JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:

Trend Researcher

About Us:

Founded in mid-2017, Disrupt Digital Ltd is a multinational web development agency based in Cyberport, Hong Kong. We offer a wide variety of digital services and specialise in web and app development, digital marketing, design, search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM).

With offices in Hong Kong and Bangkok and access to a combined team of over 80 developers and digital specialists, we have the passion and resources to offer world class solutions to our clients and the scalability to help them expand their digital footprint alongside their growing businesses.

Check out our website at: www.disrupt.com.hk

Job Description:

Disrupt is currently seeking a full time Trend Researcher with the purpose:

To research and deliver relevant fashion and lifestyle trend analysis on a daily basis;

To help drive cutting-edge fashion forecasting service standards proactively, striving for the highest standards in analysis, readability, presentation and curation;

To provide thought-through and relevant improvement suggestions to Disrupts service content and delivery; and support new improvement implementation as agreed.

The Trend Forecaster, will work with our Managing Director & Creative Director to ensure the highest standards for analytical, visual and written aspects of our trend forecasts are adhered to, ensuring Disrupt’s trend content is to a high standard in line with Company guidelines and brand values.

The role includes the strategic planning of trend reports to meet client’s needs, discussing clients’ and prospective clients’ needs with them to help develop our services, and suggesting improvement ideas and adapting them to client’s needs.

An essential part of the role is to understand seasonal trends in detail, as well as have an eye for art direction, image quality and text readability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conducts high quality, professional, current and consistent trend research for seasonal trend forecast and current time reporting for specialist client projects as required.
• Edit trend research into curated, considered and authoritative bodies of research and professional presentations.
• Assist with trend research that conveys seasonal trends in the appropriate manner for the Company’s brand and handwriting.
• Carries out trend research in a resource-effective manner using professional research techniques to provide high quality research in the required quantity in a timely manner.
• Attends events and trade shows as agreed and prepares required event reporting on return.
• Produces content in accordance with publication schedule and deadlines.
• Takes client feedback into consideration in all the customer facing work they do.
• Contributes to improvising procedures and workflow as relevant.
• Effectively and professionally coordinates and guides interns and trainees as required.
• Ensures all research imagery is named correctly, cropped and retouched when needed to a professional standard.
• Keeps all team members informed on a weekly basis of what’s new in terms of events going on, incoming photo research batches, etc.
• Keeps Disrupt’s materials and collateral up-to-date for clients.
• Assists with client facing materials.

Trend Research:

• Conducts trend research promptly and efficiently for the company’s trend content and trend projects as required.
• Joins trend and design concept brainstorming and planning meetings and contributes well thought-through suggestions as relevant.
• Ensures any supporting interns and freelance content contributors are fully briefed and understand the trend content or story, as well as the aims of the project from the outset.
• Ensures all the components needed for a forecast content item are completed in terms of text, visuals and final layout ready for editing and approval.
• Researches professionally, striving to improve efficiency of own research models, e.g. by maintaining up-date lists/directories of relevant sources and making full use of all the organisational tools available.
• Ensures required content components are researched and are promptly identified and recorded.
• Ensures content is properly organised, filed and labelled to be easily manageable.
• Adjusts research and content as appropriate following feedback.
• Ensures copy text provided is correctly formatted and typing error free.
• Delivers trend content that is visually enticing and has a high level of readability both in visual and copy.
• Oversees and directs one or more subordinates at all times, ensuring their work is delivered on time and up to a good standard.
• Communicates any technical issues or obstacles to working effectively to management.
• Keeps up to date on customer feedback and management recommendations that impact content.

Trend Content Editing:

• Finalises research, pre edits image research and writes copy for allocated projects.
• Assists with editing and coordination of final adjustments to trend content stories to ensure the published content is delivered on time and looks polished and professional to the Company’s high standard.
• Ensures finished trend forecast and reports follow Company guidelines.
• Previews publication-ready content and checks that content is error free and appears correctly on the live website.
• Ensures social networking content follows Disrupt’s brand identity.

Trend Communication & Presentations

• Acts as the Company and brand ambassador for the way we communicate our forecasts and services externally.
• Participates in client presentations and prospective client sales presentations as required.
• Ensures Disrupts services, trend content and content samples are communicated appropriately to clients and prospective clients based on their needs.
• Ensures new prospective customers are engaged and inspired by relevant trend content suggestions for their business.
• Communicates the Company and our methodology, and presents Disrupts trend forecasts and case studies with confidence.
• Meets with and presents to prospective clients at trade shows as required.
• Participates as a public speaker at trend events or seminars as required.
• Provides feedback to sales & marketing on how to improve our client and website presentations.

Personal Skills & Experience:

• A dynamic, flexible and proactive team player, who has an excellent eye for trend, proven commercial trend research skills, design presentation skills, and excellent client facing and organisational skills.
• Specifically:
• Experienced in working on creative & commercial trend research projects from concept to completion
• Proactive team member attitude
• Passion for the company and product
• Excellent computer and digital skills
• Professional Adobe Photoshop and InDesign/PowerPoint skills
• Professional trend presentation skills
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills
• Ability to write and recognise good copy
• A responsible attitude
• Ability to plan and prioritise workload for self and others
• Ability to stay calm under pressure
• Ability to make well-informed decisions
• Ability to integrate both creative and analytical thinking in projects
• Outstanding eye for detail
• Passion for fashion and understanding of seasonal fashion trends
• Passion, integrity and energy!

Job Requirements:

• 2 years of previous trend forecasting and trend research experience preferred
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, Outlook & Internet applications
• Proficiency with Adobe InDesign & Photoshop
• High degree of proficiency with latest versions of InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Strong analytical, prioritizing, interpersonal, problem-solving, presentation, budgeting, project management (from conception to completion), & planning skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (including analysis, interpretation, & reasoning)
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues across the organization, as well as, internal and external clients
• Ability to work well autonomously and within a team in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment.
• Ability to work overtime as necessary
• Fluency in English as well as another language preferred

It is a fantastic opportunity to join a fast growing business within the APAC region. There is a prosperous career path with lots of opportunity for growth.