed up to 30 products for re-branding; to be launched in specialty retail and online channels in 2024. Re-developed products for refreshed look and better FOB from all suppliers.
Senior Product Developer at Eagle Creek, A VF Corporation
December 31, 2020 - October 13, 2025Led product development and mentored teams in Vietnam and in temporary offices; contributed to prototyping for single and triple layer mask designs and PPE during COVID-19.
Senior Product Developer, Soft Goods at Hydro Flask, A Division of Helen of Troy
December 31, 2018 - October 13, 2025Facilitated project management of all soft goods initiatives; led weekly team meetings; managed development of welded coolers and backpacks; implemented lab dip management processes with new material suppliers.
Senior Product Developer/Designer at Samsonite
December 31, 2017 - October 13, 2025Created and managed product design packages within assigned categories; lab-dip management and print development; project management for cost control and quality; analyzed trends for color, material and finish; collaborated with vendors and built new vendor relations.
Senior Product Designer/Developer at Nathan Outdoor, A Penguin Brands
December 31, 2012 - October 13, 2025Product design and development for hydration specialty packs and reflective safety categories for global distribution; oversaw colors, materials, trim, lab-dip management, and factory sourcing; mentored design teams.
Canine Accessories Product Designer / Developer at PetWise
April 1, 2023 - October 13, 2025New product design and development for canine travel accessories with the Sherpa Pet and Trusty Pup brands. Key Achievements: Designed and developed up to 30 products for re-branding of the new Sherpa products. To be launched in specialty retail and online channels in 2024. Successfully re-developed products to have a fresh current look and better FOB from all suppliers.
Senior Product Developer at Eagle Creek, A VF Corporation
December 31, 2020 - October 13, 2025Creatively and effectively adapted to commuting to Carlsbad CA and develop all products for 2019, 2020, and 2021 until the company relocated to the Denver Metro area. The most successful product launch was “Caldera” which won Outside Magazine Gear of the Year 2020. All other projects were delayed because of COVID-19. Key Achievements: Led the Vietnam team of Product Developers and mentored the development teams of both JanSport and Eagle Creek in temporary offices. Provided expertise in prototyping of some new product initiatives for single layer and triple layer mask designs and other PPE products during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senior Product Developer, Soft Goods at Hydro Flask, A Division of Helen of Troy
December 31, 2018 - October 13, 2025Facilitate and drive the project management of all soft goods product initiatives. Responsible for weekly team meetings that highlight and drive the product challenges and successes of each project. Key Achievements: Managed the development of all new welded coolers and backpacks with multiple trips to the vendor. Implemented new systems and processes for lab dip management and relations with new materials suppliers.
Senior Product Developer/Designer at Samsonite
December 31, 2017 - October 13, 2025Effectively create and manage all product design packages within assigned categories. Responsible for lab-dip management and print development. Project management of all new and existing projects for cost control and quality. Analyze and research trends for color, material and finish as well as sales market validation. Partner with existing vendors on all new development, as well as, brought new vendor relations to the sourcing team for improvement in supply chain quality and consistency.
Senior Product Designer/Developer at Nathan Outdoor, A Division of Penguin Brands
December 31, 2012 - October 13, 2025Specialized in product design and development for hydration specialty packs and reflective safety categories for global distribution. Analyzed, researched and oversaw colors, material, trim, lab-dip management, and new factory sourcing. Provided training and management of design teams in respective projects. Increased efficiency and communication through problem solving techniques in department and vendor selection. Key Achievements: Researched and implemented PLM systems across multi-functional business units.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts at Ohio State University
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Fiber Art Studies at Kansas City Art Institute
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Foundation Art Studies at Columbus College of Art and Design
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Bachelor of Fine Arts at Ohio State University
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Coursework in Fiber Art at Kansas City Art Institute
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Coursework in Foundation Studies at Columbus College of Art and Design
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Bachelor of Fine Arts at Ohio State University
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Fiber Art Studies at Kansas City Art Institute
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Foundation Art Studies at Columbus College of Art and Design
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Qualifications
AI Design Certificate
May 5, 2025 - October 13, 2025Product Life Cycle (PLM) Software
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Adobe Design Certificate
May 5, 2025 - October 13, 2025CCAD Student Mentor
January 1, 2022 - October 13, 2025Volunteer Mentor, The Children’s Museum (Oakland, CA)
January 1, 2022 - October 13, 2025Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Ai Design Certificate
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025DesignLab AI Design Certificate
January 11, 2030 - October 13, 2025Industry Experience
Manufacturing, Retail, Consumer Goods, Professional Services, Other, Travel & Hospitality, Transportation & Logistics, Media & Entertainment
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
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